Mantra Healing

What is Mantra Healing?

Mantra Healing is a powerful form of healing dating from ancient times, which is based upon the philosophy of Interdependent Origination of all Phenomena. This philosophy purports that all phenomena in the universe are intimately interconnected: no single object, person or event can exist in isolation; every action, thought or event impacts on all other existent phenomena. Through a greater awareness of Interdependent Origination, we can become co-creators of our own reality, and influence important aspects of our lives, such as our health. We can also use these methods to heal manifestations of energy disturbance such as accidental injury and disease.

Modern physics confirms what many ancient cultures have known for many years - that energy and form are interchangeable; they are simply different manifestations of the same universal constituents. Mantra Healing focuses specifically on the energy of sound as a healing medium. Mantra Healing utilises ancient and secret mantras, often using ancient words from Sanskrit.

What is a Mantra?

Mantra is the pure essential energy of Sound. Sound in its most essential and pure manifestation has infinite potentiality, therefore reciting a mantra is a way of connecting with and manipulating very specific subtle energies. Mantra Healing utilizes this for healing effect.

Mantra is a Sanskrit word, deriving from ancient India. It means literally, ‘mind protection’. The Tibetan term for mantra is Ngak (Tib. sNgags), and a practitioner of this form of healing is called a Ngakpa.

Often when people hear the word mantra, they think of the Buddhist or Hindu religions and they associate mantra with some form of prayer. In general, this is because these religions utilise the energy of mantras to achieve a spiritual goal. There is another application of mantras, however, that is less well-known. This is Mantra Healing - the use of specific mantras for healing. There are many different mantras for a wide variety of physical, mental, emotional, financial, romantic and environmental problems.

How does Mantra Healing Work?

Mantras have their healing effect through the function of the Law of Interdependence. In Mantra Healing it is assumed that, for disease to be present, there is some form of underlying subtle energetic disturbance. Mantra Healing utilises the energy of sound to remedy this underlying energetic disturbance, treating the root cause, as well as the related and perpetuating factors, in preference to simply treating the symptoms.

What can I use Mantra Healing for?

There are literally hundreds of different Mantras for Healing. Some mantras are for specific problems, such as:

    • Diarrhea, Vomiting, Constipation, Viruses, Influenza, Infection
    • Pimples, Broken Bones, Infertility, Childbirth, Bleeding from an open wound

    There are Mantras to cover more generalized conditions, for example:

    Disorders of organs such as the Heart, Lungs, Liver, Spleen, Kidneys, Gall Bladder, Stomach or Colon; disorders of the Senses such as Sight, Hearing; or to alleviate Pain.

    There are Mantras to rebalance the 3 Humours (Wind, Bile and Phlegm). In Tibetan Medicine, the 3 Humours are considered to be the 3 vital energies in the body; disease manifests when the 3 Humours become imbalanced. Tibetan Medicine speaks of all diseases as being variations of different basic energy disturbances. These mantras have the ability to heal any sort of problem; they are very effective for illnesses which are complex, or where the cause of the illness may be unknown.

    Mantras have traditionally been handed down from Master to student. What is vital to receiving the transmission is that the student must hear the mantra being recited aloud by the Master. In this process, the sound vibrations of the mantra encapsulate the essence of the healing power - not just of the Mantra itself - but also the accumulated wisdom and healing power of the entire lineage of ngakpas who have used and empowered this mantra before.

    Someone who does not have this transmission - or connection of energy - cannot receive the benefits associated with using the mantra, even though they may chant the mantra many times. Using the mantra without transmission may either bring about no effects at all; or it may actually cause adverse effects.

    The effects of Mantra Healing can be surprisingly powerful, profound, and sometimes far-reaching. Mantra Healing often gives very rapid results, which may be particularly evident in diseases where other medicines have been tried and appear to be ineffective.

    What are the Origins of Mantra Healing?

    Healing through the use of Mantras has been performed for thousands of years. Its origins can be traced through early India, Tibet and Mongolia. There are also Healing Mantras that originated through the Hindu and Buddhist religions. While spiritual mantras are generally considered ‘closed’, meaning that only a follower of that faith can receive them, Healing Mantras generally do not have such a restriction placed upon them. Anyone who is interested can receive the transmission of Healing Mantras.

    The first record of mantras being used in healing practices is found in the famous Tibetan Medical Text the "Bum Shi" (‘Many Oral Instructions on Medicine’). The author of this text was Chebu Trishe, the first Tibetan physician. He was the son of Shenrab Miwoche - the founder of the philosophical Bon tradition - who lived approximately 3,900 years ago. Buddha Shakyamuni also transmitted many Healing Mantras in a Sutra referred to as the "Zhang Dus" (‘Collection of Mantras’) 2,600 years ago.

    In addition to these famous historical people, there have been many highly realized spiritual masters living in Tibet who have discovered their own Healing Mantras. This practice of ‘spontaneous discovery’of Mantras is referred to as gTerma (literally ‘hidden treasure’), and has been occurring in Tibet - in both the Bonpo tradition and the Buddhist religion - for more than a thousand years. Famous gTertons (individuals who discover such ‘hidden treasure’) include Dranpa Namkha, Sangje Lingpa, Dorje Lingpa, Padma Lingpa, Mingyur Dorje and Dudjom Lingpa.

    How are Mantras used for Healing?

    Healing Mantras can be used to heal oneself or to heal others. Traditionally, there are many ways of using the Healing Mantras; the method used depends upon the nature of the disease and the specific means through which the mantra functions. In general terms, the mantra is recited a specific number of times to activate its power, then the breath – which represents the essence of the Voice, and therefore contains the subtle energy of Sound – is used to energize a healing medium. Among the ways that this is done:

    Ngak Chu ‘Mantra Water’. The breath is blown onto water which is consumed or sprinkled.

    Ngak Mar ‘Mantra Butter’. The breath is blown onto butter (or oil) which is either consumed or rubbed on the problematic area.

    Tsa Ngak ‘Mantra Salt‘. The breath is blown onto salt which is then applied to the problematic area. In some cases the salt can be heated and then applied.

    Ngak Phu ‘Blowing Mantra‘. The hands are rubbed together and the mantra is blown onto them, then they are placed on the body on the problematic area.

    Chag Ngak ‘Metal Mantra‘. Metal is used to generate the healing energy.

    Ngak rDo ‘Mantra Stone‘. The breath is blown onto warm stones which are applied to the problematic area.

    Healing Mantras are extremely versatile, and can be utilized in many other ways in addition to these methods. Sometimes the practitioner may simply chant the mantra themselves, at other times the patient may be encouraged to listen to the sound of the mantra being chanted. Certain body-parts can be empowered by drawing on them mantras in specific colours; mantras can be made into amulets to be worn for protection from disease; specific mantras can be painted onto rice-paper and eaten for internal healing effects; incense which has been empowered with mantras may be burned for purposes of healing or purification. In general, authentic Tibetan Medicines and incense and have been empowered with mantras.

    Mantra Healing can be used separately as a treatment in its own right, or it can be combined with any other treatment modality or medicine in order to enhance its effects.

    When used in conjunction with diet, Mantras can be used to empower foods for therapeutic purposes, or to detoxify contaminated foods. Mantras can be used around the home to create a more comfortable living-space, or in the work environment to enhance communication and to increase productivity. Written Mantras can be worn as amulets in order to protect from accidents, injury, or to ward off spirit provocations. Mantras can be combined with herbal medications to enhance their effects; in fact, during the compounding of Traditional Tibetan medicines, many healing mantras are recited, incorporating the energy of sound into these complex combinations of herbs and minerals, in order to enhance their healing properties. Mantras can also be used in conjunction with traditional external therapies, such as Ku Nye massage, acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, and laying of heated stones or herbal compresses.

    Submitted by Michael Madrone, Mantra Healing (Ngakpa) Practitioner

Specific Techniques