Mani Project 2007

Karma Norbuling Buddhist Centre initiated the Universal Mantra of Compassion recitation of Six Syllable Mantra of Avalokiteshvara from 23 – 25 November 2007. On the 25 November, all devotees in attendance not only participated in the Six-Syllable Mantra recitation but also took the Eight Precepts vow. Mahakala puja and Tsog offering were held on Sunday at 5.00 p.m.

By the merits that have been accumulated from the recitations of the Six Syllable Mantra, we pray for peace and harmony to prevail throughout the world and for all sentient beings to develop Universal Compassion and Love for all mother sentient beings.

In the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon of enlightened beings, Chenrezig is renowned as the embodiment of the compassion of all the Buddhas, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

Avalokiteshvara is the earthly manifestation of the self born, eternal Buddha, Amitabha. He guards this world in the interval between the historical Sakyamuni Buddha, and the next Buddha of the Future Maitreya.

According to legend, Chenrezig made a vow that he would not rest until he had liberated all the beings in all the realms of suffering. After working diligently at this task for a very long time, he looked out and realized the immense number of miserable beings yet to be saved. Seeing this, he became despondent and his head split into thousands of pieces. Amitabha Buddha put the pieces back together as a body with very many arms and many heads, so that Chenrezig could work with myriad beings all at the same time. Sometimes Chenrezig is visualized with eleven heads, and a thousand arms fanned out around him.

Chenrezig may be the most popular of all Buddhist deities, except for Buddha himself -- he is beloved throughout the Buddhist world. He is known by different names in different lands: as Avalokiteshvara in the ancient Sanskrit language of India, as Kuan-yin in China, as Kannon in Japan.

"The first two, the inner arms, have palms joined at the heart, holding a sky-blue, wish fulfilling jewel. This symbolizes that in whatever way Chenrezig manifests to benefit beings, the quality of Chenrezig's mind is never separate from the all pervasive, non referential state of dharmakaya (primordial wisdom).

"In the outer right hand, Chenrezig is holding crystal beads and moving them the way we use a mala to count mantras. This symbolizes that there is not one moment when Chenrezig does not benefit beings. Like the steady movement of counting the beads, Chenrezig is continuously benefiting sentient beings and turning the wheel of enlightened activity.

"In the outer left hand, Chenrezig holds a lotus flower. This symbolizes that, in benefiting sentient beings, Chenrezig manifests in whatever forms are necessary in accordance with the mental capacities, circumstances, and aptitudes of sentient beings. For instance, if Chenrezig appeared in the form of a human among certain kinds of sentient beings, (animals, for instance), these animals might run away. For this reason, Chenrezig may appear in the form of an animal. In a similar way, Chenrezig may appear in any of the different realms, such as the hell realm or the hungry ghost realm. However Chenrezig may appear, he remains free from any of the samsaric stains of the various realms, the way a lotus flower growing in a swamp appears free of the stain of the mud. The left hand of Chenrezig, holding the flower, symbolizes that stainlessness."

“The Six-Syllabled Mantra ‘OM MANI PADME HUNG’ is the heart mantra of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattvas (Guanyin) and the essence of the Buddhas. The mantra embodies perfect compassion, and is the core of the 84,000 Teachings of all the Buddhas.”

OM closes the door to the suffering of beings reborn in the gods’ realm. The suffering of the gods arises from foreseeing one’s fall from the gods’ realm. This suffering comes from pride.

MA closes the door to the suffering of beings reborn in the warring gods (asuras) realm. The suffering of these asuras is constant fighting. This suffering comes from jealousy.

NI closes the door to the suffering of beings reborn in the human realm. The suffering of humans is birth, sickness, old age, and death. This suffering comes from desire.

PAD closes the door to the suffering of beings reborn in the animal realm. The suffering of animals is stupidity, preying upon one another, beings killed by men for meat, skin, etc. Being beasts of burden. This suffering comes from ignorance.

ME closes the door to the suffering of beings reborn in the hungry ghosts’ realm. The suffering of hungry ghosts is hunger and thirst. This suffering comes from greed.

HUNG closes the door to the suffering of beings reborn in the hell realm. The suffering of the hell is heat and cold. This suffering comes from anger or hatred.