How to learn to pronounce mantras?

[joehaz21]

Hi all, I’m having trouble pronouncing a lot of the mantras in Tibetan and was wondering how you guys learned how to pronounce them? I have a recording I took of my guru reciting the Vajrasattva mantra but for the life of me I can’t keep up with his recitation. I have tried YouTube and have looked up the text but the way it is presented in English I just can’t pron it lol. Any info is helpful thanks.

[pemachophel]

Try this version of the Vajrasattva mantra. No fancy Sanskrit dipthongs or diacritical marks. This is how I learned this mantra from my Teacher.

OM BA-DZRA SA-TO SA-MA-YA
MA-NU PA-LA-YA
BA-DZRA SA-TO TE-NO-PA
TE-THO DRI-DHO ME-BHA-WA
SU-TO KHA-YO ME-BHA-WA
SU-PO KHA-YO ME-BHA-WA
A-NU RAK-TO ME-BHA-WA
SAR-WA SID-DHI ME-PRA-YA-TSA
SAR-WA KAR-MA SU-TSA-ME
TSI-TAM SHRE-YAM KU-RU HUNG
HA HA HA HA HO
BHA-GA-WAN
SAR-WA TA-THA-GA-TA
BA-DZRA MA-ME MUN-TSA
BA-DZRI BHA-WA
MA-HA SA-MA-YA
SA-TO AH

Good luck & best wishes.

[jet.urgyen]

Hi all, I’m having trouble pronouncing a lot of the mantras in Tibetan and was wondering how you guys learned how to pronounce them? I have a recording I took of my guru reciting the Vajrasattva mantra but for the life of me I can’t keep up with his recitation. I have tried YouTube and have looked up the text but the way it is presented in English I just can’t pron it lol. Any info is helpful thanks.

Learn tibetan. A basic tibetan course is suficient, for the mantras are not in tibetan language, they are written in tibetan for keeping the correct pronunciation.

[Vasana]

You can use an existing transliteration as a basis and modify it according to the phonetics you hear in the audio and then re-write it for your practice. Obviously this isn't guaranteed to avoid errors but at least you will be able to practice along as closely as you can.

[Kris]

For some reason I won't consciously chant Vajra as 'Benzra' or 'Badzra'

[joehaz21]

Thank you all for your helpful replies. I’m trying to learn the Tibetan alphabet and if you have any recommendations or tips I would be very grateful.

[jet.urgyen]

Thank you all for your helpful replies. I’m trying to learn the Tibetan alphabet and if you have any recommendations or tips I would be very grateful.

Haha i'm also learning. Fortunately my teacher also is practitioner and is fantastic, i learned a lot, i mean like the starting "missing puzzle pieces" i had on vajrayana, and also language sanskrit and it's relation to tibetan.

I envourage you to look for someone who can give you a bit of time to learn, the best is a translator. Good luck!

[Wayfarer]

in regard to Sanskrit (not Tibetan), I have found a very useful Youtube channel Buddhist Practice in Sanskrit.

There is also a wonderful resource site with Sanskrit Buddhist chants at www.bodhisvara.com.

[Virgo]

in regard to Sanskrit (not Tibetan), I have found a very useful Youtube channel Buddhist Practice in Sanskrit.

There is also a wonderful resource site with Sanskrit Buddhist chants at www.bodhisvara.com.

May you have a nice day.

Kevin...