Mantrayana, the vehicle of mantra
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Mantrayana, the vehicle of mantra
Mantrayana, the vehicle of mantra, is the easy-difficult path. It is easy to perform, but difficult to understand. We can protect (trayati) the mind (manas) at all times, and since the mind is naturally pure, clear, and peaceful, Buddha Nature spontaneously manifests.
When we lack certainty, when our understanding of the path is inadequate, we require more complex and difficult practices. However, all else that we can do has as its objective to separate the mind from adventitious cognitive and affective stains —why not do so directly?
Practice is not something separate from ordinary life. We can recite
{ Refuge mantras upon waking and whenever we feel alone
o namo gurave namo buddhaya namo dharmaya namo sanghaya
o lama chenno lama chenno palden tsawai lama chenno
{ Purification mantras while bathing, washing, cleaning, eliminating, and before resting at night
o om vajrasattva hum
o om vajrasattva samayam anupalaya… (100 syllable mantra)
{ Healing mantras when we take care of the body, and whenever we drink water, apply therapies, or take remedies
o tayatha om bhekandze bhekandze maha-bhekandze radza samudgate so’ha
o om vajrasattva hum
o om tare tuttare ture mama ayur punye jnana pushtim kuru ye so’ha
o om ah hum amideva ayu-siddhi hum
o om namo bhagavate bhaishajya-guru vaidurya-prabha-rajaya tathagataya arhate samyak-sambuddhaya tadyatha om bhaishajye bhaishajye maha-bhaishajya-samudgate svaha
{ Rebirth mantras before meals, and whenever we encounter danger, death, and dying
o om amideva hrih
o om mani peme hum
o namo amitabhaya tathagataya tad-yatha om amritod bhave amrita siddham bhave amrita vikrante amrita vikranta-gamini gagana-kirti-kare so’ha
{ Wisdom mantras whenever we need clarity
o om ah pa ra tsa na dhih
o gate gate paragate…
o om svabhava suddha sarva dharma svabhava suddho’ham
{ Compassion mantras whenever we encounter suffering
o om mani peme hum
o om tare tuttare ture so’ha
{ Faith mantras when we have doubts
o muni muni mahamuni shakyamuniye so’ha
o namo gurave
o om ah hum vajra guru pema siddhi hum
o jonangpa chenno
o om ah guru vajradhara sribhadra vidyadvaja sarva-siddhi hum hum
{ Courage mantras when we feel fear
o om tare tuttare ture so’ha
o om vajrapani hum
{ Bliss mantras when we are sad
o sarva mangalam bhavatu
o om ah hum ho ham ksha
{ Peace mantras when we feel agitated
o om ah hum
o om svasti om
o om shanti shanti shantih
Some day we may realize, as my Lama taught: “all mantras are not one mantra; one mantra is all mantras”. That is, although there is no one universal mantra suitable for all persons, in all times, places, and circumstances, that mantra for which we feel strong affinity, through the blessings of the lineage, can fulfill all purposes for us.