Notes on Om Mani Padme Hum

This note is a study aid. See reference for details.

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Six syllables give praise to the bodhisattva of compassion,
Avalokiteshvara who is also known in Tibetan Buddhism as Chenrezig, and as Guanyin in Chinese Buddhism. According to Tsangsar Tulku Rinpoche's Chenrezig Sudhana, these syllables are:

Om represents:
• Six Pāramitās:
∘ Generosity
• Purifies:
∘ Pride / Ego
• Samsaric realm:
∘ Devas
• Color:
∘ White
• The symbol of the Deity:
∘ Wisdom
• (Wish them) to be born in:
∘ Perfect Realm of Potala

Ma represents:
• Six Pāramitās:
∘ Ethics
• Purifies:
∘ Jealousy / Lust for entertainment
• Samsaric realm:
∘ Asuras
• Color:
∘ Green
• The symbol of the Deity:
∘ Compassion
• (Wish them) to be born in:
∘ Perfect Realm of Potala

Ni represents:
• Six Pāramitās:
∘ Patience
• Purifies:
∘ Passion / desire
• Samsaric realm:
∘ Humans
• Color:
∘ Yellow
• The symbol of the Deity:
∘ Body, speech, mind quality and activity
• (Wish them) to be born in:
∘ Dewachen

Pad represents:
• Six Pāramitās:
∘ Diligence
• Purifies:
∘ Ignorance / prejudice
• Samsaric realm:
∘ Animals
• Color:
∘ Blue
• The symbol of the Deity:
∘ Equanimity
• (Wish them) to be born in:
∘ the presence of Protector (Chenrezig)

Me represents:
• Six Pāramitās:
∘ Renunciation
• Purifies:
∘ Poverty / possessiveness
• Samsaric realm:
∘ Pretas (hungry ghosts)
• Color:
∘ Red
• The symbol of the Deity:
∘ Bliss
• (Wish them) to be born in:
∘ Perfect Realm of Potala

Hum represents:
• Six Pāramitās:
∘ Wisdom
• Purifies:
∘ Aggression / hatred
• Samsaric realm:
∘ Naraka
• Color:
∘ Black
• The symbol of the Deity:
∘ Quality of Compassion
• (Wish them) to be born in:
∘ the presence of the Lotus Throne (of Chenrezig)

According to HH the 14th Dalai Lama,

Om symbolizes:
• the practitioner's impure body, speech, and mind
• the pure exalted body, speech, and mind of a Buddha

Mani (jewel) symbolizes:
• the factors of method: (the) altruistic intention to become enlightened, compassion, and love

Padme (lotus) symbolizes:
• wisdom

Hum symbolizes:
• indivisibility
• purity achieved by an indivisible unity of method and wisdom

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References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Om_mani_padme_hum