In the Yungdrung Bön religious tradition, there are countless mantra for various purposes such as to protect from dangers and diseases, to cure various physical ailments, to attain various kinds of magical power, to increase prosperity and extend the lifespan, and to develop positive qualities and wisdom. From all of these, there are three primary essence mantra that encapsulate the totality of the Yungdrung Bön religious teachings. These three mantra are known as the SA LÉ Ö, the MA TRI, and the DU TRI SU mantra. Of these three, the MA TRI mantra is known as “The Great Mantra” because it is the distilled essence of all 84,000 teachings of Buddha Tönpa Shenrap Miwoché. The text of the MA TRI tantric cycle is The Sufficient Recitation that is a Precious Lamp that Shakes the Depths of Cyclic Existence. It is called “The Sufficient Recitation” because this single mantra is enough for everything. When teaching thirty-two of the specific benefits of the MA TRI mantra, the Buddha began by instructing his retinue in the profundity of the mantra.

“This Precious Lamp, the extracted heart essence of all of those who have gone to bliss, is the fundamental essence of the entire collection of sacred teachings. It is the quintessential essence of all Bön. It is the ultimate of all recitations. It is the highest of all views. It is the innermost essence of  all meditations. It is the fulfillment of all activities. It is the most superior of all results. It is the heart elixir of the principal teachings. It is a key to the collection of sacred teachings. It is the lamp of the collection of oral transmissions. It is the refined gold of the quintessential instructions. It opens the door of intellectual confusion. It is a lamp that clears away the darkness of ignorance.”

From Thirty-two Benefits of The Sufficient Recitation that is a Precious Lamp

Many mantra are secret and are not to be shared with the uninitiated or to be recited loud enough to be heard beyond one’s own shoulder. The MA TRI mantra is different. It can be shared, and read, and heard by anyone. In fact, in Thirty-two Benefits of The Sufficient Recitation that is a Precious Lamp, one of the benefits specified by the Buddha involves generating compassion and then reciting the mantra aloud for all sentient beings to hear.

“As for this Sufficient Recitation that is a Precious Lamp, if the clear and pure melodic recitation of the mantra from someone who has cultivated the mind of enlightenment enters the ear of any sentient beings living on mountains, cliffs, or water, or any wild animals, birds, or any kind of human or animal; whoever hears it will attain liberation. This is the precious lamp of sufficient hearing.”

In full, the MA TRI mantra is OM MA TRI MU YÉ SA LÉ DU. Each syllable of the mantra has a unique power and potency to manifest enlightened energy and form. Although the text gives an association for each of the syllables, this is not the same as a definition or a translated meaning. Mantric syllables are beyond the limitations and restrictions of intellectual concepts and words. However, in order to support trust in disciples who may doubt that the syllables are meaningful, Buddha Tönpa Shenrap gave the following teaching.

“OM is the seed syllable of the external space of the victorious Father. MA is the expanse of phenomenal space of the Mother’s womb. TRI is the enlightened body of Mucho Demdruk who protects from the suffering of the hot and cold hells. MU is the enlightened body of Sangwa Ngangring who removes the hunger and thirst of the destitute hungry ghosts. YÉ is the enlightened body of Tisang Rangzhi who dispels the darkness of stupidity and muteness of the animals. SA is the enlightened body of lord Drajin Pungpa་who fulfills the desires of the constantly busy and impoverished humans. LÉ is the enlightened body of Chegyal Parti ་who destroys the prison of the quarrelsome demi-gods. DU is the enlightened body of Yéshen Tsukpü who arouses diligence in the gods, the lazy ones who are destined to fall.” 

The Father is Buddha Tönpa Shenrap and the Mother is Tükjé Jamma. They manifest as the union of wisdom and skillful means. The other six seed syllables are associated with the six subduing shen who are manifestations of the Buddha Tönpa Shenrap who tame the negative emotions with their associated antidote. Buddha Mucho Demdruk tames the hatred of the beings in the hot and cold hell realms with great loving kindness. Buddha Sangwa Nangring tames the greed and desire of the hungry ghosts with great generosity. Buddha Tisang Rangzhi tames the stupidity and dull mindedness of animals with great wisdom. Buddha Drajin Pungpa tames the jealousy of humans with great openness. Buddha Chegyal Parti tames the pride of the demi-gods with great peacefulness. And Buddha Yéshen Tsukpü tames the laziness of the gods with great joyful diligence.

Each of the mantric syllables has an associated color. The five-part syllable OM consists of five colors. The remaining syllables each have a single color that corresponds to the color of the associated deity. The syllable MA is coral red. The syllable TRI is often depicted as purple. The text states that the deity’s body color is red-blue to show his mastery over fire and water. The syllable MU is red. the syllable YÉ is blue. The syllable SA is golden or yellow. The syllable LÉ is pale blue. And the syllable DU is white.

In addition to the recitation, it is beneficial to place the MA TRI mantra over doorways. In that way, whoever passes underneath receives blessing. The MA TRI amulet has the quality of liberation through touching. Thus, it is of great benefit to wear. At the time of death, this amulet is placed at the crown of the head to support realization or at least a positive rebirth. The blessed medicine of the MA TRI cycle is one of the most commonly performed and distributed to the faithful.

The lineage of the MA TRI tantra passed from Buddha Tönpa Shenrap to his son Tobu Bumsé who accepted responsibility for all of the teachings related to tantra. After the Buddha showed the truth of impermanence and passed into parinirvana, Mucho Demdruk was appointed his representative. He entrusted the MA TRI tantra of The Sufficient Recitation that is a Precious Lamp that Shakes the Depths of Cyclic Existence to the scholar from Tazik, Mutsa Trahé. He then divided the teachings into condensed, medium-length, and expanded versions. These he passed on to the three shen who taught among the gods, the humans, and the lu [Sanskrit: naga]. Milu Samlek was the shen who taught among the humans and while he was practicing near Mt. Tisé [MT. Kailash], he widely spread the expansive version of the MA TRI tantra. Drenpa Namkha traveled to the area to take part in a meeting of those translating the Yungdrung Bön texts into their own native languages. During that time, Mutsa Trahé presented him with the MA TRI scripture.

“Listen, Mu Shen Drenpa Namkha. Listen! This cycle of Bön is especially exalted. It is comparable to the heart inside the chest. There is nothing more profound than this Bön that purifies defilements. Great translator, this is a profound gift from me. I am entrusting it to you, fortunate shenpo. Hold this Bön in your mind. With the aspiration that it will spread until the end of time, please accept this.” 

Having accepted the responsibility to hold the lineage, Drenpa Namkha transmitted the teachings to his consort Khandro Öden Barma and spread them throughout Zhang Zhung and Tibet. However, some time later there was conflict between the two countries and the Tibetan king had proclaimed his intention to destroy Yungdrung Bön. Many scriptures were taken out of the country, some were hidden as treasures in the hopes that it would be sage to bring them out in the future, and others were destroyed. As for the MA TRI tantra, Drenpa Namkha memorized the extensive version and held it in his mind. The medium-length version was hidden as a treasure in Mount Gangkar Sha Mé in the far western area of Ngari, Tibet. Then, the practice of Yungdrung Bön declined for many years.

Then, in the Metal Rat year of 1360 CE in Khyungpo, Tibet, Tülku Loden Nyingpo was born. [He is also known as Namkha Rinchen.] He would become a renowned treasure revealer who brought many of the scriptures out of hiding. Among these scriptures was The Sufficient Recitation that is a Precious Lamp that Shakes the Depths of Cyclic Existence. During an extraordinary visionary encounter, he was invited to a pure realm where he received the transmissions of the tantra from both Drenpa Namkha and Khandro Öden Barma. He recounts this encounter in great detail in the chapter entitled The Way the Empowerments, Oral Transmissions, and Quintessential Instructions were Received. Khandro Öden Barma instructs him to keep it to himself until he feels it appropriate to begin sharing the teachings. He went on to be a wandering yogi with many disciples to whom he passed on the transmission. It has continued uninterrupted to the present day.

Again and again, Buddha Tönpa Shenrap reminded his disciples that this MA TRI mantra and its practice would be especially beneficial for future generations because of its simplicity. This was stressed by Drenpa Namkha during Tülku Loden Nyingpo’s visionary encounter with him.

“Son, Listen! Fortunate son of the lineage, it is greatly amazing that you have come here to this place. Now, it has become the end of time and The Age of Conflict has arisen. In the future, men and women will not have the opportunity to achieve the attainment of single-pointedness. Illness, famine, and weapons will be widespread during this age. Rulers will have no morality and the rule of law will disappear. Ministers will be senseless and have extensive vanity. Great meditators will only pretend to follow the key points. Yogis will spend time debating over grammar and logic. Those that practice the Great Vehicle will fall into the extremes of externalism or nihilism and be stuck on the path. Masters and disciples will not be in harmony and their association will only last a short time. Spiritual friends will regret their vows, will have hidden intentions, and will speak carelessly. Acts of virtue and acts of wrongdoing will become mixed up. These are the characteristics of the Age of Conflict. For that time and circumstance, this inner essence of The Precious Lamp is recommended for the benefit of migrating sentient beings.”

From The Way the Empowerment, Transmission, and Quintessential Instructions were Received

Even though there is slight variation in the various compilations of The Sufficient Recitation that is a Precious Lamp that Shakes the Depths of Cyclic Existence, in general it consists of eight primary sections. This is why it is also referred to as The Eight-branched Sutra. Additionally, there are chapters chapters added by both Drenpa Namkha and Tülku Loden Nyingpo. The list below gives an idea of the chapters within the Volume.

• Teaching and Ritual that Purifies Obscurations and Clears Away the Darkness: Preliminary, Main, and Concluding Practices
• Instructions Regarding the Essence of the Precious Lamp
• Instructions on the View
• Instructions on Meditation
• Instructions on Conduct
• Instructions on Result
• Instructions on the Mantra, The Inner Heartdrop
• The Quintessential Instructions
• Continuously Engaging in Recitation and Accomplishment
• Instructions on the Ritual for the Worldly Palgön
• Praise of the Teacher by the Retinue 
• The Lamp that Illuminates Actual Realization 
• The Way the Empowerment, Transmission, and Quintessential Instructions were Received
• Maintaining a Continual Practice
• The Refined Gold of Quintessential Instructions
• Thirty-two Benefits of The Precious Lamp
• Death Ransom Torma that Reverses Negativity
• The Mirror of Accomplishment
• Pointing Out The Precious Lamp
• Wisdom Powa that is like a Meteor
• Drawing the Protective Amulet
• Drawing the Protection and Longevity Amulet
• Drawing the Amulet the Reverses Negativity

“OM MA TRI MU YÉ SA LÉ DU Listen, fortunate ones! The long flowing river of birth is the first. The thunderous waterway of old age is the second. The raging whirlpool of illness is the third. Death that has no escape is the fourth.These four are the demon rivers from which there is no escape. Noble ones who want to cross over those rivers, proclaim the melody of the MA TRI MU YÉ!

OM MA TRI MU YÉ SA LÉ DU Listen, fortunate ones! The churning ocean of cyclic existence is the first. The profoundly deep lake of suffering and misery is the second. The raging whirlpool of unhappiness is the third. Falling into the depths from which there is no escape is the fourth. These four lakes are the four prisons of suffering and misery. Noble Ones who want to be free from those prisons, proclaim the melody of the MA TRI MU YÉ!

OM MA TRI MU YÉ SA LÉ DU Listen, fortunate ones! The legions of mental dullness are the first. The strong coat of armor of pride is the second. The trained army of envy is the third. The sharp weapons of anger and hatred are the fourth. These are the four frightening enemies that come from behind. Noble Ones who want to escape from those enemies, proclaim the melody of the MA TRI MU YÉ!

OM MA TRI MU YÉ SA LÉ DU Listen, fortunate ones! Watching, teaching, and mastering mundane diversions is the first. Laziness and procrastination is the second. Exhausting the lifespan with the fire of distraction is the third. Mistakenly going astray because of illusory appearances is the fourth. These four are hindrances on the path to liberation. Noble Ones who want to be free of those hindrances, proclaim the melody of the MA TRI MU YÉ!”

Inspirational Verses Regarding the MA TRI written by Tülku Loden Nyingpo included in the forthcoming book on The Sufficient Recitation that is a Precious Lamp by Raven Cypress Wood

All translations from the Tibetan by Raven Cypress Wood

Raven Cypress Wood ©All Rights Reserved. No content, in part or in whole, is allowed to be used without direct permission from the author.

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