Accumulation of the six syllable Mani Mantra of Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig)

From tomorrow onwards, we will begin to accumulate Six Syllable mantra (mani) of Avalokiteshvara ( Chenrezig) for the whole month of August. In the amidst of this pandemic, many of our family and friends have passed away and we especially like to dedicate this accumulation to all those who have passed away due to covid pandemic, due to the natural calamities, due to the wars, sickness and the life cycle.

Few years back, we never thought that life would become so different. We never knew that the most common things like grocery shopping would become luxury for some and a plague like disease would deprive us from O2. But we need to remember that the only constant thing in life is the very change.

Depending on our motivation and the direction, it is said that "Human life can lead us to enlightenment; Human life can lead us to Hell". All beings in this samsaric cycle are constantly drowning in their sufferings and the actions which are leading towards more sufferings. Like the mother with paralysed arms helplessly watchings her child being swept away by a river; overwhelming though her compassion must be, it does not make it possible for her to save her drowning son. Therefore, to help all beings, it is not enough just to feel compassion for them. We must do everything little possible to rescue beings from sufferings and bring them to enlightenment and the benefit of reciting the six syllable Mani Mantra of Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) is very profound and sublime. In the book of the Heart Treasure of the Enlightenment ones, Kyable Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche has said that to recite the mani even once is the same as reciting the whole of the twelve branches of the Buddha's teachings. 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. Pä, 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. Reciting the six syllables of the mani perfects the six paramitas and firmly blocks any possibility of rebirth in the six realms of samsara. It is a simple practice, easy to understand and accessible to all, and at the same time it contains the essence of the Dharma. If you take the mani as your refuge both in happiness and in sorrow, Chenrezig will always be with you, you will feel more and more devotion without any effort, and all by itself the realisation of the Mahayana Path will arise in your being.

According to the Karandavyuha-Sutra, if you recite one hundred million manis, all the myriad living organisms in your body will be blessed by Chenrezig, and when you die even the smoke from the cremation of your corpse will have the power to protect whoever inhales it from rebirth in the lower realms.

What can you say about years, months, or days

Look how things change every moment, right now !

Each moment that passes brings you closer to death;

Now, this very moment, recite the six-syllable mantra.