The Powerful Padmasambhava Mantra| Vajra Guru Mantra

The Padmasambhava mantra, Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum, also known as the Vajra Guru mantra, is one of the most famous mantras in Tibetan Buddhism. Like most mantras, it uses the ancient sacred language of India, Sanskrit.

This powerful mantra is chanted by practitioners to purify their environment, themselves, and all other sentient beings. Reciting the Padmasambhava mantra supports spiritual practice and enlightenment. When recited with the intention of achieving complete enlightenment, it can benefit oneself and all beings.

Padmasambhava is considered the embodiment of the body, speech, and mind of Amitabha Buddha, Avalokiteshvara, and Shakyamuni Buddha. According to scriptures, Shakyamuni Buddha prophesied that Padmasambhava would appear in the world to spread the Dharma.

Regularly chanting the Padmasambhava mantra can eliminate disasters, prolong life, remove obstacles, and bring many supreme merits. This mantra has the power to heal and dispel negative forces.

Detailed Explanation of the Padmasambhava Mantra

The mantra is made up of different syllables, each with its own profound meaning:

• Om: The perfect Sambhogakaya of the Five Buddhas.

• Ah: The perfect Dharmakaya, which is immutable.

• Hum: The perfect manifestation of Guru Rinpoche.

• Vajra: The perfect mandala of Heruka.

• Guru: The perfect mandala of the guru vidyadhara.

• Padma: The perfect mandala of the Dakinis.

• Siddhi: The life force of all wealth deities and tertons (treasure revealers).

• Hum: The life force of all Dharma protectors.

• Om Ah Hum: The life force of the three lineages (intent, vidyadhara, and oral).

• Vajra: The life force of the Vinaya and Sutra pitakas.

• Guru: The life force of the Abhidharma and Kriya tantra.

• Padma: The life force of the Charya and Yoga tantras.

• Siddhi: The life force of Mahayoga.

• Hum: The life force of Anuyoga and Atiyoga.

Benefits of the Padmasambhava Mantra

Padmasambhava brought the essence of Buddhism and the tantric teachings to Tibet. Born in India eight years after the Buddha’s parinirvana, he is prophesied in numerous Buddhist scriptures. While many great masters have spread the Dharma, Padmasambhava’s contribution to the flourishing of Buddhism in Tibet is unparalleled. His presence and teachings are the reason for the existence of Tibetan Buddhism.

Padmasambhava first propagated Buddhism in India before taking it to Tibet. Through his vows, he enabled the spread of the Dharma worldwide. Considered the embodiment of the speech of Avalokiteshvara, the mind of Amitabha, and the body of all Buddhas, Padmasambhava’s blessing is immensely powerful. His presence ensures the Dharma continues to flourish.

The benefits and merits of the Padmasambhava mantra were first requested by the Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal. As one of Padmasambhava’s key disciples, she began her request by taking refuge and prostrating to the guru, yidam, and dakini, representing the outer, inner, and secret aspects of the Three Jewels.

Yeshe Tsogyal emphasized the significance of Padmasambhava’s teachings for the benefit of beings. She explained that while the teachings are profoundly beneficial, doubts and misinterpretations can arise in the future due to the increase of mental confusion and obstacles.

In particular, she foresaw the rise of those who would slander the tantric teachings, specifically the Great Perfection (Dzogchen) practices, and those with intellectual knowledge but no experiential understanding. The slanderers do it either out of ignorance or for personal gain. These individuals, because of their envy of the true practitioners, will purposely denigrate the teachings and their significance.

The consequences of such negative actions include the appearance of various diseases, natural disasters, and famines. These calamities, arising from the defilements of the mind and negative karma, will become widespread. Because of this, the Dakini implored Padmasambhava for teachings that would help overcome the obstacles of this time.

Padmasambhava emphasized that although there are many methods for averting difficulties, beings in the degenerate age will have limited time or obstacles for practice. These obstacles include physical ailments, mental suffering, and inadequate abilities. Additionally, divisions among practitioners can weaken their dedication, especially when they become critical of their teachers and their teachings, or break their commitments.

Furthermore, essential items for practices may be unavailable, and conduct may not align with the teachings. This includes a lack of compassion and the presence of negative emotions. Some may even deceive others by falsely claiming attainments. Such shortcomings hinder spiritual progress.

When these signs of a degenerate age manifest, it becomes difficult to reverse them. Among the various teachings Padmasambhava gave, the Padmasambhava mantra provides immense benefits. Padmasambhava explained that although he hid many teachings as treasures, these are difficult for the beings of this age to retrieve due to their karmic impurities. However, the practice of the Padmasambhava mantra remains accessible and effective.

How to Benefit from the Padmasambhava Mantra

Chanting the Padmasambhava mantra in sacred places, such as the four major Buddhist sites in India, the places where Padmasambhava practiced (like Samye Monastery and Yerpa in Tibet), or any places where great beings have achieved enlightenment, brings great blessings. Similarly, practicing in monasteries or places where many practitioners gather facilitates greater progress.

Hanging prayer flags with the Padmasambhava mantra on mountaintops, or placing them on the roof of your home, or inscribing the mantra on stones in water creates immense merit. You can also place these sacred objects in desolate or frightening places, such as cemeteries, to benefit all beings. The custom of carving texts and mantras on stones in Tibet comes from this principle.

Additionally, when you have ominous signs such as disturbing dreams, or premonitions of disaster, you can enlist the help of pure practitioners to recite the mantra. By doing so, the negative effects can be mitigated. Similarly, when there is disease, famine, and business failures reciting the Padmasambhava mantra helps to alleviate the suffering of such conditions.

How to Practice the Padmasambhava Mantra

Padmasambhava practiced in eight famous charnel grounds in India. In one such location, he sat on a corpse and entered profound samadhi for five years. During this time, dakinis regularly visited to offer teachings and initiations. He subsisted on offerings and wore a shroud. At each charnel ground, he practiced with wrathful deities and great masters, continually seeking profound teachings. Through this constant practice, he overcame all challenges and achieved enlightenment.

We are fortunate to have the opportunity to study the Dharma. Despite this good fortune, we may still face challenges. We should accept these difficulties and remain interested in the teachings.

In worldly pursuits, we may work tirelessly and overlook challenges. This is because we have a strong will and do not mind temporary problems. Similarly, in the Dharma, we should practice with the same dedication and perseverance. Even a short, consistent practice will accumulate merit. If we have good intentions and clarity, we can purify our karma and attain liberation.

In general, there are two types of Buddhist teachings: Hinayana/Mahayana and the mantra vehicle. Hinayana and Mahayana teachings explain that it takes many eons to achieve Buddhahood. However, the mantra vehicle offers a faster path to enlightenment.

The mantra vehicle has different levels. Some can achieve Buddhahood in sixteen lifetimes, others in seven, and some in three, while others can achieve it in just this lifetime. We should recognize the immense fortune of encountering and practicing the teachings of the mantra vehicle. The teachings are complete, but one must have a clean mind and put forth consistent effort to benefit from them.

For example, the great yogi, Milarepa, initially created negative karma that would have caused him to fall into the lower realms. He then practiced Dzogchen, and through its powerful blessing, was able to achieve enlightenment in this very lifetime. Dzogchen is a very fast path. However, one must diligently engage in the practice to achieve its results.

Milarepa’s guru explained the swiftness of Dzogchen, saying that enlightenment can be attained in a morning or an evening. Milarepa thought he was fortunate enough to achieve it with such little effort. Because he was previously proficient in black magic, he thought his karma was very pure and it would be easy for him. He thus, did not practice the teaching at all.

His guru knew of his arrogance, and explained that Milarepa’s karma was actually very dark, that the teachings would not benefit him and sent him to Marpa, his main teacher, who helped him become fully enlightened in this lifetime.

While Dzogchen is a special and distinct teaching, we must still maintain great determination to achieve the result of Buddhahood. Without such dedication, we will not attain Buddhahood. In the Hinayana teachings, practicing external discipline and avoiding negative actions are emphasized.

In the Mahayana teachings, the most important thing to cultivate is the Bodhisattva vow. Keeping the Bodhisattva vow is all about avoiding the thought of abandoning beings. Because the thoughts are constantly arising and changing, keeping the Bodhisattva vow is very difficult.

In the mantra teachings, the most important precept is to see all phenomena as pure. To keep this vow, all phenomena must be seen as pure, even when they are not, and this is very difficult.

Dzogchen belongs to the mantra vehicle. The vows that come with the practice are incredibly difficult to keep. For example, some ordained practitioners drink alcohol, claiming that they are practicing mantra. However, one must have the power to transform alcohol into water or water into alcohol to drink it without negative consequences.

A great master named Yeshe Dorje, an emanation of Jigme Lingpa, engaged in unconventional behavior, drinking and killing. He once took two of his dogs during a tsok gathering and cut them in half. He then made an offering of their intestines.

The other yogis at the gathering, who had not eaten dog meat before, were disgusted. At the end of the gathering, they asked what to do with the remains. Yeshe Dorje then connected the heads of the dogs to the opposite bodies. The two dogs then came alive and were unharmed.

Such high-level masters, due to their special abilities, can do things that are unconventional. If not, then drinking alcohol will only create negative karma.

Similarly, the great master, Dudjom Lingpa, was able to drink out of his mouth and pour the drink out of his fingers. Because he achieved the wisdom of emptiness, he was able to do this. However, we should not imitate this behavior unless we have the same level of realization.

Padmasambhava Mantra Practice Ritual

Refuge and Generating Bodhicitta

I take refuge in the noble beings who are the excellent sources of refuge,

And for the sake of all sentient beings who are my mothers and fathers in the six realms,

Who are tormented by suffering that is so difficult to bear,

I generate the supreme bodhicitta, may I attain Buddhahood. (3x)

Invocation

Padmasambhava, emanation of the Buddhas of the three times,

Lord of all great bliss and accomplishment,

Mighty subduer of demons, remover of obstacles,

I earnestly implore you, grant your blessings.

Grant your blessings to dispel outer, inner, and secret obstacles,

And to achieve all that I wish for. (21x)

Mantra Recitation

Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum

(Recite at least 108 times daily)

Aspiration

May I never be separated from the bodhicitta, may I always work towards enlightenment.

May all obstacles be dispelled through the protection of the Buddhas. (3x)

Dedication

May I quickly attain the state of Padmasambhava through this merit,

And may all beings, without exception, attain the same sacred state.

Prayer to Attain Accomplishment

Padmasambhava, manifesting in eight forms,

Eight great vidyadharas of accomplishment,

Eight great bodhisattvas, the Buddha’s children,

And all the yidams of the eight great tantric practices,

I pray that you may bestow your blessings.

May all inner and outer obstacles be removed,

May all that I wish for be accomplished,

And may common and uncommon siddhis be bestowed.

This is a great article about the Padmasambhava mantra, with much explanation and detail of the benefits and the practice. It could be supported by the creation of other content, such as:

• A more basic version of this article, perhaps a single page for beginners, just introducing the mantra itself and its importance.

• An article or page dedicated to the story of Yeshe Tsogyal and her importance as a Buddhist figure.

• A page on the “eight famous charnel grounds” mentioned in the article.

• A more in depth article on Dzogchen practice.

• A page of commonly asked questions about the Padmasambhava mantra.