Mantra

Mantras (Tib.སྔགས་ ngak; Wyl. sngags) are sacred syllables used in Vajrayana practice to protect the minds of practitioners from negativity and ordinary impure perceptions (the root Sanskrit terms are manas meaning 'mind', and trai meaning 'protect'). They also serve to invoke the yidam deities and their retinues.

Subdivisions

1. secret mantras
2. knowledge mantras
3. dharani mantras

Teachings Given to the Rigpa Sangha

• Sogyal Rinpoche, Lerab Ling, 21 July 2011

Further Reading

• Sogyal Rinpoche, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, revised and updated edition (Harper San Francisco, 2002)

Internal Links

• Nine principles of mantra
• Secret mantra