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
Thanks!! My husband taught me Buddhism . We use to pray together and often sing lotus sutra . He was a firm believer of after life . I want to convert coz we were planning to adopt Buddhism this year... I belong to Hindu family and finding very difficult to connect with Hindu gods.. I find peace by preaching Buddha.. although it's very tough to meditate.. for me . In our locality there is one monastery but it is not good and recently something happened there.kindly suggest something to start as a learner at home.
Hi, Sapna.
I'm sorry to hear that there are problems at your local monastery, but there's a lot you can do on your own.
First, I'd recommend that you learn to meditate. There's a lot you can learn on this site (you can start here). Mindfulness of breathing and lovingkindness meditation is essential! As for studying Buddhist teachings, there's a lot available online. The website Access to Insight contains a wide selection of original Buddhist scriptures in translation. There are lots of books available, and some of them are free. The first six on this page are all worth reading.
Hi,
I'm wondering if listening to chants and mantras brings any benefits, I don't get many opportunities to chant audibly even in a low voice
Any mindful activity brings benefits, Clare. But one thing you can do is to hear a mantra in your head, rather than chant out loud. Doing this has many of the same benefits.
Thank you so much Bodhipaksa, this is exactly what I wanted to know
Hi Bodhipaksa,
I am in very painful situation. I have been in relation with my boyfriend some last 5 years. We were planning for marriage also but suddenly his mother against our marriage as his father died last year. No he completely avoiding me n not speaking with me the way he used to before. He is really very decent and good human being and I can't leave without him. Please suggest me guide so that our relation will stay forever and we should get married. Please give me some mantra chanting which will turn to positive hopes and marriage.
I used to chant Buddha vandana and panch shil.
Thank you.
Hi, Shital.
I don't think mantra, or meditation generally, works that way.
Perhaps what you need to think of doing is chanting a compassion mantra, such as Om Mani Padme Hum, to ask for comfort and reassurance in the face of your pain, and to help you let go of the past. If this man treated you this way he wasn't right for you, and it's better that the relationship is over. This is a good thing because it leaves you free to find someone you can have a better relationship with.
With compassion for your pain,
Bodhipaksa
Hi Bodhipaksa,
Thank you for reply. I can't live without him.
He is best gift to me .. I m blessed to have him in my life. He care about me..He loves me more than anything. We were in 5 yrs of relation and had good understanding respect for each other but suddenly after his dad death everything has changed. He caught between his mother /family and me.
Since beginning his parents were opposed to our marriage because of different religion. But still he always stood for me, now his father no more so he is depressed and emotionally attached to mother.
His family not allowing him to continue relation with me and because of that he is avoiding me.
I want him back in my life,I don't want him to hurt his family sentiments.
I can't think about Any other person, he is like oxygen for me.
Please suggest something any mantra chanting , daily fast.. I can do anything to get him back in my life..
Thanks
Shital
You say you can't live without him, Shital, but apparently you're still alive. Does being without him make your heart stop beating or make your lungs stop breathing? No. You can live without him. You're doing it right now. It's just that at the moment it's painful to experience his absence. We've all been through breakups. We've all felt that pain.
The pain of your loss will pass as you learn to accept that the relationship is over. Cultivating compassion for yourself, or accepting the compassion of Avalokiteshvara or Tara, will help you to move on. You'll find someone else in time.
Much love!
Bodhipaksa
Hi Bodhipaksa,
I am requesting you, please do not say negative about our relationship. It really hurt.
I am very much hopeful , if something worst happened it's my bad luck. But I will wait for him till end.
He is really good human being, best son, best brother , best friend, best boyfriend . He is always ready to help people. I m not blindly in love with him. His nature is very caring and heart is pure. Now Situation is turned bad for us, it's difficult for me and him to handle this situation. He can't leave his family for me and I don't want him to do this. Since this April everything changed. I m trying praying to change current situation ,phase and have happy life with him as it was before April 2016.
Thanks
Shital
I'd strongly suggest that you seek counseling, Shital, to help you deal with this situation.
All the best,
Bodhipaksa
Thank you for all your help.
I am Buddhist and following Buddhism since childhood. I am hopeful and positive that Buddha will bring happiness in our relationship.
I started chanting "Om Mani Padme Hum" this will definitely convert all negative thoughts, energy to positive.
Thanks,
Shital
May chanting Om Mani Padme Hum bring you peace!
My simple question is,, what is the bodhi mantra for consentration and focus which will help in studies?