THE LORD'S MANTRA
OM MANIPADME HUM
Literal Meaning of Words:
OM: The Way, the Divine. Acknowledging the Lord's highly elevated spiritual nature, atoned with The Way
MANIPADME: mani means jewel and padma means lotus. Jewel-Lotus, an epithet of Avalokitesvara
HUM: making oneself accessible, conscious of the Lord's presence, available
Wayist understanding:
Avalokitesvara changed the face of spirituality totally by taking humankind away from sacrificial temple worship of gods. In the past, we were always asking for boons and favours. Philosophical introspection used to belong to the elite, the few who could read and write. The Lord came to make it mainstream for all, and in a simple, humble and compassionate way.
The Lord taught us to look inward to experience the Divine within and throughout all. "The Kingdom of heaven is within" said Iesous/Yesu/Jesus. We were told to seen inside ourselves for the jewel that brings about liberation from the potentially eternal cycle of rebirth. The most famous teaching of the Lord is the analogy of the Lotus ~ that we should study the lotus lily and in that we will find the Truth by which we shall gain the wisdom to be liberated unto rebirth.
So famous was the Lord's lily teachings that very soon the epithet of Avalokitesvara became Jewel-Lotus. The story of the lotus became that magic that magic elixir so many seek in prayer, reciting mantras, austerity, etc. ~ and it became attainable by all, rich and poor, male and female, young and old alike. This was most offensive to the wardens of sacrificial religion and many religious sects. In India, only Sarvastivada Buddhism, Mahayana Buddhism and Saivism bought into it in the beginning, and developed the teaching in their midst.
The Jewel-Lotus teaching symbolizes the essence of this new awareness, the amazing new consciousness; so well that the Lord gave us this mantra by which to contemplate this truth and embody the teaching.
To explain more about the meaning of the manipadme teaching, the best I can do here is to quote (by kind permission from Wayist Publishing) several pages from our primary text, the book WAYISM by Salvar Daosenghlu.
You are listening to the beautiful rendition of the master of chants Imee Ooi
The Jewel is in the Lotus
One lotus seed released, flowing down the river
bright sunlight
then drawn down to the dark depths below
Two parts contain all potential, male, and female God made them.
From the two, all miraculous manifestations in the
underworld, in the water world, in the future bright
expanse
Three hundred times wide in all directions, seven-orifice roots explore the dark thick mud competing for resources
gently thrusting thick, strong, and supple phallic bulbous
penetrating every crevice, sucking nourishment,
embracing the ugly
gaining sustenance from unclean disgusting places
Purifying
feeding on decay and recycled life
frightened by creatures in the black, wet, underworld
the soul grows
Above, a new world, murky water, tumultuous currents
dim light calling
a single stalk, slowly venturing
muddy waters settling
reaching higher, new creatures, bright eyes
learning, growing stronger, securely rooted
Dim light becoming brighter, warmer, changes, maturing
higher consciousness, two worlds to live in, yet reaching
higher
Suddenly with child
changes inside and out
something growing inside, something alive
virgin birth it must be
yearning the bright world up there to see
Soul bulging with glory flowerful potential
pushing, throbbing, overwhelming
bright light calling; rooted in darkness
unfamiliar forces, new awareness, changes
Surrender
bright light bursting through, a new world
a baby flower is born
inherent potential nurtured, now blossomed
baby flowers slowly open, sunshine bright, warm and
wondrous heat
No more water, a glorious new sky
wise teachers gape in awe, kings celebrate,
poets inspired
miracle of miracles, the Way within
God among us
New friends, a new life, a higher purpose
stamens, nectar, the loveliest scent permeates
the new world
giving resources, giving shelter, giving food
A Divine calling
depended upon by tadpoles, snails, beavers, ducks, fish,
rivers, humans, ponds, wetlands, grubs, beetles,
untold utility
Fulfillment of the purpose of life
glorious days, moonlit nights
Rooted in dark decay, struggled through the water world,
flowered in the bright new world
giving more than she takes
Beetles feed on nectar, baby fish shelter, river bed healed,
water filtered clean
stamens for tea, rice flavored, flowers of beauty, joy and
children delight
leaves for wrapping, stalks for stews, roots for soup,
seeds for healing, candy, flavor, deep symbolism
giving more than she takes
Journeyed on the Way
hollow roots, hollow shoots, hollow leaves, yielding,
resilient, and supple
seeds with mystical numbers containing all potential
released, flowing down the river
bright sunlight
then, drawn down to the dark depths below
Three worlds a better place, small footprint,
yet so much, she gave
truly a symbol of the Way
Truly compassionate
embracing all worlds, giving to all creatures, patient,
diligent, loving
Truly simple
Uncomplicated, purpose driven, no announcement,
just being
Truly humble
rooted in darkness, humbly striving, undemanding,
untold utility, just being
Verily, the Jewel is in the lotus
The chapter quoted above tends to keep people busy for many years. In the mean time, the Lord's manta helps to make things clear on a metaphysical level. For us to be like the lotus lily, to simply go with the flow, reach up to the light from the lowly mud beds below the river and grow toward the light while giving more nurture and more benefit than what we take, comes a little easier when we reach out to the Lord for His loving sustenance, energy and reinvigorating spiritual energy.
Listen to Vanya chanting the Lord's mantra: The Jewel is in the Lotus