Pronunciation

[Unbound]

There is a buddhist story that describes the lamas of a monstary being invited to visit this monk who lived in retreat in a cave. After the journey he arrives there and asks the monk about his spiritual practice. The monk says he only knows one mantra and that's his entire practice is working with this mantra, which is "Om mani padme hum". So, suggesting they do some chants together, they start to chant the mantra and to the horror of the lamas he realizes the monk is pronouncing it wrong!

He quickly informs the monk and asks him if he was aware of his incorrect pronunciation. The monk seems surprised and kindly asks the lamas to give him the correct pronunciation. After doing so the monk thanks him as he leaves, expressing that he's going to practice with the real pronunciation now.

So, the lamas, after coming down from the mountain, is walking down to the river where his boat is waiting. He's thinking to himself about the monk and how unfortunate it is that the man wasted so long with an incorrect mantra, and hopefully now at least he'll have some years to practice with the proper one. Then, as he nears the river he looks up to see the monk from the cave standing right on the water. The monk asks, "I forgot the pronunciation you gave me, could you tell me again?" Naturally, the lamas questions him why he needs it when clearly he has achieved a large degree of awakening. Yet, the monk insists and after being told the pronunciation again walks off over the river saying it to himself slowly, over and over.

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And that, is my thoughts on "proper pronunciation".