The Most Sacred Science: Part 3

The Most Sacred Science, MANTRA, OM MANI PADME HUM: Part 3

What is the deeper revealed meaning of the mantra, OM MANI PADME HUM? Usually this mantra is translated as, “OM the jewel in the lotus, HUM”. What does this tell us? Nothing! To understand this mantra involves a great deal of knowledge about the occult constitution of man and his relationship to deity. This is a blog so I will be brief and just give the basic points that an aspirant can use to further their investigation. To start, I will discuss each word of the mantra.

1) OM

The ‘OM’ is called in Sanskrit, ‘Pranava’. For a mantra it indicates that the origins of the mantra is from the source, the One Life and Light, Ishvara, Logos, or God. It further means that it comes from this One Source down to earth. Most mantra start with the ‘OM’ showing that they originate from this One Source. There are mantra that do not start with the ‘OM’. One should be cautious of mantra that do not start with the ‘OM’.

2) MANI

Translates as ‘jewel’. What jewel is this mantra focussed on? The jewel in this mantra is the ‘spark’ of spirit or life that is embedded and hidden within the subtle energy(Shakti)of deva substance within the Causal body/Soul(karana sharira, vijnana maya kosha). This causal body or Soul exists in subtle matter of the ‘tajas tatwa’ or the 3rd/2nd sub-plane of the mental plane. Though we cannot see it, it exists and has form, it is sometimes called, ‘a form of light’. The Causal Body or Soul is the vehicle of Spirit, just as the physical body is the vehicle for the Soul. This ‘jewel’ hidden within the heart of the Causal Body lies dormant and has to be awakened when the aspirant is getting close to liberation.

3) PADME

This Lotus is the energy or Shakti aspect within the Causal body that grows as each physical incarnation is experienced. This lotus encloses the ‘jewel’, thus its called the ‘Jewel in the Lotus’. The lotus evolves from a closed bud surrounding the Jewel to an open radiant flower revealing the Jewel at the point of liberation when the advance aspirant, now a yogi, is about to become an ‘Arhat’, an Enlightened One.

4) HUM: The ‘hum’ is a complex word within this mantra formula. It means to integrate. When chanting OM MANI PADME HUM, on the HUM you feel your little ‘I’ integrating with the greater Divine stream that carries you upwards/inwards to the higher planes(lokas) of the deity. Of course the term ‘upwards’ is relative in time and space in this application.

OM MANI PADME HUM is a very sacred mantra. Its the fire of the One Life and Light that comes down to awaken and evolve the Lotus of the Soul, leading to the liberation of the Divine Spark, re-integrating it back into that expression of Divinity we call Avalokitesvara or Chenrizig. To chant this mantra properly one has to feel themselves as the individualized unit of consciousness(jiva) separate from the personality but yet initially guided by the will aspect of ones ‘manasa vijnana’ or higher mind, connected with the breath and the visualization of the deity. Avalokitesvara acts as a bridge between the One Supreme and the many in incarnation. The meaning and purpose of Avalokitesvara and OM MANI PADME HUM is so much more than what the Tibetan Lamas will tell you. Understanding its deeper meaning actually helps you to achieve deeper results.