The Meditation Practice of Ma Tri

Om Ma Tri Mu Ye Sa Le Du
The Ma Tri teaching is the heart essence of all the Awakened Ones of the past and of all their teachings.
It is the very essence of all teachings, the heart drop of all transmissions, the essence of the 84,000 doors
of Bon that the Awakened One Tonpa Shenrab taught. The Ma Tri teaching was given by the Awakened
One Tonpa Shenrab at the request of the compassionate being Tobu Bum Sang on behalf of the gods of
the desire realm, Dhod Lha Rig Drug. Tonpa Shenrab entrusted the Ma Tri teaching to Tobu Bum Sang.
Tobu Bum Sang later gave the Ma Tri teaching in the human realm.
Assume the fivefold posture and let your body settle into the posture. Feel relaxed and at ease. Let your
mind settle into the firmness of your posture.
Once you feel settled, visualize a white luminous syllable Om in the space in front of you above
the crown of your head. The Om rests on a sun and moon disc seated on a lotus blossom. From the Om,
rays of light in the five colors white, blue, green, red, and yellow radiate outward into all directions,
filling the space around you and everywhere. Imagine that the light reaches all beings and the Buddhas
and compassionate beings of the ten directions. Then it is reflected back to you and touches your heart.
As the light touches you, imagine that you are purified of all afflictions and karmic traces. Being purified,
your body transforms into a body of light.
Now gently bring your attention to the syllable
Om in front of you. Visualize that the Om slowly
transforms into white light. The light transforms into
the Buddha of Compassion, Shenlha Odkar in front
of you above the crown of your head. He is radiant
white in color and has one face and two hands. He is
seated in the meditation posture. His hands in his lap
hold the wish-fulfilling jewel. He is adorned with the
thirteen ornaments of peacefulness, including
golden necklaces, anklets, and wristlets.
Visualize that Shenlha Odkar transforms into
light that enters your body through the crown of
your head. The moment the light touches your head,
you transform into Shenlha Odkar. Stay in that state
of being Shenlha Odkar, the Buddha of compassion
and wisdom.
When you are ready visualize a radiant white
syllable Om in your heart center. Visualize the Om as
vividly as possible. The Om is surrounded by the
mantra Om Ma Tri Mu Ye Sa Le Du written in
clockwise direction. The syllables gently rotate in an
anti-clockwise direction. Visualize radiant rays of
white light radiating outward from the mantra’s
syllables. The light touches all Buddhas and compassionate beings. Then it is reflected back by them and
returns to you. Once it touches your heart, feel that you receive the blessings of all the Buddhas and
compassionate beings of the ten directions.
 Now visualize bright rays of white light radiating
outward from the mantra in your heart, touching all
beings throughout space and time. Send your love and
compassion through the rays of light, making the wish
that all beings be free from pain and suffering. The
moment the beings are touched by the light, they
become Buddhas, free from all suffering and affliction. Stay
in this state of contemplation and recite the mantra Om
Ma Tri Mu Ye Sa Le Du at least seven, twenty-one, or
hundred and eight times for one session.
Visualize that all the wisdom beings slowly dissolve into
space like a rainbow that dissolves. Visualize that all the
symbolic beings of your visualization gently dissolve into
you. Then visualize that you yourself dissolve into light.
Let the light gently transform into a radiant white
syllable Om. Slowly, the Om transforms into a luminous
white A. Be with the A for a while. Now let the A dissolve into space. Stay in that state of the
contemplation of clarity and emptiness. This is followed by the dedication of the merit of our practice.

The Meaning of the Ma Tri Mantra

Om Tonpa Shenrab: Primordial purity of heart and mind (white)

Ma Sherab Jamma: Love and compassion (golden)
Tri Mucho Demdug: Transformation of anger and hatred through love, thus purifying the
hell realm (purple)
Mu Sangwa Nangring: Transformation of greed and attachment through generosity, thus
purifying the hungry ghost realm (red)
Ye Tisang Ranzhi: Transformation of ignorance and confusion through knowledge and
wisdom, thus purifying the animal realm (green)
Sa Drazin Donpung: Transformation of envy and jealousy through openness and flexibility,
thus purifying the human realm (yellow)
Le Tsegyal Parti: Transformation of pride through peace and acceptance, thus purifying the
demi-gold realm (blue)
Du Yeshe Tsugphud: Transformation of laziness or carelessness through diligence and vigor,
thus purifying the god realm (white)

© 2010, Tempa Dukte Lama