Q:Please explain the meaning of mantra ‘om mani padme hum’

A: ‘ओं मणिपद्मे हूँ’ जो मंत्र है यह बुद्ध के दिए हुए मंत्र का ही अनुवादित रूप है| ऊँ तो ऊँ ही हुआ, मणि माने गहना(jewel) जिसमें से रोशनी निकले, चमकते हुए हीरे, चमकते हुए माणिक| पद्मे, पद्‌म शब्द से आया है, पद्‌म माने कमल, कमल सूचक है चेतन का और हूँ वाचक है सत् का और मणि जिसमें से प्रकाश निकल रहा है ये सूचक है, symbol है आनंद का|

तो “ओं मणिपद्मे हूँ” मणि अर्थात् आनंद, पद्मे अर्थात् चैतन्य, हूँ अर्थात् सत्य| तो सच्चिदानंद को उल्टा लिखा आनंद चैतन्य सत्य|

“Om mani padme hum” is usually the favourite mantra chosen by Tibetans; you will find them doing this chant; and ‘mani’ means jewel. When you are happy, you beam & ‘Om’ is the jewel which is the embodiment of bliss or ananda. Padme means lotus, a lotus in Indian tradition depicts the higher consciousness, chaitanya & the hum word signifies truth. So ananda, chaitanya, satya, bliss, consciousness, truth, that is the meaning of “Om mani padme hum”.

Now, this mantra is actually like a key destination, this is the point where you have to reach. How do you reach it? By doing sadhana, by doing your practice & going deep within & crossing the boundary of the mind; and then you reach the point where there is just the ‘suchness’, the ‘tathata’, the truthfulness & the consciousness, and the purity of the consciousness. There is some consciousness which is in tune, in context with the body, senses and objects & then there is one consciousness which is not in context with anything at all. It is just glowing within itself and which signifies the truth.