There are some mantras we learn.
And then there are the mantras that seem to find us.
For me, Om Mani Padme Hum is one of those.
I don’t simply hear it—I feel it. It quiets something inside me. My breathing slows. My shoulders soften. My mind becomes less interested in solving life and more willing to simply be present with it.
This ancient Tibetan Buddhist mantra has often been translated as:
“The jewel is in the lotus.”
But its deeper meaning reaches beyond words.
The lotus grows from muddy water. It doesn’t wait for perfect conditions before it blooms. It rises through the darkness, through the murkiness, and opens to the light.
The jewel represents our true nature—our wisdom, compassion, peace, and wholeness.
The mantra gently reminds us that the treasure we’ve been searching for has never been outside of us.
It has always been within.
One of my favorite illustrations of this comes from The Dalai Lama’s Cat, a delightful series narrated by HHC (His Holinesses Cat),
In one memorable chapter, HHC describes an enormous monk whom she affectionately nicknames “the Cat Strangler.” He wasn’t unkind; he was simply unaware of his own tremendous strength. In his enthusiasm, he scooped her up by the scruff of her neck and rather unceremoniously deposited her on top of a filing cabinet.
It could easily have become a moment of fear, anger, or embarrassment.
Instead, before anyone could react—before anyone could even say, “Om Mani Padme Hum”—the tension dissolved. What remained was compassion, understanding, and even a touch of humor.
That image has stayed with me.
The mantra didn’t erase what had happened.
It transformed how everyone met what had happened.
Isn’t that the invitation for all of us?
Not to live without challenges.
Not to avoid the muddy places.
But to meet them with greater awareness, compassion, and presence.
Like many of us, I’ve spent years searching for answers through books, teachers, meditation, yoga, and life’s many experiences. Each has offered beautiful gifts.
Today, I’m especially grateful that this journey has led me to communities like Lila Yoga Studio and the University of Utah Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, where people gather—not because anyone has all the answers—but because we are willing to explore life’s deepest questions together with curiosity, mindfulness, and open hearts.
Yet again and again, every path seems to point me back to the same place:
Come home.
Come home to this breath.
Come home to this moment.
Come home to the quiet place beneath all the noise.
The lotus doesn’t become beautiful because the mud disappears.
It becomes beautiful because it grows through it.
Perhaps that’s true for us as well.
Every disappointment…
Every grief…
Every unexpected turn…
Every season of uncertainty…
Can become the very soil from which compassion, wisdom, and joy emerge.
When I chant Om Mani Padme Hum, I’m not asking to become someone different.
I’m remembering who I already am.
Maybe that’s why this mantra has survived for centuries.
It doesn’t promise that life will become easier.
It reminds us that our deepest nature remains untouched by life’s changing circumstances.
The jewel is still there.
The lotus is still blooming.
Nothing essential is missing.
A Simple Reflection
Today, pause for a few quiet moments.
Place one hand on your heart.
Take a slow breath.
Then gently repeat:
Om Mani Padme Hum.
Not to become more worthy.
Not to become more spiritual.
Simply to remember the jewel that has always been within you.
With love and gratitude,
Sandi Greene 🪷
About the Author
Sandi Greene is a writer, meditation guide, teacher, and lifelong learner dedicated to helping people create lives of greater clarity, purpose, joy, and well-being through The Art of Living Well.
Her work is inspired by the timeless wisdom of A Course in Miracles, DavidJi Meditation, yoga philosophy, and the transformative power of mindfulness, reflection, and authentic community.
Sandi is an Instructor and Ambassador with the University of Utah Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, where she teaches courses that encourage lifelong learning, meaningful connection, and personal growth. She also serves on the Board of Trustees at the First Unitarian Church of Salt Lake City, teaches New Member classes, and facilitates small groups that foster belonging and thoughtful conversation.
Whether through her writing, meditation, teaching, or individual conversations, Sandi invites others to reconnect with their inner wisdom and discover that nothing essential is missing.
🪷The Art of Living Well • Meditation • Yoga• A Course in Miracles • Osher Lifelong Learning • Well-Being🪷
