Please explain me this about the Mani mantra.

[agorman]

From Six-syllable Mantra (Tibetan)

Each syllable in this six syllable Mantra liberates us from one realm of suffering out of each of the six realms of suffering filled existence. OM - liberates and purifies us from the emotions of bliss and pride in the samsaric realm of the Gods. MA - liberates and purifies us from the emotions of jealousy and lust for entertainment in the samsaric realm of Demi-Gods. NI - liberates and purifies us from the emotions of passion and desire in the samsaric realm of Humans. PAD - liberates and purifies us from the emotions of stupidity and prejudice in the samsaric realm of animals. ME - liberates and purifies us from the emotions of poverty and possessiveness in the samsaric realm of hungry ghosts. HUM - liberates and purifies us from the emotions of agression and hatred in the samsaric realm of hell.

So bliss is bad?! "lust" for entertainment is bad?!

When a buddhist talks about "desire" does he or she really refer to an obsession?

Why is passion so bad? Doesn't it give one more energy to accomplish something?

I've recited the mani mantra for a while in the past, but maybe not enough to feel those effects. The most noticiable effect was, it made me understand better why should we be compassionate towards other people; it's because the true self of other people (read "essence" if you don't like the word "self") is just like mine, so, why shouldn't I try to be merciful with them? They are not "me" but deep inside they are like me, even when they look, act and think differently and also have different stories.

 

[LuisDantas]

The operative word here, I propose, is "liberates".

It is not nearly so much the case that we should dispose of those emotions as that we should be aware of them and capable of disposing of them when they become hindrances or dangers.

 

[agorman]

It is not nearly so much the case that we should dispose of those emotions as that we should be aware of them and capable of disposing of them when they become hindrances or dangers.

Well thank you Luis! :bow: That's a very important detail! Why didn't I read that anywhere yet in any article about the mani mantra?

 

[LuisDantas]

I suppose some people do think the idea is to rid ourselves of emotions.

Others simply fail to emphasize the point.

 

[Onkara]

Hi Agorman
My understanding from a Theravada perspective is that there is a mental process of dependent origination. Most of these phenomena: lust, greed, passion, craving, hatred repulsions etc, stem from the three poisons or unwholesome roots. These roots need to be stopped when they appear to be taking hold of one's mind and actions. A mantra is away to stop them in the sense that by engaging the mind in a mantra one distracts the mind and changes the habitual mental progress.

When a buddhist talks about "desire" does he or she really refer to an obsession?
Desire is craving. Craving can lead to obsessing.

So bliss is bad?! "lust" for entertainment is bad?!
It is unusual to speak against bliss. I assume bliss to imply pride in one's feeling of contentment and not "bliss" from a sense of nirvana?

Why is passion so bad? Doesn't it give one more energy to accomplish something?

Karma makes people act. Passion or craving is what makes people act selfishly and it in turn results in birth, death and dukkha (more karma and suffering).

This touches on my personal concern with Buddhism. Really we are trying to extinguish ourself (extinguish and end craving and Karma), so the answer to your question is we don't want to accomplish anything other than the end of samsara.

 

[agorman]

This touches on my personal concern with Buddhism. Really we are trying to extinguish ourself (extinguish and end craving and Karma), so the answer to your question is we don't want to accomplish anything other than the end of samsara.

Is that just extinguishing craving for material things or craving for all things?

Passion or craving is what makes people act selfishly

What if my passion would be to help another person?

 

[Shuddhasattva]

As long as you're identifying it as your passion it is, ultimately, a hindrance.

Although I should say that the mantra you mention is also renowned as an invocation of desire and bliss as method and insight.

 

[Onkara]

Is that just extinguishing craving for material things or craving for all things?

I would say all things, because everything is mental.

It is craving for becoming or bhava:

Bhavana derives from the word Bhava meaning becoming or the subjective process of arousing mental states.
URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Becoming_(Buddhism)

Becoming leads to a new birth, which in turn leads to dukkha.

These are also useful:
Bhava Sutta: Becoming (1)
Twelve Nid

What if my passion would be to help another person?

Compassion would be more skilful. It should not evolve into passion for a particular goal or result. Passion is for a desired goal/result and this desire gives rise to grasping and 'becoming'. It is about understanding that there are beings who are suffering and that there is a way to end suffering. The action is to communicate that understanding to beings who listen. That action is karma and need not be based on passion for some goal or result.

Sorry if my replies are a bit dry, I can expand if necessary.