Tayata Om
Tayata Om Muni Muni
Maha Muniye Svaha
Tayata = it’s like this
Om = The All-Knowledge of the three bodies of a buddha and of the infinite Buddha’s Holy Body, Speech and Mind. The knowledge of the two paths to enlightenment (Method and Wisdom), and of the two truths (Absolute and relative) that contain all existence within them.
Muni (first one) = Control over the suffering of the three lower realms and over the wrong conception of the self-existent.
Muni (second one) = Control over the suffering of all samsara and over self-cherishing thoughts
.
Maha Muniye = Great control over the suffering of subtle illusions and over the dualistic mind.
Svaha = May my mind receive, absorb and keep the blessings of the mantra, and may they take root.
The Intention of the Chant
It’s like this: We celebrate our part in all that is. We establish control over the suffering of the three lower realms: over wrong conceptions of self-existence, control over self-cherishing thoughts, great control over the suffering of subtle illusions and the dualistic mind.
Here’s another interpretation from the Purify Mind site:
The mantra of Shakyamuni Buddha could be said to be the essence of the Buddha, the essence of his enlightenment. It is in no way separate from the Buddha himself.
Mantras are said to carry this enlightenment essence in the very sound of the syllables themselves. It’s an energetic thing. So, translations can sometimes get in the way of the experience of the energy of the mantra if we focus on the so-called meaning of the words at the expense of simply experiencing the sound that is being generated.
Mantra has been described as “a creative sound considered expressive of the deepest essence of things and understandings” thus the recitation of the mantra “can evoke in a formulaic or even magical way” a transcendent state of mind and energy. Also, “mantra is the pure sound of enlightened speech.”
“Reciting a mantra…does not mean the mere vocal repetition of speech syllables. Many meditators know from experience that the act of reciting mantras transcends external sounds and words. It is more like listening to a subtle inner sound that has always inhabited our nervous system.”
–Lama Thubten Yeshe
Next – Gayatri Disco
