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My nature mantra

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Sometimes my mental state calls for the repetition of a phrase. Not too often, but when a particularly disruptive mood strikes, nothing helps calms my mind like a mantra. My use of mantras is strictly secular – I see them as a tool for mindfulness and don’t buy into the fact that a specific mantra can have any magical power. The repetition of a mantra is similar to counting breaths – it is a very simple and relatively “mindless” task that you can give the mind to keep it focussed.

But the thoughts associated with a mantra certainly can add value. I love the 14DL’s take on the meaning that should be associated with each syllable of Om Mani Padme Hum. To me, the meanings associated with the symbols provide an added layer – positive mental qualities that, through repeating the mantra and keeping the meaning in mind, are being gently drilled into the consciousness.

I’ve come up with a meaning-version of Om Mani Padme Hum that suits me well, so I’ll share it here. Nature is very dear to me, and I’m seldom happier than I am standing in the middle of some woods on a beautiful day. I’ve done a lot of thinking about how components of nature relate to the dharma, reinforce and represent its main points and act as examples of positive mind states. So my meaning-version of Om Mani Padme Hum is nature-based and relates to many points in the dharma through simple, easy to remember nature focuses. It goes without saying that my association of meanings to Om Mani Padme Hum aren’t based on any cultural, religious or linguistic meaning that I know of.

Om – Tree

Trees are my favorite part of nature, so of course they come first. Broadly, they represent all life and the need to care for it (the first precept). They also remind me of mindfulness and diligence. The fact that trees survive New England winters without freezing always amazes me. I like to think of trees when I’m having trouble sitting still in meditation.

Mani – River

Rivers represent impermanence, the acceptance of it (you’ll pass away) and the relief it provides (so will that terrible situation you find yourself in). Rivers are also a great reminder of not self. What part of the river makes it “the river”? The water, the riverbed, the rain, the mountains? More broadly, water provides an example (often cited in Taoist texts) of meeting reality and working with it rather than fighting it.

Padme – Earth

Earth represents generosity, gratitude and interconnectedness. The earth gives us literally everything we need to survive, from birth until death. It does this without asking for anything in return. We are made of the earth and we will dissolve back into it after death. In this way, it is us in a very literal sense.

Hum – Sky

Sky, or atmosphere, represents breath and renunciation. The atmosphere is an amazing blanket on this space rock we live on that makes our lives possible. Every breath we breath in and out relies upon it. The association with renunciation is easy as air seems like nothing, and yet it gives us so much. I sometimes think the renunciation aspect of Buddhism gets too light a treatment in the modern interpretations I’ve been exposed to, so I like to use this opportunity to remind myself why I’m careful to not indulge every want and “need” that arises, but to stop and question them and ultimately hold most of them at bay.

So that’s my Om Mani Padme Hum. I don’t chant or repeat it mentally terribly often, but when I do it always makes me feel good and effectively assists in the cultivation mindfulness and positive mental states.



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