Om and Its Meaning in Buddhism
Buddhism is another religion within which the Om symbol plays an important role. Now, the earlier forms of Buddhism did not have much to do with the Om symbol, but this did change over time.
This is especially true with Tibetan Buddhism, which was greatly influenced by Hinduism.
The Om symbol is often placed at the beginning and/or end of Buddhist mantras and texts. One of the most commonly known mantras is Om mani padme hum, the mantra of compassion. Many people interpret this mantra as the “totality of sound, existence, and consciousness.”
During the 14th century, the Dalai Lama described Om as consisting of 3 separate letters, these being A, U, and M. There are various symbolizations associated with these 3 letters including the “pure exalted body, speech, and mind of the enlightened Buddha.
The Om also symbolizes “wholeness, perfection, and the infinite.” On many statues and Eastern Asian monuments, the Buddhist Om is featured by a pair of fierce guardian kings, one which pronounces the A part while the other pronounces the UM. Together, these kings are considered to be saying “the absolute.”
#tibetanhealingmantra
#buddhistmantra
