THREE HEART MANTRA

By Geshe Sonam Gurung

The Three Heart Mantra are central within Bön Lineage traditions. Representing the embodiment of the enlightened buddha-bodies through sounds and vibration, these mantras are said to align our mind with our inherent true nature. Whether chanting, reciting or inscribing, these mantras are revered for their great merit, purification and blessing to all sentient beings.  

Mantra of Dharmakaya

Ah Om Hung A Ah Kar Sa Le Od Ah Yang Om Dhu

In this video, Geshe Sonam explains the essence mantra of Dharmakaya.

  • Ah represents Dharamakaya - Nature of Mind

  • Om represents Sambhogakaya - Unity of Mind, Body & Speech

  • Hung represents Nirmanakaya - Embodiment of enlightened Activities

  • A refers to unborn, inherent true nature

  • Ah (Longer Ah) - refers to unshakable, immovable, unceasing true nature

  • Kar - White (pure) - staying on the natural state purifies of all karmic traces

  • Sa Le Od - meaning brightness - lucid nature

  • Yang Om Dhu - meaning peaceful pacification

Mantra of Sambhogakaya

Om Ma Tri Mu Ye Sa Le Dhu

In this video, Geshe Sonam explains the essence mantra of Sambhogakaya.

  • Om represents Buddha Tonpa Shenrab and the Great Compassion for all sentient beings

  • Ma represents Sherab Chamma, the Loving Mother of Wisdom. Her external aspect is the Mother of Loving-kindness. Her internal aspect is unconditional love, compassion, and wisdom

  • Tri Mu Ye Sa Le Dhu represents the enlightened manifestations of Buddha Tonpa Shenrab in the 6 realms of samsaric beings

Geshe Sonam explains that Sambhogakaya mantra is intended to help all sentient beings and the mantra’s essence is compassion and wisdom.

Mantra of Nirmanakaya

A Kar Ah Me Dhu Tri Su Nag Po Zhi Zhi Mal Mal So Ha

In this video, Geshe Sonam explains the essence mantra of Nirmanakaya.

  • A Kar refers to the white Ah. It represents the original pure space of the nature of mind, totally free from afflictive emotions and impurities.

  • Ah Me signifies the wisdom light that arises when we reside in the original space of the natural state of mind.

  • Dhu Tri Su represents the compassion and purification of the three lower realms.

    • Dhu is the compassion for hell realm beings.

    • Tri is the compassion for hungry ghosts beings.

    • Su is the compassion for animal beings.

  • Nag Po means black, and it symbolises the obscurations of these three realms.

  • Zhi Zhi means to pacify and make peaceful - the suffering of samsara.

  • Mal Mal brings about a clear and happy mind.

  • So Ha severs the wrong view of separation, jealously and duality.

Geshe explains by reciting this mantra, one can eliminate negative karma and obscurations, cultivate compassion, and attain wisdom and peace.

Acknowledgment: With gratitude to Ten Directions (www.tendirections.org) for publicly sharing these teachings via YouTube. We honour their ongoing dedication to preserving and sharing the Bön tradition.

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The Bön Mustang Australia Foundation LTD has been established with the primary intent to support, preserve and revitalise the precious Bön traditions and lineage teachings of the Mustang Region. This organisation is 100% funded on a volunteer and donation basis with all funds going to the direct support of The Children’s Hostel in Mustang, Nepal and for the continued development of The Shenten Thagye Ling Monastery at the request of H.H the 33rd Abbot of Menri Monastery.