Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the respected and beloved cofounder of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, offers us a significant book that is both a beautiful tool for experienced practitioners and a how-to for beginners.
Revitalize your practice with the potent energy of mantra.
In this book, beloved teacher Lama Zopa Rinpoche guides us through the most popular mantras in Tibetan Buddhism: Shakyamuni Buddha, Chenrezig, Manjushri, Tara, Medicine Buddha, Vajrasattva, and more.
A mantra--literally "that which protects the mind"--is a series of Sanskrit syllables that evoke the energy of a particular buddha or bodhisattva. It works as a sacred sound that brings blessings to ourselves and others, and as a tool to transform our mind into one that is more compassionate and wise.
In clear and succinct teachings, Lama Zopa shows us why we need different mantras and how each mantra works. He also explains their importance and power, giving specific instructions for practicing them. The exquisite, full-color illustrations of the deities that accompany the text make this book a beautiful guide, one suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners.
The Power of Mantra: Vital Practices for Transformation, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Wisdom Publications, Paperback, 312 pages, $34.95
Lama Zopa Rinpoche is one of the most internationally renowned masters of Tibetan Buddhism, working and teaching ceaselessly on almost every continent. He is the spiritual director and cofounder of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), an international network of Buddhist projects, including monasteries in six countries and meditation centers in over thirty; health and nutrition clinics, and clinics specializing in the treatment of leprosy and polio; as well as hospices, schools, publishing activities, and prison outreach projects worldwide.
CONTENTS: The Power of Mantra
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Editor';s Preface
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ix
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Introduction: The Power to Transform the Mind
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1
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The Power of Mantras
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1
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The Way Mantras Save Us
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4
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The Importance of Motivation
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8
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The Different Deities in Tibetan Buddhism
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11
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1.
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Shakyamuni Buddha
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13
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Visualizing Shakyamuni Buddha
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15
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The Mantra
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18
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How to Practice with Shakyamuni Buddha's Mantra
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23
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2.
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Chenrezig
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27
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Chenrezig Looks on All Sentient Beings
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29
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Visualizing Chenrezig
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31
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The Mantra
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35
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How to Practice with Chenrezig's Mantra
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46
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3.
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Manjushri
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49
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Manifestations of Manjushri
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50
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The Soft Glorified One
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53
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The Mantra
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56
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How to Practice with Manjushri's Mantra
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57
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4.
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Tara
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61
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Tara the Liberator
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62
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Green Tara
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69
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The Mantra
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70
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The Twenty-One Taras
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75
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White Tara
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89
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How to Practice with Green Tara's Mantra
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92
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5.
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Medicine Buddha
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95
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The Seven Medicine Buddhas
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97
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The Mantra
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100
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How to Practice with Medicine Buddha's Mantra
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109
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6.
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Vajrasattva
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115
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The Mantra
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119
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How to Practice with Vajrasattva's Mantra
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127
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7.
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The Thirty-Five Confession Buddhas
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135
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The Thirty-Five Buddhas
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137
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The Benefits of Reciting the Names
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139
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How to Practice with the Thirty-Five Confession Buddhas
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152
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8.
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The Five Great Mantras
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157
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The Mantras
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157
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The Benefits of the Mantras
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157
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The Kunrik Mantra
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160
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The Mitrukpa Mantra
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161
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The Mangyalma Mantras
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162
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The Stainless Pinnacle Deity Mantra
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166
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The Wish-Granting Wheel Mantra
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168
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Conclusion: The Benefits of Reciting Mantras are Uncountable
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171
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Appendices
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1: Preparing for Practice |
173 |
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2: Preliminary Prayers and Dedications |
187 |
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3: Meditation on the Seven Wisdoms |
189 |
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4: A short Green Tara Sadhana |
195 |
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5: Healing Buddha |
203 |
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6: More Powerful Mantras |
209 |
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7: Daily Mantras |
229 |
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Glossary |
253 |
Notes |
273 |
Bibliography |
287 |
About the Author |
295 |
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