What are Mani Stones?
In Tibetan regions, there is a custom of carving mantras (most commonly the six-syllable mantra), Buddha images, and scriptures onto stones. These are traditionally known as Mani stones.
“Mani” is an abbreviation of the six-syllable mantra, “Om Mani Padme Hum,” which is the fundamental mantra of the Lotus Family in Tibetan Buddhism. As a central axis, these six syllables encompass the entire value system and goals of Mahayana Buddhism. They are the source of all virtuous deeds, the path to Nirvana, and liberation. They enable the realization of pure Bodhicitta, the removal of all afflictions, the elimination of all impurities, and the attainment of all virtues.
Mani stones are sometimes carved on cliffs or on flat pieces of rock. Wherever one travels, there are likely to be Mani walls or piles. Mani walls, also called “Ten Million Stone Scripture” piles, are man-made sacred sites. People circumambulate them repeatedly, making them simple places for Buddhist worship. These stones are often placed in selected special locations, such as roadsides with heavy traffic or places with Feng Shui deficiencies. After being blessed, they are believed not only to promote local peace but also to bless all passing beings, enabling them to gain the benefits of Buddhist teachings.
Mani stones range in size from a few meters to only a few centimeters. They are all engraved with Buddha images or scriptures. Some stones have entire sets of Buddhist scriptures carved on them, even including the front and back covers. These stone scriptures are placed neatly on Mani walls, with the engraved side always facing outwards. The most common mantra is the Avalokiteśvara mantra: “Om Mani Padme Hum.” Carving Mani stones is considered to be of great merit. Mani stones can be preserved for a very long time, even thousands of years without decay, and even if the stone decays, the merit of the Mani will not disappear. For example, if you pay someone to carve the Avalokiteśvara mantra on a stone, many beings, including yourself, will receive the benefits of the mantra until the stone is destroyed.
The Ancient Origins of Mani Stones
As early as 641 AD, when Princess Wencheng arrived in Tibet, there were stone carvings with Han, Tibetan, and Sanskrit scripts in the Yushu area. These earliest carvings of the six-syllable mantra date back more than two thousand years.
The Incredible Merit of Writing One Syllable of the Six-Syllable Mantra
The King of Glorious Sutras, a Mahayana Buddhist text, states: “If anyone writes this six-syllable mantra, it is the same as writing eighty-four thousand collections of teachings. If anyone uses celestial gold and jewels to create images of the Tathagata, equal in number to the dust particles, and celebrates and makes offerings on one day, the merit obtained is less than the merit of writing one syllable of this six-syllable mantra. The merit is inconceivable, and one will dwell in liberation.” While the merit of building Buddha statues is already considered immense, the sutra states that the merit of writing just one syllable of this six-syllable mantra exceeds that of creating countless Buddha statues. This is truly an incredible Dharma practice!
The six-syllable mantra is so extraordinary that it cannot be encountered by those with meager blessings. As the King of Glorious Sutras says, the Buddha told Bodhisattva Sarvanivaranaviskambhin that in order to obtain the six-syllable mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum,” he had made offerings to millions of Buddhas over countless lifetimes, without success. Only after serving and making offerings to the Buddha Supreme Lotus did he finally obtain it. The Buddha Supreme Lotus also obtained this mantra only after serving and making offerings to countless Buddhas.
The Durable and Enduring Nature of Mani Stones
The great Tibetan master, Patrul Rinpoche, wrote the following about Mani walls: “Constructing such supports can benefit countless sentient beings. However, earth mounds and clay statues are easily damaged by water; gold and silver structures risk being stolen; murals and thangkas are difficult to preserve, and constructing temples requires difficult to find proper supporters and managers. Textual supports are also easily scattered and lost. However, once Mani stones are constructed, there is no need to repair leaks in the summer, sweep snow in the winter, or worry about birds or rodents. It requires no housekeeper or caretaker. Therefore, building other supports is like grasping branches, while my construction is like grasping roots and seeing the key points. Even if enemies and robbers are everywhere, there is no need to worry about theft, and it can last for many generations.”
The Long-Lasting Blessing Power of Mani Stones
Those who contribute to the carving of Mani stones will receive the merit of all the Mani stones carved and also the merit of all those who circumambulate the Mani wall. Mani stones are very durable and can last thousands of years without rotting. Even if the stone rots, the merit of the Mani does not disappear. Those who participate in carving Mani stones will continue to receive blessings in all future lives, whether they are reborn in heavens, humans, asuras, animals, hungry ghosts, or hell realms until the stones are destroyed.
The Benefits of Seeing, Hearing, and Touching Mani Stones
All beings who are touched by the wind that has blown over Mani stones will benefit from the Mani stones. Those who are ill will gradually recover by gazing at, making offerings to, and circumambulating the stone scriptures with a pure mind. Those who make meritorious efforts to carve additional stones will sow vast seeds of merit, experiencing peace, health, and auspiciousness in this life, as well as increasing their blessings, and accumulating merit that will not be lost for many generations.
The Tibetan Tradition of Carving Mani Stones for Deceased Relatives
In Tibet, there is a tradition that if a family of seven loses one member, the family will say, “We are still alive and will find a way, but the deceased is helpless and pitiful. We should do more good deeds for them.” Usually, they will spend one-seventh of their entire family assets for the deceased, and some will spend even more than that. If relatives and friends send gifts, this money will not be wasted but will be used to carve Mani stones, print prayer flags, or perform Buddhist rituals for forty-nine days.
Mani Stones and Repentance, and Vows
Mani stones associated with repentance and vows are primarily text-based, with images as secondary elements. Repentance Mani stones often arise because people accidentally step on and kill small creatures such as insects or frogs while working or playing. Even though it is unintentional, harming a life form is harmful. So, on an auspicious day, after sincere prayers, they will carve a Mani stone with images of frogs or snakes. The front of the stone typically has the six-syllable mantra, and the back is often inscribed with a statement like, “To atone for killing a snake, and to pay homage to the accomplished Buddha.”
Mani stones for vows are common in many areas. These Mani stones usually combine images of dogs or sheep with mantras. Often, people born in the years of the dog or sheep feel that they have done something against Buddhist teachings, or even done something illegal and nobody knows about. Because they are known by themselves, heaven, earth and Buddha, they feel uneasy and will travel to distant places to ask a craftsman to carve one or several Mani stones with their personal symbols, such as their zodiac sign, to offer to Buddha and vow that they will never repeat those deeds again. Even smokers and alcoholics will do this to express their determination to quit.
The Largest Mani Stone Pile in the World
The Xinzhai Mani pile, near Jyekundo (Gyegu) town, the seat of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province, is said to be the largest Mani stone pile in the world. The Xinzhai Mani pile is said to contain as many as two billion stones. These stones vary in size and shape, some as large as tabletops and others as small as eggs. The content carved on the stones is generally related to Tibetan Buddhism. They include Buddhist scriptures, especially the six-syllable mantra, other auspicious phrases, and images of Buddhas and deities.
English 
简体中文