The Mantra of Mercy and Compassion (my thoughts) Om Mani Padme Hum Six syllables. The jewel in the lotus. The whole Buddhist path to compassion, compressed into a sound you can carry in your chest all day. It’s the mantra of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva who hears the cries of the world and cannot look away. Om Mani Padme Hum is the vow to keep your heart open anyway. Let’s heal together, find the common ground, and not let anger dictate how we interact with the world. Gentle curiosity will win over brute strength.