MANTRAS

A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that are considered capable of "creating transformation" ( spiritual transformation). The sound and mental vibration of the word is based upon energy.

Saying any word produces an actual physical vibration. Over time, if we know what the effect of that vibration is, then the word may come to have meaning associated with the effect of saying that vibration or word. Intent is also important. If the actual physical vibration is coupled with a mental intention, the vibration then, contains an additional mental component which influences the result of saying it. The sound is the carrier wave and the intent is overlaid upon the wave form.

It is said that all the teachings of the Buddha are contained in this mantra ; It is probably the most famous Mantra in Buddhism :

The six syllables contain the essence of the six perfections : generosity, ethical discipline, tolerance or patience, joyous effort, concentration and wise discrimination.
The six syllables also closes the doorways to rebirth in the lower realms of cyclic existence.

The Benefits of Chanting OM MANI PADME HUM

THE SIX PERFECTIONS

The mantra Om Mani Pädme Hum is easy to say yet quite powerful, because it contains the essence of the entire teaching. When you say the first syllable Om it is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the practice of generosity, Ma helps perfect the practice of pure ethics, and Ni helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and patience. Päd, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance, Me helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration, and the final sixth syllable Hum helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom.
So in this way recitation of the mantra helps achieve perfection in the six practices from generosity to wisdom. The path of these six perfections is the path walked by all the Buddhas of the three times. What could then be more meaningful than to say the mantra and accomplish the six perfections?

SHUT THE DOOR OF REBIRTHS

The six perfections and the four ways of helping sentient beings are the tools employed by Bodhisattvas to achieve the state of enlightenment. When you say the mantra it helps shut the door of rebirth in the six realms of existence and opens the door to be reborn in the pure land of the Buddha Amitabha. Om stops rebirth in the realm of the celestial gods which helps us overcome the suffering of the celestial gods' rebirths in the miserable realms of existence. Ma stops rebirth in the world of demigods which overcomes experience of demigods' suffering of constant strife and conflict with the world of celestial gods. Ni stops rebirth as humans precipitated by actions and delusions. This overcomes the suffering of poverty, the suffering of pain, and all kinds of human miseries. Humans, like many sentient beings, face many hardships, including the suffering of being born, of sickness of aging and of death. Päd stops rebirth in the preta realm as constantly famished beings and helps overcome their sufferings of constant thirst and hunger. The pretas, or hungry ghosts, suffer excruciating pains of hunger, thirst and fatigue as they travel long distances in search of nourishment. Me helps put and end to rebirth in the world of animals and overcomes their suffering of being unintelligent in some ways, of being unable to express themselves, of being constantly devoured by each other and of being eaten and mercilessly exploited by humans. When you say Hum; the sixth syllable of the mantra, this stops rebirth in the hell realms and helps overcome their suffering of heat and cold.
So stopping this rebirth within the six realms of worldly existence finally helps those who recite the mantra Om Mani Pädme Hum to be reborn in the blissful pure lands.