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The Ārya Wisdom Mantra of Six Syllables
The Ārya Wisdom Mantra of Six Syllables
Practice Series
Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition
Thus have I heard at one time. At the time when the Destroyer
Qualified Gone-Beyond One1 was staying in Śrāvastī, the Destroyer
Qualified Gone-Beyond One said to the Venerable Ānanda:
“Ānanda, the wisdom mantra of six syllables was set forth by the
six fully perfected buddhas, the four world protectors, and the
twenty-eight great yakṣa leaders. Ānanda, hold2 this queen of
wisdom mantras of six syllables. Keep it,3 recite it, and understand
the meaning of it completely.
Colophon:
Translated from the Tibetan by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Kachoe Dechen Ling,
Aptos, in November, 2005. Scribed by Ven. Holly Ansett. Edited by Joona
Repo and Ven. Tenzin Tsomo, FPMT Education Services, 2021, based on Ārya
ṣaḍakṣara vidyā, 'phags pa yi ge drug pa'i rig sngags, in bka' 'gyur dpe bsdur
ma, vol. 90, BDRC W1PD96682, Beijing: krung go'i bod rig pa dpe skrun khang,
2008, 642–645. Final copy edited by Ven. Tenzin Tsomo and Doris Low, FPMT
Education Services, November 2021.
Notes
1 Tib. bcom ldan 'das, Skt. Bhagavān.
2 Tib. gzungs. This refers to memorizing the mantra.
3 Tib. chongs. This refers to keeping the mantra on the body.
4 Tib. nying lag. The minor parts of the body, such as fingers and toes.
5 Tib. 'dus pa las gyur pa.
6 Tib. dge sbyong, Skt. śramaṇa, i.e. monks and nuns.
7 The water and thread in this instance would have been blown on with the
breath after reciting the Six Syllables mantra. Blessed in this way, the water
can also be sipped each day, while the thread can be worn on the body as a
protection.
8 Tib. tshe dang ldan pa, Skt. Āyuṣmat. This is a title of respect that is roughly
equivalent to “Venerable.”