雪域經聲 Tibetan Mantras

・Make a wish for yourself: you've been through a lot lately — write one kind sentence to yourself ・Write the name of someone you want to bless, and wish them peace and joy ・If there is someone or something you can't let go of, write "May you be well too", and loosen your grip a little ・Or simply write "May all beings be happy", join your palms, and listen quietly to the end

🏔 Lake Namtso · the Heavenly Lake Namtso means "Heavenly Lake" in Tibetan. It is one of the three great sacred lakes of Tibet, so blue it looks as if the sky has been laid upon the earth. In this journey Drolma sets out along the shore at sunrise: she offers a white khata at a mani stone cairn, cups the holy water in her hands, walks the long row of prayer wheels, holds a little lamb on the grassland, and throws wind-horse prayers into the air on a mountain pass; at sunset she looks back with a smile, and at nightfall she lifts a butter lamp to pray for everyone.

📿 The Metta Sutta (Karaṇīya Mettā Sutta) From the Sutta Nipāta of the Pali Canon, one of the most widely chanted texts in Theravada Buddhism. It teaches us to offer loving-kindness to all beings, the way a mother protects her child. Verses sung in this video: Mātā yathā niyaṃ puttaṃ, āyusā ekaputtam anurakkhe Just as a mother would protect her only child, even with her own life, Evampi sabbabhūtesu, mānasaṃ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ so toward all living beings, let one cultivate a boundless heart. Sukhino vā khemino hontu, sabbe sattā bhavantu sukhitattā May they be happy and safe; may all beings be happy at heart.

Line-by-line Pali and meaning are included — turn on CC to chant along.

🎧 How to listen ・In morning or evening meditation: wish yourself well first, then your family and friends, and finally all beings ・Play it softly while reading, working or walking, and let your heart soften ・When you've argued with someone or are holding a grudge, listen once and try to let it go ・Turn the volume down at bedtime and let the chant carry you to sleep

May the merit of this be shared with everyone who hears it: may you be safe, may you be happy, and may all beings be held with kindness.

・Write your wish, or the name of someone you want to bless ・If a family member or friend is unwell or going through a hard time, write their name and pray for their peace ・If you miss someone who has passed away, write a few words to them, and let this sutra be chanted for them too ・Or simply write "Namo Avalokiteshvara", join your palms, and listen quietly to the end

🪷 Avalokiteshvara · the Sacred Lake The Heart Sutra begins with "Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva" — Guanyin, the bodhisattva of compassion. Tibetans call high lakes such as Namtso and Manasarovar "sacred lakes": the water is a mirror that reflects the snow mountains, and your own heart. Here Guanyin sits on a lotus in the middle of the lake, holding a white lotus, as the sunrise slowly spreads gold across the water and the halo behind her turns gently.

📿 The Heart Sutra "Form is emptiness, emptiness is form… With no hindrance in the mind, there is no fear; far beyond all confused dreams, one reaches nirvana." The mantra at the end of the sutra: Sanskrit: gate gate pāragate pārasaṃgate bodhi svāhā Chinese: 揭諦揭諦　波羅揭諦　波羅僧揭諦　菩提薩婆訶 Meaning: gone, gone, gone beyond, gone completely beyond — awakening, so be it.

🎧 How to listen ・Chant along silently during morning practice ・Play it softly while sitting, meditating or reading ・Turn the volume down at bedtime; 3 hours can carry you through a long, restful sleep

May the merit of this be shared with everyone who hears it: may your mind be free of hindrance, far from confused dreams, peaceful in body and heart, and may your wishes come true.

・Write down your wish, or the name of someone you want to bless ・If you are studying, writing or working toward a deadline, leave one line: "Today, I finish one page at a time" ・Pray for peace for family or friends by writing their names ・Or simply write "Om A Ra Pa Ca Na Dhih", join your palms, and listen quietly to the end

🌄 Manjushri · sunrise over the snow mountains Dawn has just broken. The sun rises behind the peaks and gold light spreads over the clouds. The roofs of a distant Tibetan monastery glow, and prayer flags stir in the wind. Manjushri sits on a lotus throne in the middle of the lake, in youthful form, gentle and still: the right hand raises the sword of wisdom with a flame at its tip; the left holds a blue lotus carrying the Prajñāpāramitā scripture. The halo behind turns slowly, clouds drift between the mountains, and the lake shimmers.

📿 The Manjushri Mantra (the five-syllable mantra) Sanskrit: Oṃ A Ra Pa Ca Na Dhīḥ Chinese: 嗡 阿 啦 巴 札 那 地 Manjushri is the bodhisattva of wisdom: the sword cuts through confusion, the scripture stands for prajñā. The five syllables (A Ra Pa Ca Na) with the closing Dhīḥ make one of the most widely chanted Manjushri mantras in both Chinese and Tibetan traditions, and in Tibetan Buddhism it is traditionally recited before study, reading and debate, wishing for a clear and focused mind. Traditional meanings: A — pure from the beginning; Ra — untouched by dust; Pa — returning to the present; Ca — thoughts rise and leave no trace; Na — no clinging; Dhīḥ — the light of wisdom.

Line-by-line Sanskrit and meaning are included — turn on CC at the bottom right to chant along silently.

🎧 How to listen ・Before early-morning study, writing or work, chant silently along for a few rounds to settle first ・Use it as soft background for studying and working — it will not steal your attention ・When you are restless and cannot read, listen for a while with headphones, then open the book ・Turn the volume down at bedtime to close the day quietly

May the merit of this be shared with everyone who hears it: a clear and focused mind, peace in body and mind, safety for your family, and wishes fulfilled.

🏔 Mount Kailash · the Kora Mount Kailash is the holy mountain of Tibet. Pilgrims walk the 52 km path around its base — the kora — believing it washes away the burdens of a lifetime. The prayer flags on the passes and the carved mani stones along the way all carry these six syllables. In this video, Drolma walks from the golden sunrise on the peak to the holy lake, the butter lamps of the temple, and the starry night sky, chanting with you all the way.

📿 The Six-Syllable Mantra Tibetan: ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པདྨེ་ཧཱུྃ Sanskrit: Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ Om Mani Padme Hum is the heart mantra of Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig), the Buddha of compassion, and the most recited mantra in Tibet. "Mani" is the jewel and "padme" the lotus — compassion and wisdom together. Prayer wheels, mani stones and prayer flags all repeat these six syllables.

🎧 How to listen ・Chant along silently during morning practice or meditation ・Play it softly in the background while reading or working ・Turn the volume down at bedtime and drift off with the chant

May everyone who hears this be peaceful, free from worry, and may their wishes come true.

・Write down your wish, or the name of someone you want to bless ・If a family member or friend is going through a hard time, write their name and pray for their peace ・If you are afraid of something right now, write "Don't be afraid, someone is watching over you" — and give those words to yourself, too ・Or simply write "Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha", join your palms, and listen quietly to the end

🌿 Green Tara · the one who carries us across Green Tara, called "Drolma" in Tibetan, is the Mother who arose from a tear of compassion shed by Avalokiteshvara, and in Tibet nearly every household recites her mantra. Her body is emerald green and she sits on a lotus and moon disc, her right leg stepping lightly down onto a small lotus — ready to rise at any moment and come to whoever needs her. Her right hand is in the wish-granting gesture, and her left hand, at her heart, holds a blue utpala flower. In this video Green Tara sits on a lotus above a sacred lake beneath snow mountains: clouds drift between the peaks, the water glimmers, and the halo of light behind her slowly turns.

📿 The Green Tara Mantra Sanskrit: Oṃ Tāre Tuttāre Ture Svāhā Pronounced: Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha (often chanted in Tibetan as "Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha") ・Tāre: the one who rescues — may we be freed from the suffering of samsara ・Tuttāre: may we be far from every fear and danger (traditionally, "the eight dangers") ・Ture: may body and mind be at peace, and every wish be fulfilled ・Svāhā: may this prayer take root in the heart and come to fruition In Tibetan Buddhism it is said that reciting the Green Tara Mantra gives the heart something to lean on in moments of fear and panic.

Line-by-line Sanskrit and meaning are included — turn on CC at the bottom right to chant along silently.

🎧 How to listen ・In morning or evening meditation, chant silently along with the voice, settling your heart a little more with each round ・When you feel anxious, can't sleep, or feel unsure about tomorrow, put on your headphones and listen for a while ・Play it in the background while reading or working, and let your mind slowly grow still ・Turn the volume down at bedtime — 3 hours can carry you through a whole stretch of sleep

May the merit of this be shared with everyone who hears it: may you be free from fear, at peace in body and mind, may your family be safe, and may your wishes come true.

・Write down your wish, or the name of someone you want to bless ・If a family member or friend is unwell or going through a hard time, write their name and pray for their peace ・If you miss someone who has passed away, write a few words to them, and let this recitation be for them too ・Or simply write "Namo Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva", join your palms, and listen quietly to the end

🌕 White-robed Guan Yin · a moonlit sacred lake Late at night, the full moon rises over the snow peaks and the Milky Way stretches across the sky. Lotus lanterns glow one by one on the sacred lake, and a thin mist drifts along the water. White-robed Guan Yin sits on a lotus throne in the middle of the lake, her right hand raised in the teaching gesture, her left hand holding a vase with a willow branch. The halo of light behind her slowly turns, and fine ripples spread across the water.

📿 The Great Compassion Mantra (Nīlakaṇṭha Dhāraṇī) The Great Compassion Mantra comes from the Sūtra of the Great Compassionate Heart Dhāraṇī of the Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteśvara, translated into Chinese by Bhagavaddharma in the Tang dynasty; the common Chinese version has 84 lines. It is one of the most widely chanted mantras of Avalokiteśvara (Guan Yin), recited again and again for over a thousand years in morning services and home shrines. This video uses the widely chanted Sanskrit version, from "Namo ratna-trayāya (homage to the Three Jewels)" to "Oṃ siddhyantu mantra padāya svāhā (may the words of the mantra be fulfilled)". The opening line: Sanskrit: Namo ratna-trayāya, namo āryāvalokiteśvarāya bodhisattvāya mahāsattvāya mahākāruṇikāya Meaning: Homage to the Three Jewels; homage to the noble Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva, the Great Being, the One of Great Compassion.

Line-by-line Sanskrit and meaning are included — turn on CC at the bottom right to chant along silently.

🎧 How to listen ・In morning or evening meditation, chant silently along with the voice, settling your heart a little more with each round ・When you feel anxious at night or can't sleep, put on your headphones, listen for a while, then close your eyes ・Play it in the background while reading or working, and let your mind slowly grow still ・Turn the volume down at bedtime — 3 hours can carry you through a whole stretch of sleep

May the merit of this be shared with everyone who hears it: may you be free from fear, at peace in body and mind, may your family be safe, and may your wishes come true.