Guru Rinpoche is one of the most accomplished meditation practitioners in the history of Tibetan Buddhism. He founded Samye Monastery, the first monastery in the history of Tibetan Buddhism that fully embodies the Buddha, dharma, and Sangha, and set up a translation institute within the temple to translate Sanskrit Buddhist sutras and scriptures into Tibetan while training many translators. He was also revered for founding the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra (Om Ah Hum Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hum) is an ancient and unique mantra associated with Guru Rinpoche. The mantra is the manifestation of Guru Rinpoche’s wisdom. By chanting the mantra with great compassion, Grandmaster JinBodhi shows his sincerest understanding of all things and powerful concern for life.
Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra’s Healing Properties
Music and Healing
Music is not only a form of expression but also has powerful and infectious energy. In ancient shamanic cultures, singing and chanting were used to heal by shamans and healers. After World War II, using music as a healing method became a thriving profession, and was widely used in many fields. In 2008, Teppo Sarkamo, a psychologist at the University of Helsinki, conducted related experiments on music therapy for stroke patients and achieved good results [1][2].
“Huangdi Neijing” (The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine)
“Huangdi Neijing” (The Yellow Emperor’s Canon of Internal Medicine), one of the Chinese medical masterpieces written more than 2,000 years ago, explains the way of health through music, as well as how the five internal organs of humans (liver, heart, kidney, spleen and lung) correspond to the five elements (gold, wood, water, fire and earth) and the “five tones” [3].
There are many examples in history, both in China and abroad, of people benefiting from music therapy. For instance, in the 18th century, King Philip III of Spain suffered from severe depression that no medicine could cure. The queen then invited a famous Italian singer to the palace to sing in the room next to the king’s chamber. The singing then helped the king break out of his depressed state and he continued his reign after his recovery. In addition, Ouyang Xiu, one of the eight famous scholars of the Tang and Song Dynasties, also suffered from depression and felt a sense of failure while serving the government. He wrote that he once had a hidden sorrowful illness that no medicine could cure. As a result, he withdrew from his position and lived in seclusion. Later, he learned to play the zither from his friend, Sun Daozi. After playing the qin and listening to the melodic sound of it for a long time, he realized that the illness had just disappeared [4].
In general, the influence of music on humans is powerful. It can provide comfort to the soul and is an important outlet for stress relief in our busy lives. Music affects both physical and mental health, and it is easy to imagine how much healing power good music can bring. Out of compassion, Guru Rinpoche hoped that those who chant the Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra can eliminate all disasters, evil, obstacles, troubles, and illnesses, as if they were illuminated by the Buddha’s light. Guru Rinpoche pours his blessings and empowerment into the Heart Mantra, enabling people to return to their original intentions by chanting and find ways to calm their minds and bodies.
Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra’s Benefits
Guru Rinpoche’s Vows
Guru Rinpoche once wished to integrate and apply various methods in Buddhism to promote the wisdom of Buddha. He wanted to bring auspiciousness and illumination to all sentient beings through his dharma power and spiritual abilities. The Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra is the manifestation of Guru Rinpoche’s great compassion; the mantra contains immense blessing power, which can benefit sentient beings.
Guru Rinpoche once said, “Just as a child cries out to its mother who cannot bear to abandon it, anyone who chants the Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra with utmost sincerity will invoke my presence, and I will bestow comfort and blessings upon them at all times.” Thanks to Guru Rinpoche’s compassion, those who chant the mantra will always feel comforted and healed. Similarly, chanting the mantra also allows one to connect to Guru Rinpoche. Even if one cannot understand what the mantra means, simply chanting or listening to it is still helpful [5].
Utilizing the Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra
The Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra contains Guru Rinpoche’s compassionate aspiration and powerful energy, which can make one’s body, mind, and spirit more peaceful and harmonious, and help those who chant the mantra avoid evil and negative energy. So, when is a suitable time to listen to or chant the mantra? Here are a few points to consider:
1. Background Music
- At work: Playing the Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra as background music in an office environment can help everyone feel refreshed and enhance work efficiency.
- While studying: Listening to the mantra can help students develop wisdom, improve concentration, and be more creative.
- While driving: Playing the mantra can help drivers maintain a calm and peaceful state of mind, prevent road rage, and protect them during their journey.
- When trying to sleep: Listening to the mantra when experiencing difficulty sleeping can help calm the mind and promote better sleep.
- When one is alone at home: Playing the Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra helps to purify the energy field and create a protective effect, allowing auspicious energy to flow throughout the home.
2. Spiritual Therapy
Some people are prone to anxiety, fear, and panic, such as being afraid to walk alone at night or stay alone at home at night. They may also experience sleep problems such as nightmares or sleep paralysis. Others may have emotional knots, negative energy buildup or other issues. Listening to the Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra can help them ward off negative energies and gain a sense of inner peace and stability.
Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra’s Benefits
The Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra sung by Grandmaster JinBodhi contains his blessings and dharma power. By listening and accepting the mantra with utmost reverence and gratitude, one shall attain auspicious blessings and protection.
Testimonials of Benefiting from the Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra:
Ye Shikun
I fell in love with the mantra when I listened to it for the first time; it makes me feel peaceful and calms me down.
Jiang Jing
Listening to the Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra enables me to feel the flow of life through time, from birth, growth to aging. Guru Rinpoche teaches us the meaning of life by showing us the cycle through the mantra, and I feel so emotional listening to it! By listening and chanting along, I felt that I was also integrated with this compassionate energy, and tears of gratitude flowed unconsciously.
Hu Lianxiu
My grandson asks me to play the Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra every day after he listened to it the first time. He is able to chant along, and the mantra also makes him calmer. He doesn’t keep asking to play with the cell phone now, so that’s good.
Zhuang Jianping
The mantra moves me every time I listen to it!
Wei Lin
It’s powerful and warm, and it’s moving and healing me at the same time.
Kuan Hao Chen
When I listen to it, I feel tremendous healing power entering my body and mind. It feels so calming and auspicious; it’s as if all my troubles, problems and stress are slowly disappearing.
Jie Li
The mantra clears up all the messy thoughts in my mind and makes me feel comfortable and positive. It’s amazing!
Huang Jinghao
No words can express my feelings when I’m listening to the touching mantra. I hope the healing power of this mantra reaches every corner of the world like Buddha’s illumination.
Xiao Jie Liao
No words can express my feelings when I’m listening to the touching mantra. I hope the healing power of this mantra reaches every corner of the world like Buddha’s illumination.
Hua Wang
Love the chanting so much.It is very soothing and sweet to listen. I kept on listening without getting bored.
Ji Yueping
The mantra makes me want to keep listening to it. It’s so calming, and it’s worth recommending to others.
Aileen Zheng
My troubles, worries and stress disappeared while listening to the mantra.
Bertha
Something happened a few days ago, and I was panicking; my thoughts were in disarray. At that moment, I suddenly remembered the Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra, so I chanted it sincerely. Half an hour later, my mood gradually calmed down; I continued chanting as my body and mind became more and more comfortable. This music heals people!
Conclusion
When encountering obstacles and adversity in life, we can pray to Guru Rinpoche. By chanting the Guru Rinpoche’s Heart Mantra, and putting your mind, body and speech into it, you can connect with the compassionate energy of Guru Rinpoche, thus eliminating ignorance, fear, and obstacles. Guru Rinpoche vowed to liberate all sentient beings, so he will surely bestow sentient beings with strength and save all those who are suffering as long as they chant the mantra with utmost sincerity.
More Information:
◎ Further Reading
[2] Music Therapy for Stroke Patients: How it Benefits Recovery
[3] Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon)
[4] Ouyang Xiu – John Thompson on the Guqin Silk String Zither
