In this passage, the Venerable Master advises: if anyone wholeheartedly recites the six words “Nam Mô A Di Đà Phật” without interruption, then when facing dangerous situations, they will be protected by Buddha and the heavens, or someone will rescue them.
The six-syllable (or six-word) heart mantra of Amitabha Buddha is Om Ami Deva Hrih (Sanskrit: oṃ amideva hrīḥ), often used in Tibetan Buddhism to invoke the Buddha of Infinite Light.
Breakdown of the Mantra
- Om: Represents the sacred body, speech, and mind.
- Ami: Short for Amita (Infinite), referring to Infinite Light.
- Deva: Meaning “shining one” or “god,” referring to the Buddha of Light.
- Hrih: The seed syllable of Amitabha, representing compassion and awakening.
Key Benefits and Practice
- Purification: It is believed to purify negative karma and the six negative emotions corresponding to the six realms of existence.
- Rebirth in Pure Land: Chanting this mantra is believed to help practitioners be reborn in Amitabha’s Western Pure Land of Sukhavati.
- Heart Mantra: While there is a longer “Rebirth Dharani,” Om Ami Deva Hrih is considered the short, accessible “heart mantra” of Amitabha.
Another common six-syllable practice related to the Pure Land tradition, particularly in Japanese Buddhism, is the Nenbutsu: Namu Amida Butsu.
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