Instructions for the Noble Speech of the Six Syllables:
A Chapter from the Mani Kabum (ma Ni bka’ ‘bum)
by King Songtsen Gampo (srong-btsen sgam-po)
(PART ONE)
HOMAGE TO VAST COMPASSION!
What are known as “the Six Syllables” are Nirmanakaya syllables [which are emanations of the Buddha]. They accomplish a variety of benefits. Though reciting the noble speech of the Six Syllables, there will be accomplishment.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
The Connection to the Six Kayas:
OṂ is the Dharmakaya.
MA is the Sambhogakaya.
NI is the Nirmanakaya.
PAD is the Svabhavikakaya.
ME is the Kaya of Manifest Awakening.
HŪṀ is the unchanging Vajrakaya.
The Six Syllables are the spontaneous acccomplishment of the Six Kayas.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Six Families:
OṂ is the embodiment of the vast compassion of all of the families.
MA is the family of Akshobhya.
NI is the family of Vajrasattva.
PAD is the family of Ratnasambhava.
ME is the family of Amitabha.
HŪṀ is the family of Amoghasiddhi.
Through reciting the Six Syllables, all of the buddhas of the Six Families are accomplished.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Six Far-Reaching Perfections:
OṂ is the far-reaching perfection of generosity.
MA is the far-reaching perfection of ethical discipline.
NI is the far-reaching perfection of patience.
PAD is the far-reaching perfection of diligence.
ME is the far-reaching perfection of meditation.
HŪṀ is the far-reaching perfection of sublime gnosis.
Through reciting the Six Syllables, the Six Far-Reaching Perfections come to immaculate culmination.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Subjugation of the Five Poisons and the Six Afflictive Mental States:
OṂ subdues delusion.
MA subdues anger.
NI subdues pride.
PAD subdues attachment.
ME subdues jealousy.
HŪṀ subdues all of the afflictive mental states.
Through reciting the Six Syllables, the subjugation of the afflictive mental states and the five poisons, within their own place, is accomplished.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Five Kinds of Deep Wisdom:
OṂ is the deep wisdom of the basic space of phenomena.
MA is mirror-like deep wisdom.
NI is equanimizing deep wisdom.
PAD is individuality-discriminating deep wisdom.
ME is all-accomplishing deep wisdom.
HŪṀ is co-emergent, self-arising deep wisdom.
Through reciting the Six Syllables, there arises the dawning of the six kinds of deep wisdom, without effort.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Six Immeasurables That Are Beneficial for Beings:
OṂ is immeasurable, equal, impartial great compassion.
MA is immeasurable lovingkindness.
NI is immeasurable compassion.
PAD is immeasurable sympathetic joy.
ME is immeasurable equanimity.
HŪṀ is immeasurable Dharmata, the true nature of phenomena.
Through reciting the Six Syllables, the Six Immeasurables Beneficial For Beings are accomplished.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Purification of the Six Domains
Through OṂ, the domain of the gods is purified.
Through MA, the domain of the demigods is purified.
Through NI, the domain of the humans is purified.
Through PAD, the domain of the animals is purified.
Through ME, the domain of the hungry ghosts is purified.
Through HŪṀ, the domain of the hell beings is purified.
Through reciting the Six Syllables, the purification of the domains of the six classes of beings manifests.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Vanquishing of the Suffering of the Six Kinds of Beings:
Through OṂ, the changing and falling suffering of the gods is vanquished.
Through MA, the demi-gods’ suffering of fighting and arguing is vanquished.
Through NI, the humans’ suffering of death and parting is vanquished.
Through PAD, the animals’ suffering of foolishness and mental dullness is vanquished.
Through ME, the hungry ghosts’ suffering of intense HŪṀer and thirst is vanquished.
Through HŪṀ, the hell beings’ suffering of intense suffering and heat is vanquished.
The reciting the Six Syllables, the suffering of the six kinds of beings is vanquished.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Chopping Down of the Doorways to Rebirth:
Through OṂ, the doorway to rebirth in the god realm is chopped down.
Through MA, the doorway to rebirth in the demi-god realm is chopped down.
Through NI, the doorway to rebirth in the HŪṀan realm is chopped down.
Through PAD, the doorway to rebirth in the animal realm is chopped down.
Through ME, the doorway to rebirth in the HŪṀry ghost realm is chopped down.
Through HŪṀ, the doorway to rebirth in the hell realm is chopped down.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Six Benefits for Beings:
Through OṂ, the suffering of the six kinds of beings is cleared away.
Through MA, the six kinds of beings are protected like children.
Through NI, the six kinds of beings are guided away from the zones of samsara.
Through PAD, the six kinds of beings are guided towards the zones of happiness.
Through HŪṀ, the five poisons of the six kinds of beings are purified in their own place.
Through reciting the Six Syllables, the obscurations of the six kinds of beings are purified, and their benefit is accomplished.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Purification of the Obscurations:
Through OṂ, the obscruations of body are purified.
Through MA, the obscurations of speech are purified.
Through NI, the obscurations of mind are purified.
Through PAD, the obscurations of disturbing emotions are purified.
Through ME, the obscurations of habitual tendencies are purified.
Through HŪṀ, the cognitive obscurations are purified.
Through reciting the Six Syllables, the six obscurations are utterly purified.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Supplications:
OṂ is a supplication to awakened form.
MA is a supplication to awakened speech.
NI is a supplication to awakened mind.
PAD is a supplication to awakened qualities.
ME is a supplication to awakened activities.
HŪṀ is a supplication to the five together: awakened form, speech, mind, qualities, and activity.
Through reciting the Six Syllables, supplication is made to the Sugatas’ awakened form, awakened speech, awakened mind, awakened qualities, and awakened activity, and through this, their blessings arise within.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to Blessings:
Through OṂ, the blessings of awakened form arise in one’s body.
Through MA, the blessings of awakened speech arise in one’s speech.
Through NI, the blessings of awakened mind arise in one’s mind.
Through PAD, the blessings of awakened qualities arise in oneself.
Through ME, the blessings of awakened activity arise for whatever one desires.
Through HŪṀ, all of the unexcelled blessings arise.
Through reciting the Six Syllables, all of the blessings of awakened form, speech, mind, qualites, and activity arise.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Precepts:
Through OṂ, the precepts of the Shravakas are upheld.
Through MA, the precepts of the Pratyekabuddhas are upheld.
Through NI, the precepts of the Bodhisattvas are upheld.
Through PAD, the precepts of the Upasakas are upheld.
Through ME, the precepts of Sojong, the one day purificatory fast, are upheld.
Through HŪṀ, the the Samaya precepts of the Secret Mantra are upheld.
Through reciting the Six Syllables, all of the precepts are upheld, without damage.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Samaya Commitments:
Through OṂ, the Samaya commitment of awakened form is fulfilled.
Through MA, the Samaya commitment of awakened speech is fulfilled.
Through NI, the Samaya commitment of awakened mind is fulfilled.
Through PAD, the root Samaya commitments are fulfilled.
Through ME, the branch samaya commitments are fulfilled.
Through HŪṀ, all of the Samaya commitments are fulfilled.
Through reciting the Six Syllables, all of the Samaya commitments are fulfilled.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Empowerments:
Through OṂ, the deity empowerment is conferred upon one’s body.
Through MA, the mantra empowerment is conferred upon one’s speech.
Through NI, the Dharma empowerment is conferred upon one’s mind.
Through PAD, the vase empowerment is conferred upon one’s body, which ripens it.
Through ME, the secret empowerment is conferred upon one’s speech, which ripens it.
Through HŪṀ, the empowerment of sublime gnosis and pristine wakefulness is conferred upon one’s mind, which ripens it.
In this way, through reciting the Six Syllables, the empowerments are conferred, and the ripening of one’s body, speech, and mind manifests.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to Going for Refuge:
OṂ is the going for refuge in the Buddha.
MA is the going for refuge in the Dharma.
NI is the going for refuge in the Sangha.
PAD is the going for refuge in the Guru.
ME is the going for refuge in the Yidam.
HŪṀ is the going for refuge in the Dakini.
In this way, through reciting the Six Syllables, there manifests the going for Refuge, which protects from the lower realms and samsara.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Generation of the Mind of Awakening:
Through OṂ, aspirational bodhichitta is born.
Through MA, applied bodhichitta is born.
Through NI, non-dualistic bodhichitta is born.
Through PAD, the bodhichitta of dharmata, the true nature of phenomena, is born.
Through ME, the bodhichitta of timeless wakefulness is born.
Through HŪṀ, absolute bodhichitta is born.
Through reciting the Six Syllables, the mind of supreme awakening is produced.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Dharmata of Definitive Meaning
OṂ is the Dharmata free from elaborations.
MA is the self-arising Dharmata.
NI is the self-luminous Dharmata.
PAD is the lucidly pure Dharmata.
ME is the Dharmata of empty clarity.
HŪṀ is the Dharmata of primordial purity.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
The Connection to the Eternal Nature of Mind, Free from Elaboration:
OṂ is the nature of mind’s freedom from elaboration.
MA is the nature of mind’s self-arising.
NI is the nature of mind’s self-luminosity.
PAD is the nature of mind’s lucid purity.
ME is the nature of mind’s empty clarity.
HŪṀ is the nature of mind’s primordial purity.
OṂ MANI PADME HŪṀ
***
This was composed by an emanation of vast compassion, the protector of Dharma King Songtsen Gampo, in the country of Tibet, where the instructions on vast compassion can be seen.
It’hi!
Translated from the Tibetan by Erick Tsiknopoulos, February-March 2008 (revised and completed in January 2015, further edited July 2016).
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