Buddhist-Meditation-Systematic-and-Practical

uttered is exactly right. There is a good story on this
topic:
Once, a Chinese Tantric guru imparted to his disciple
the mantra of Avalokitesvara, but instead of giving it
with the usual sounds he gave it as: Om Mani Padme
Niu. However, his disciple was very faithful to his
master and very earnest in his practice. He repeated the
mantra more than ten million times and above his roof
appeared a circle of white light. Now it happened that a
scholar-guru of the Tantric school was passing by and
saw this holy manifestation. He thought to himself:
"There must be someone here well-practiced in the
Tantra," and he went to that disciple's quarters. Then the
scholar asked the practitioner what was his object of
meditation. The faithful disciple said: the mantra of
Avalokitesvara—Om Mani Padme Niu. Then the
scholar replied: Your guru is wrong, the mantra is: Om
Mani Padme Hum. "Oh, yes, I am sure you are right,
being such a learned teacher," said the disciple. "Thank
you for correcting me!" Then the practitioner started
repeating the mantra correctly, but his mind was now
disturbed by some doubt and the circle of light over his
hut disappeared.
This story emphasizes that one must have a personal
guru in the Tantra and one must cultivate the highest
faith in him and in his instructions. Only he can give
one the mantra for repetition. (Even if the mantras are
printed, they cannot be profitably used without the
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