100-syllable mantra of The Great Purifier

Who is Vajrasattva?

Vajrasattva is a Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism.

The Vajrasattva practice is common for all four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism: Gelug, Kagyu, Sakya, Nyingma. Vajrasattva mantra recitation is the best-known of the purification mantras in Tibetan Buddhism.

100-syllable mantra

Vajrasattva’s mantra can purify obstacles, delusions, and negative karma which is a necessary step in Buddhist practice. By reciting the Vajrasattva mantra you are generating merit using your Body (breath and posture), Mind (visualization), and Speech (mantra).

All Buddhist practices can be described by the goal of purification of the five aggregates through various forms of meditation, mantra recitation, visualizations, and virtues.

The Five aggregates or “Skandhas” in Sanskrit are:

  1. Form: or matter – the material form or body
  2. Sensation: sensory experiences or feelings.
  3. Perceptions: or how we comprehend and process things.
  4. Mental Formations: conditioning and good or bad karmic activities, which are the mental imprints and reactions that cause us to act.
  5. Consciousness: awareness and discrimination there are six types of consciousness.

Mantra of Vajrasattva

OM VAJRASATTVA SAMAYA MANUPALAYA

VAJRASATTVA TVENOPATISHTHA

DRIDHO ME BHAVA

SUTOSHYO ME BHAVA

SUPOSHYO ME BHAVA

ANURAKTO ME BHAVA

SARVA SIDDHIM ME PRAYACCHA

SARVA KARMA SU CHAME

CHITTAM SHRIYAM KURU HUM

HA HA HA HA HO

BHAGAVAN SARVA TATHAGATA

VAJRA MAME MUNCHA

VAJRA BHAVA MAHA SAMAYA SATTVA

AH HUM PHAT

How to recite the mantra?

  1. Memorize the mantra
  2. Keep your body relax, back straight.
  3. Visualize a deity either in front of you or on top of your head, the chakra of great bliss. (DO NOT visualize yourself as Vajrasattva)
  4. Recite the mantra with full concentration
  5. While reciting, concentrate on the four opponent powers.
  6. Visualize the white light, purifying nectar coming from the heart of Vajrasattva, and entering your body through the crown chakra and purifies the whole body.
  7. Then visualize the nectar is coming down to you from the Vajrasattva’s heart and purifying your speech. All the unwholesomeness of the speech is coming out from your mouth, dissolving into the air, and disappearing.
  8. Visualize the nectar is coming down to you from the Vajrasattva’s heart, and dissolving into your heart. Your mind is purified. Attachment, ignorance, and fear are disappearing.
  9. Vajrasattva is becoming smaller and smaller entering through your crown chakra and always protecting you.
  10. Finish the practice, by promising yourself to refrain from committing any negative actions of body, speech, or mind again.

How many times to repeat the mantra?

Repeat it 21 times for each of the purification practices (21 for the Body, 21 for the Speech, 21 for the Mind).

The Four Opponent Powers

Vajrasattva practice also includes the Four Opponent Powers.

  • The Power of Regret: recalling all of our negative actions in the past motivated by ignorance, attachment, or aversion. By reciting the mantra, imagine all the negative actions are being purified you the wondrous nectar or white light of Vajrasattva.
  • The Power of Remedy: the mantra and visualization and mental focus on purification.
  • The Power of Reliance: Taking Refuge in the Three Jewels, Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.
  • The Power of the Promise: or undertaking to refrain from creating negative karma (actions) in the future.