15) Reciting the life essence mantra of Buddha Amitabha
Like a young child crying for our mother
Melodiously, throughout six periods of day and night,
We receive Amitabha’s compassionate care more quickly.
That is my heart advice.
This verse teaches the purpose of reciting Buddha Amitabha’s name mantra. Ritual of Buddha Amitabha comes to us through many different lineages, including the lineage of the Teachings, a ‘terma’ treasure lineage, and a pure vision lineage. The ritual that we recite is a profound practice that was hidden as a terma by Guru Padmasambhava in the eighth century, and found in 1645 by the treasure revealer Namchö Mingyur Dorje. The treasure revealer Namchö Mingyur Dorje was an emanation of Guru Padmasambhava. He was able to speak directly with meditational Yidam Deities such as Buddha Amitabha just like one person speaking with another. We are extremely fortunate to be in this Dharma lineage and to still be doing this practice.
There are different Buddha Amitabha name mantras, long, middling, and short. We should recite the six-syllable mantra OM AH MI DE WA HRI, which is the life-mantra. Mental recitation and soundless recitation of mantra is sometimes advised for Yidam Deities with a wrathful aspect, but for a peaceful Deity like Buddha Amitabha, mantra should be chanted with melody; and the melody should be plaintive with longing, like a child calling out for her mother.
Excerpt from ” A Door of Entrance to the Heart Advice Called A Ship Sailing to Liberation. A Commentary to the Heartfelt Advice of Dharma Nectar” Written by Khenpo Karten Rinpoche, originally published in January of 2019. Text is available in Tibetan and English on the Teachings page.
