What is Mantra
A mantra is a sequence of words or syllables that are chanted, usually repetitively, as part of a Buddhist practice.
If one can constantly chant a mantra with full concentration and without random thoughts,
this is similar to the practise of meditation, which is a way to quiet your body, mind and heart.
Eventually, one will gradually develop inner wisdom.
Also, chanting mantra is often used for the protection from evil and misfortune,
and used to build connection with Buddha and Bodhisattva.
Popular Mantra
Many people incorrectly believe that the more mantra you know, the better off you are. Don't be greedy! The purpose of chanting Mantra is to calm and stablize your heart and mind. Chanting one mantra without having or following another thought can be your lifetime homework already. So, don't focus your valuable time on finding new mantra to learn. Rather, fcous and master your concentration. The idea is similar to laser: focus all of your energy into one single point in order to break through the illusions we are living in
Shurangama Mantra
Shurangama Mantra is the longest and the most powerful mantra. As long as there is one person chanting Shurangama Mantra, there is proper Dharma in the world because demons, ghosts and other entities don't dare to show themselves in the world.
Great Compassion Mantra
The Great Compassion Mantra is an extremely powerful mantra because it contains different sacred names of Avalokiteshvara and his vow to help suffering species away from difficulties.
The Ten Small Mantras
Ten Small Mantras are important mantras shared by different Buddhas and Bohisattvas, and these mantras have different purpose on improving one's health, wealth and wisdom development.
The Six-Character Great Bright Mantra
"Om Mani Padme Hum", or "Six-Character Great Bright Mantra", is a very important one in Tibetan Buddhism, and it is the vow and blessing from Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. "Om Mani Padme Hum" is easy to chant and remember, so this Mantra is widely accepted and recited in the world.
The Heart of Shurangama Mantra
"The Heart of Shurangama Mantra" contains only 6 syllables, but it is as powerful as the full mantra. In translation, this mantra means white canopy, which provides a shelter for protecting the practitioner until attaining enlightenment.
Namo Amitabha
Amitabha means "Infinite Light", and he is the principal Buddha in Western Pure Land. Chanting "Namo Amitabha", similar to chanting mantra, trains our concentration and builds connection with this Buddha. By doing so, it tempts our heart and helps us to find our inner wisdom.
The Great Compassion Mantra
"Great Compassion Mantra” is a mantra spoken by Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
and it is widely recited in the mainstream Buddhism.
The title reflects the compassion of this Bodhisattva on relieving living beings from their sufferings and difficulties.
If one can recite “Great Compassion Mantra” sincerely and single-mindedly,
one can purify his bad karma and
obtain various embodiments, wisdom, capacities and merits of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and other enlightened beings.
The Ten Small Mantras
Ten Small Mantras are mantras shared by different Buddhas and Bodhisattvas,
and these mantras have different purposes on
improving our health, wealth, inner wisdom, repentance and deceased one.
As Ten Small Mantras are useful and significant,
they are included in the Morning Recitation every morning.
The Heart of Shurangama Mantra
The Heart of Shurangama Mantra”, or “Xi Dan Duo, Bo Da La”,
is one of the phrases in “Shurangama Mantra”,
but is just as powerful and efficacious as the full mantra.
Shakyamuni Buddha has proclaimed that this short mantra has inconceivable power to
destroy hindrances, remove one’s afflictions, and facilitate one’s attainment of Buddhahood.
"The Heart of Shurangama Mantra" is actually a path, proclaimed due to compassion,
for the illiterates to gain access to the ultimate Dharma of “Shurangama Mantra”.