Three Heart Mantras

1. Nine clarity syllables of Truth body

A-OM-HUNG, AH A-KAR SA-LE WOD A YANG OM DU

This mantra is an aspect of the Dharmakaya, the formless aspect of Buddha mind. Sometimes the A OM HUNG is not recited, leaving only the final nine syllables. The meaning of each of the nine syllables is as follows:

AH represents the primordial Buddha, the changeless Essence, the Void. A The second short A represents the ceaseless clarity. KAR means the purification of negative emotions, the two obscurations, and all karmas. SA-LE means beyond all limitations of words and concepts. WOD literally means light, but its significance here means beyond conceptual obscurations and grasping mind. A represents Buddha mind, the omni-consciousness that perceives all instantly. YANG normally represents the air element, but in this case it is associated with the wisdom prana—that which activates wisdom within oneself and removes obscurations. OM represents the Five Buddha Families, the Five Wisdoms, and the Five Embodiments. DU essentializes everything into oneness, the tigle nagchig, or single sphere.

Meaning

Though the meaning can be broken down syllable by syllable, one should understand that the ultimate meaning of the mantra is the essence of one’s own mind. The particular benefit of the mantra is to remove obstacles of meditation and develop clarity of the view. It is known as the mantra of the dharmakaya or Samantabhadra, or the mantra that develops the view. It is the essence of the actual deity Samantabhadra, so as you recite it you become more closely identified with this deity and all of his perfected qualities. When you recite the mantra, visualize that you transform yourself into Samantabhadra, Kuzang Gyalwa Dupa, or Shenla Odkar, who are all manifestations of pure Buddha mind. You should visualize that you are the umdze, or chant master, leading all sentient beings in reciting this mantra, and in this way benefiting not only yourself, but all beings.

Meaning:

Ah - Primordial State of Kuntu Zangpo

Om - Perfected Body (Dzogku)

Hung - Manifestation Body (Tulku)

A - Enlightened One of Compassion (Shen Lha Okar) Ah Kar - Pure Nature of Bön (Bonku)

Sa Le Öd - Clear Light

Ah Yang - Unborn Wisdom

Om - Five Bodies and Five Wisdoms

Du - Remain As It Is, In Its Own Nature

2. The liberation from the depth of samsara

OM MA-TRI MU-YE SA-LE DU

This mantra consists of eight seed syllables. The first two represent Tönpa Shenrab and Sherab Chamma, the loving mother. The next six are seed syllables of the Enlightened Ones of the six realms. Each of these six is an emanation of Tönpa Shenrab, whose purpose is to liberate all sentient beings.

OM is for Tonpa Shenrab who represents method and compassion. MA is for Sherab Chamma who represents wisdom and vast space. TRI is for Mucho Demdrug who transforms anger and hatred by means of love and friendliness thus purifying the hell realm. MU is for Sang wa Ngang Ring who transforms greed and desire by means of total generosity, thus purifying the realms of the pretas (hungry ghosts). YE is for Tisang Rangzhi who transforms ignorance and confusion by means of total knowledge and wisdom thus purifying the animal realm. SA is for Sangwa Duspa who transforms envy and jealousy by means of total expansion thus purifying the human realm. LE is for Chegyal Parti who transforms pride and arrogance by means of total peacefulness, thus purifying the realms of the Asuras of Titans (demigods). DU is for Yeshen Tsugphud who transforms indolence and self-absorption into diligence and vigor, thus purifying the God realm.

Meaning

Seen in this light and understanding these meanings, reciting this mantra is a way of helping all the beings of the six realms of existence. Reciting this mantra invokes the guide Buddhas of the six realms and their sources, Tonpa Shenrab and Sherab Chamma. Through their enlightened power, our negative emotions are dissolved and all the positive, pure, and virtuous qualities of love, generosity, wisdom, openness, peacefulness and compassion are invoked in us. Reciting this mantra helps us to connect with and reinforce those qualities within ourselves. It is not necessary to know all the legends of the various realms to gain benefit from this great mantra, but it is important to make a connection within ourselves to the virtuous qualities held by these seed syllables and come to embody those qualities.

Meaning:

Om - White; Tonpa Shenrab (who represents Compassion) 

Ma - Red; Sherab Chamma (who represents Wisdom)

Tri - Purple; Mucho Dem Dug (who transforms anger and hate by means of love, purifying the hell realm)

Mu - Red; Sanga Ngang Ring (who transforms greed and desire by means of generosity, thus purifying the hungry ghost realm)

Ye - Blue; Tisane Rangzhi (who transforms ignorance and confusion by means of knowledge and wisdom, thus purifying the animal realm)

Sa - Yellow; Drajin Pungpa (who transforms envy and jealousy by means of openness and flexibility, thus purifying the human realm)

Le - Grey; Chegyal Parti (who transforms pride and arrogance by means of peacefulness, thus purifying the demi-god realm)

Dhu - White; Yeshen Tsugphud (who transfroms laziness and sloth by means of diligence and vigor, thus purifying the god realm)

3. For purification of karmic imprints and negative emotion

AH-KAR A-ME DU-TRI-SU NAG-PO ZHI-ZHI MAL-MAL SO HA

AKAR represents the pure state of mind. A ME represents the wisdom of mind. DU TRI SU represents the three negative emotions: ignorance, hatred and attachment. NAG PO represents negativity. ZHI ZHI means to purify. MAL MAL means to obtain a blissful state of mind. SO HA means to remove all the negativities and lack of understanding.

Meaning

This mantra is associated with the Nirmanakaya, or physically manifest body of the Buddha, and is known as the purification mantra, or the mantra that offers protection from negative energies. The mantra can be broken into four groups of seed syllables: If you are repeating this mantra rapidly you can recite the SO HA every hundredth repetition, but there are many variations depending on the situation. If you are using the mantra for purification you need not recite SO HA. But if you are trying to cut through a negative influence you would always use SO AH at the end of each repetition.

Meaning:

A Kar - Pure state of mind

Ah Me - Clear aspect of wisdom

Duh Tri Su - Purifying the suffering of the lower three realms 

Nag Po - Eliminating negative karma

Zhi Zhi - Pacifying the suffering of the cyclic world

Mal Mal - Bringing joy and happiness

So Ha - Removing all misunderstanding and discriminatory thinking