Arya Avalokitesvara and the Six Syllable Mantra #3
by Venerable Shangpa Rinpoche.

The Teachings of the Six-Syllable Mantra by Shakyamuni Buddha

On one occasion, Shakyamuni Buddha was dwelling at the monastery of Anathapindika, in Jeta Grove, near Shravasti with his entourage of disciples. He introduced this remarkable bodhisattva and the Six-Syllable Mantra to the assembly. A Bodhisattva by the name of Sarvanivaranaviskambhim made a request to the Exalted One. The Bodhisattva paid homage and cried, " For the benefits of the beings in the six realms, please advice me how I may obtain this Great Mantra that is the wisdom of all the Buddhas, which will cut the roots of the samsara. May Buddha please bestow me this teaching. I offer the whole universe as Mandala. To whoever who wishes to write this Six-syllable Mantra, I offer my blood as ink, my bones as pen and skin as paper. Please, Lord Buddha, grant me this teaching of the Six-syllable mantra.

Shakyamuni Buddha then gave the teaching, " This is the most beneficial mantra. Even I made this aspiration to all the million Buddhas and subsequently received this teaching from Amitabha Buddha."

The benefits of the Six-Syllable Mantra

The merits of the Six-Syllable Mantra are immeasurable and cannot be fully described even by the Buddhas of the three times. Some of these benefits are:

1. Whoever keeps this mantra, his body will transform into the vajra body, his bones will transform into the relics of the Buddha and his ordinary mind will transform into the wisdom of the Buddhas.
2. Whoever recites the mantra for even one time will obtain immeasurable wisdom. He will be born as a universal monarch. He will achieve the irreversible stage of the Bodhisattva and finally attain Enlightenment.
3. If this mantra is carved onto rocks and mountains, and human or non human beings comes into contact and sees the mantra, he will develop the cause to be a bodhisattva in the next life, thereby relieving his sufferings.
It is said that the sand of the Ganges and the drops of water in the ocean can be counted but not the merits from the recitation of this Six-Syllable Mantra.

The Six-Syllable Mantra is the speech manifestation and the wisdom energy of all the Buddhas. It purifies our impure perception of sound. It is also a means to protect our mind from its deluded thoughts. It cuts off one's ignorance and opens up one's wisdom. It augments immeasurable blessings and peacefulness can be obtained. It can save and alleviate beings from hundreds and thousands of suffering and difficulties.

This may sound inconceivable to some people. The Bodhisattva, however, has made great aspiration and accumulated countless merits, wisdom and skilful means to help sentient beings. He has the "hook" to liberate beings. If we have the sincerity and deep faith in him and exercise effort in our practice of Dharma, we are likened to having " a solid and unbroken ring." With our ring of faith, Avalokitesvara will be able to "fish" us out of our sufferings.

Therefore, we should respectfully bring Avalokiteshvara to mind, and sincerely and clearly recite the Six-Syllable-Mantra. All our worldly and beyond worldly needs will be fulfilled.

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