Mantra and Vajrayana Tantrik Practice

"Whichever mantra one recites, the recitation shouldLike Hindu tantras Buddhist tantras also apply mantras
be divorced of the faults such as reciting it toofor every ritual and there is no difference in both
quickly, to clearly, too unclearly, reversing the longregarding potentialities of mantras and formations of
and short accents, being interrupted by othermantras, even some syllables are common to both.
conversations, and the mind beingFor example, Om which is a Vadic syllable is
distracted."-Yamantaka Tantraconsidered in Buddhist tantras with having the same
In Vajrayana Tantrism mantras are the substratumpotential as in Vedas. It is most sacred syllable and in
of all kinds of tantrik yoga sadhana. Deity yoga ismantra sastra is said to be joint or setu for all the
none other than mantra yoga. Mantras are said to bemantras. Without it all mantras are impotent. This
deities itself. Generally mantra is considered as a sutrasyllable is so much sacred for Hinduism, Buddhism also
in which potential of a deity is hidden. Mantras arein Jainism because of its spiritual quality;
arrangements of specific syllables which form a bodymetaphysically it is the essence of the existence. It is
of a sound and considered to be indescribable. Somethis very prana, since it moves chanting OUM. It is
mantras are of the nature of statements in whichrealized by Buddha too in his deep trance that is why
some secret meanings are hidden while some arefrom the very beginning it is adored by Buddhists as
meaningless and are only sound-forms. For example-most holy and sacred. Regarding mantras and its
Om mani padme hum the most popular mantra is annature there is no confusion in Hindu tantras and
statement, which says that there is an union inBuddhist tantras. Difference lies in the path, in the
between mani+padma i.e. vajra and padma. Whileimplementations of mantras in the sadhana. Path of
mantra like - Om ah hum is only sound-form, havingHindu tantras are adoration of deity and mantra while
no meaning to be known through reasoning, though itpath of Buddhist tantras is to conquer the natural
has secret meaning which could be known onlyforces through various Tantrik means whether it is
through the mantra sadhana.mantra sadhana or deity yoga.