<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mani_Jewel" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mani</a> literally means 'jewel' in Sanskrit, and it is used to mean Buddha nature, for instance in the metaphor Indra's Net. It is described as a possession or attribute or treasure of awakened beings.</p>
<p>Padme is Sanskrit for 'lotus flower'. It is a powerful symbol in Buddhism, because the flower rises from the lake mud and is held above the lake, even while it is non-dual, not separated from the mud. Even in this mundane life, we can rise above, and attain purity.</p>
<p>Om &amp; hum have been called 'interjections without linguistic meaning, but widely known as divine sounds'.</p>
<p>So I would suggest the mantra as a whole is directed at remembrance, invocation, of the powerful Buddhist symbols of jewel and lotus, of intrinsic power of minds to awaken symbolised as faceted jewel, and dynamic power to awaken symbolised as a lotus flower that rises above what is impure.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-20T04:35:40.950Z
2021-09-20T04:35:40.950Z
CriglCragl
<p>You will probably not find a better explanation than that of the Dalai Lama.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>It is very good to recite the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM, but while you
  are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning
  of the six syllables is great and vast. The first, OM, is composed of
  three pure letters, A, U, and M. These symbolize the practitioner's
  impure body, speech, and mind; they also symbolize the pure exalted
  body, speech and mind of a Buddha.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The entire talk can be found here:
<a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/tib/omph.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/tib/omph.htm</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Thus the six syllables, OM MANI PADME HUM, mean that in dependence on
  the practice which is in indivisible union of method and wisdom, you
  can transform your impure body, speech and mind into the pure body,
  speech, and mind of a Buddha. It is said that you should not seek for
  Buddhahood outside of yourself; the substances for the achievement of
  Buddhahood are within. As Maitreya says in his SUBLIME CONTINUUM OF
  GREAT VEHICLE (UTTARA TANTRA) all beings naturally have the Buddha
  nature in their own continuum. We have within us the seed of purity,
  the essence of a One Gone Thus (TATHAGATAGARBHA), that is to be
  transformed and full developed into Buddhahood.   (From a lecture
  given by His Holiness The Dalai Lama of Tibet at the Kalmuck Mongolian
  Buddhist Center, New Jersey.)</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-02T03:47:22.850Z
2015-02-02T03:47:22.850Z
soulsings
<p>Complete reference to this can be found in Wikipedia:</p>

<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om_mani_padme_hum#Meaning" rel="nofollow">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om_mani_padme_hum#Meaning</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-02-04T16:19:49.667Z
2015-02-04T16:19:49.667Z
Ashoka
<p>I found on google that 'om mani padme hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha..'.
I want more about this.</p>

<personal-practice>
What is the meaning of 'Om mani padme hung'?
# What is the meaning of 'Om mani padme hung'?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-02-01)

I found on google that 'om mani padme hum, mean that in dependence on the practice of a path which is an indivisible union of method and wisdom, you can transform your impure body, speech, and mind into the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha..'.
I want more about this.

**Tags:** personal-practice


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-02-02. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

You will probably not find a better explanation than that of the Dalai Lama.

> It is very good to recite the mantra OM MANI PADME HUM, but while you
> are doing it, you should be thinking on its meaning, for the meaning
> of the six syllables is great and vast. The first, OM, is composed of
> three pure letters, A, U, and M. These symbolize the practitioner's
> impure body, speech, and mind; they also symbolize the pure exalted
> body, speech and mind of a Buddha.

The entire talk can be found here:
<http://www.sacred-texts.com/bud/tib/omph.htm>

> Thus the six syllables, OM MANI PADME HUM, mean that in dependence on
> the practice which is in indivisible union of method and wisdom, you
> can transform your impure body, speech and mind into the pure body,
> speech, and mind of a Buddha. It is said that you should not seek for
> Buddhahood outside of yourself; the substances for the achievement of
> Buddhahood are within. As Maitreya says in his SUBLIME CONTINUUM OF
> GREAT VEHICLE (UTTARA TANTRA) all beings naturally have the Buddha
> nature in their own continuum. We have within us the seed of purity,
> the essence of a One Gone Thus (TATHAGATAGARBHA), that is to be
> transformed and full developed into Buddhahood. (From a lecture
> given by His Holiness The Dalai Lama of Tibet at the Kalmuck Mongolian
> Buddhist Center, New Jersey.)


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### Answer by username_3 on 2015-02-04. Score: 3

Complete reference to this can be found in Wikipedia:

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om_mani_padme_hum#Meaning>


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### Answer by username_1 on 2021-09-20. Score: 0

[Mani](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mani_Jewel) literally means 'jewel' in Sanskrit, and it is used to mean Buddha nature, for instance in the metaphor Indra's Net. It is described as a possession or attribute or treasure of awakened beings.

Padme is Sanskrit for 'lotus flower'. It is a powerful symbol in Buddhism, because the flower rises from the lake mud and is held above the lake, even while it is non-dual, not separated from the mud. Even in this mundane life, we can rise above, and attain purity.

Om & hum have been called 'interjections without linguistic meaning, but widely known as divine sounds'.

So I would suggest the mantra as a whole is directed at remembrance, invocation, of the powerful Buddhist symbols of jewel and lotus, of intrinsic power of minds to awaken symbolised as faceted jewel, and dynamic power to awaken symbolised as a lotus flower that rises above what is impure.


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