Clicking on the link for each mantra below will take you to a page where you can read about that mantra, see the figure associated with the mantra (where applicable), and listen to an audio version of the mantra.
You can chant along to the mantra until you’re confident that you have it fully memorized. There are ten repetitions of each mantra (more or less) to help give you time to learn the mantra and chant along. You can replay the mantra until you think you’ve got it.
Please note that the mantras as written on this site lack some of the diacritic marks that allow for an accurate representation of the pronunciation.
(Diacritics, or accents, are little marks that indicate how a letter should be pronounced. Pali and Sanskrit have many more letters than the Roman alphabet, and these marks allow us to extend the number of characters available to us. Diacritics include the macron — a bar over a vowel that lengthens the vowel sound — overdots, underdots, and tildes. Unfortunately not all fonts possess those diacritic marks, and although some fonts do have the full range of accents not all computers have those fonts installed. There’s therefore no reliable way to represent diacritics on the web. You therefore may sometimes see strange characters or question marks in words.)
It’s best to listen to the audio files in order to get a better appreciation of how they are pronounced (taking into account the fact that I have a Scottish accent). In the heading of each page I’ve represented long vowels with a double vowel (eg. aa) or, where it’s possible to reproduce these in html, with a letter and diacritic mark (e.g. ?).
Note: Tibetans typically pronounce some Sanskrit sounds in a non-Indian way. For example they’ll tend to pronounce “padme” (pa-dmé) as peh-mé, and “svaha” as soha. Those who are familiar with the Tibetan pronunciation will therefore notice differences such as these.
Sabbe satta sukhi hontu
Om shanti shanti shanti
Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha
Avalokitesvara: Om Mani Padme Hum
Manjushri/Manjughosa: Om A Ra Pa Ca Na Dhih
Vajrapani: Om Vajrapani Hum
Green Tara: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha
Amitabha: Om Amideva Hrih
White Tara: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Mama Ayuh Punya Jnana Pushtim Kuru Svaha
Shakyamuni: Om Muni Muni Mahamuni Shakyamuni Svaha
Padmasambhava: Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum
Bhaisajyaguru (Medicine Buddha): Om Bhaishajye Bhaishajye Mahabhaishajye Bhaishajyaraje Samudgate Svaha
Vajrasattva: 100-Syllable Mantra.
By following the links you can find out the meanings, pronunciations, and benefits of the Buddhist mantras listed above.
View Comments
What is the meaning of the mantras chanted by tibetan monks at the ceremony that happens before they start to make a sand painting? During this time they gather around the place where they will make the sand painting.
I don't know, I'm afraid. The mantras are probably specific to each particular mandala, and the chanting probably includes a lot more than mantras.
Hi Bodhipaksa
I am really happy to come across this website and read the knowledge you share.
I want to propose to my girlfriend and am looking for a buddhist mantra to inscribe onto something that will bless the marriage, remind us to be compassionate towards each other, and ultimately use our marriage for the benefit of all other sentient beings.
Will GuanYins Om mani padme hum be appropriate in asking for compassion on ourselves and towards all others? Perhaps you know of another more appropriate mantra?
Thank you so much for any thoughts you can share. I only have 24 hours so very much hope for your reply.
Thank you!!!
You can't go wrong with Om mani padme hum...
Thank you
Hi, I just wanted to pass along an idea for a mala. I made one to honor the Taras. I chose the Grean, Red, White, Blue, Yellow and Orange. I then strung beads of nine of each color divided by a brown bead between each. This way, I can address Them when I have only a short time to do a mala. I placed a dzi bead at the beginning and a Quan Yin jade below that. It is my way to use the colors as a guide. I also have done a 20 day Practice for the first time and had extraordinary results. So, now I am doing a 39 day Practice and having even more extraordinary results in my life....so many that I am compiling a "Gratitude List" everyday.
One gratitude on the list is having found this site....for real!!!
Hello, what are the mantras for exams?
The best mantra is probably "Sorry, I have to study" whenever anyone asks you to do something else, or whenever you feel like getting distracted by Facebook :)
But additionally, the Manjushri mantra is traditionally associated with intelligence, the arts and sciences. Did you know that research has shown that people perform better on tests if they think of a professor figure beforehand? I'd imagine thinking of a wise Bodhisattva like Manjushri would have the same effect. Good luck with your exams!
Haha :D Thank you for your reply.
It is alright if the mantra is repeated in my head, instead of saying it aloud?
Yes, indeed. This is very commonly done, especially as part of a visualization practice.
is there any mantra for fullfill our wishes?
I'm sure some people regard mantras as being like magic spells that can make our wishes come true. But I don't think that's a very helpful attitude.There's the question of whether our wishes are kusala (not based on greed, hatred, or delusion) or akusala (based on greed, hatred, or delusion); the idea of using a spiritual practice to fulfill a grasping or hateful desire is bizarre.
Mantras should help us let go of unskillful attitudes. But if our desires are skillful -- like a natural wish to be free from suffering or to become more compassionate, mindful, wise, and to benefit others -- then, yes, mantras can help bring about those wishes.
My son was in drugs. He got out of it and now he is sinking back in. Is there any mantra that can help him. Please advice
Hello, Kiran.
My heart goes out to you and your son. The big questions are: does he want to get off of drugs, and is he trying to get off drugs? If both those things are the case, then a mantra (any mantra) would help him keep him mind clear of thoughts of addiction, but that of course can't be enough in itself. In terms of meditation, undertaking a course in vipassana may be more helpful in giving him a greater ability to work with his desires...
All the best,
Bodhipaksa
True enough Bodhipaksa. The "Buzz" of Inner Stillness born of delicious solitude of a quiet, still mind...is the only drug that will replace any drug taken externally. However, sadly for Kiran and her son, it's easier to swallow a pill, take a jab from the needle, snort a line or roll a joynt. This "Inner Buzz" however, that I am speaking of, takes time, devotion and disciplined practice, with failure being a constant in the process, as the mind is constantly being led back to the Spacious Now.
Hi Bodhipaksa,
I am new to Buddhist practice. I realy know nothing at this stage. I do know that it feels right for me, I have a lot to learn. How to meditate, who the Buddhas are. I live in Ireland and there are not many Buddhist organisations here. I would love to get some feedeback from you if possible. Sadly my sister Clare committed suicide last April 2012, my only sibling and my parents are gone too, please tell me if her karma is still in turmoil and what happens to a suicide person. Any advice on how I can live a good fulfilling life and help others? Are you on FaceBook? thanks and I love this site very much. Gina (Galway, West of Ireland).
Hi, Gina.
I'm sorry to hear about your losses. What a painful thing to experience.
Unfortunately there are no easy answers to your question. A traditional Buddhist answer would be that suicide is not an escape from pain, and that the person who kills themselves will be reborn. We cause ourselves much of our own suffering, unfortunately, and we each have to learn to live more skillfully so that we can experience peace. No one can know where your sister is now, but if she is somewhere then Buddhist teachings would say that she'll have further opportunities to learn and to find peace.
But for you, I'd suggest that Buddhism encourages us to be open to the discomfort of uncertainty. The Buddha seemed to suggest that some things are unknowable, and that we find our own peace by living with, and being comfortable with, that not-knowing.
I can imagine there aren't too many Buddhists in Galway. I hope that our site can offer you some guidance in meditation. Under the "meditation guides" link above you'll find several different meditation practices. I'd suggest starting with mindfulness of breathing and lovingkindness meditation.