Sham Po's Meditation Insights With Yao

In the movie *Mulan*, Chien Po says a Buddhist chant to Yao, which is Ah mo ah mi toh fu... in Mandarin, and Om mani padme hum in Pali. The Mandarin version is a bit off from the actual chant, which is Ah mi twoh foh and means God help me. This scene occurs when Mulan slaps Yao in the butt and he turns around to punch her in the face. Chien Po then comes up, picks Yao up, and says the chant to calm him down.

The chant Chien Po says to Yao is a Buddhist chant

The chant Chien Po says to Yao in the movie Mulan is a Buddhist chant. The words Chien Po says are "Ah mo ah mi toh fu..." which is a Buddhist prayer chanted by Buddhist monks when they pray. The correct version of the chant is "Ah mi twoh foh", which means "God help me" in English. Buddhism was one of the most practised religions in Asia before the influence of Western culture, and was the state religion during the Wei Dynasty in China, when Mulan is set. This likely explains why Chien Po, who is always calm, is a Buddhist monk.

The chant is in Pali, not Chinese

In the movie Mulan, when Chien Po is meditating with Yao, he chants "Ah mo ah mi toh fu...", which is a variation of the Buddhist chant "Ah mi twoh foh", meaning "God help me". The chant is in Pali, not Chinese. Pali is a language that originated in the Indian subcontinent and is often associated with Buddhist texts and teachings. It is an ancient language that is considered sacred by many Buddhists and is still used in some Buddhist rituals and practices.

The scene in question depicts Mulan slapping Yao, who turns around to punch her. Chien Po then intervenes, picks Yao up, and begins the chant to calm him down. This scene is significant as it showcases the power of Buddhist chanting to soothe and bring peace to an agitated mind.

While the chant may sound similar to Mandarin or other Chinese dialects, it is not. The movie Mulan is set during the Wei Dynasty in China, when Buddhism was the state religion and widely practised. It is likely that Chien Po, as a Buddhist monk, is chanting in Pali, which would have been a common language for religious practices during that period.

The specific chant, "Om mani padme hum", is a well-known Buddhist prayer often recited by monks during their prayers and meditations. It is considered a powerful mantra that can bring peace and spiritual connection. The fact that Chien Po uses this chant to calm Yao highlights the influence of Buddhism in ancient China and its role in promoting calmness and mindfulness.

It is worth noting that while the chant is in Pali, the movie Mulan takes creative liberties with other cultural and historical aspects. For example, as pointed out by some viewers, the names of the characters and certain scenes depicting Chinese culture are not entirely accurate. However, the use of the Pali chant showcases the filmmakers' attention to detail in this specific aspect of the movie.

The words Chien Po says are Om mani padme hum

The words Chien Po says when meditating with Yao in the film Mulan are "Om mani padme hum". This is a Buddhist chant, or prayer, that is used by Buddhist monks when they pray. The film is set during the Wei Dynasty in China, when Buddhism was fostered as the state religion, so Chien Po was likely a Buddhist monk, which also explains his calm demeanour. The chant is in a language called Pali, and it means something along the lines of "God help me".

Buddhism was one of the most practised religions in Asia before the influence of Western culture. The religion involves a practitioner interacting with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance. The goal is usually to direct spirits or spiritual energies into the physical world for the purpose of healing, divination, or to aid human beings in some other way.

Chien Po's meditation with Yao is an example of the power of inner peace. In the Kung Fu Panda films, inner peace is described as a peaceful state of mind and spirit, which enables one to do the seemingly impossible. In the film, Po is able to defeat Lord Shen's cannon using gentle tai chi movements, which can only be accomplished by having inner peace.

Meditation is a key part of achieving inner peace. In the Kung Fu Panda films, Master Oogway meditates in a cave for fifty years while fasting, and through this, he is able to master inner peace and chi.

The chant is a Buddhist prayer, chanted by monks when they pray

The chant Chien Po says to Yao in the movie Mulan is "Ah mo ah mi toh fu". This is a Buddhist chant, or prayer, that Buddhist monks chant when they pray. The actual chant is "Ah mi twoh foh", which means "God help me" in English. The Buddhist religion was fostered as the state religion during the Wei Dynasty in China, when Mulan is set, and was one of the most practised religions in Asia at the time.

Buddhism is a religion that originated in ancient India, based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha, or "awakened one". The core teachings of Buddhism revolve around the concepts of suffering, impermanence, selflessness, and nirvana, or the extinguishing of the flames of desire, aversion, and delusion. Buddhists strive to reach nirvana, or enlightenment, by following the Noble Eightfold Path, which includes right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

Buddhist monks are those who have chosen to dedicate their lives to following the Buddhist path and often live in monasteries or temples. They lead a life of simplicity and discipline, adhering to the monastic rules, or vinaya, which include celibacy, non-harming, and renunciation of worldly possessions. Monks typically wake up early in the morning to meditate and may spend several hours each day in meditation. They also study Buddhist scriptures, perform rituals and ceremonies, and engage in community service or social work.

The Buddhist chant "Ah mi twoh foh" is likely derived from the Sanskrit phrase "Om mani padme hum", which is known as the Mani Mantra or the Six Syllable Mantra. This mantra is associated with the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. The mantra is said to invoke the blessings and protection of Avalokiteshvara and is believed to bring about inner peace, compassion, and wisdom in those who recite it.

Chien Po was likely a Buddhist monk

In the movie *Mulan*, Chien Po is a camper in Li Shang's camp. He is obese, bald, and kind, and does not like violence. Chien Po is also shown to be a fan of food and is looking for a woman who can cook. In one scene, Chien Po chants to calm Yao down after Mulan slaps him in the butt and he turns to punch her. The chant is in a language called Pali and the words are "Om mani padme hum", which is a Buddhist prayer chanted by Buddhist monks. The scene is set during the Wei Dynasty in China, when Buddhism was fostered as the state religion. Chien Po's character is likely based on the Buddha Budai, also known as Maitreya, and he was likely a Buddhist monk, which would also explain why he is always so calm.

Buddhism has a long history in China, with some of the earliest known burials of shamans dating back to the early Upper Paleolithic era (c. 30,000 BP) in what is now the Czech Republic. The Sanskrit word "śramaṇa", designating a wandering monastic or holy figure, has also spread to many Central Asian languages along with Buddhism and could be the origin of the word "shaman". The word "shaman" is used to describe a practitioner who interacts with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness, such as trance, and is often associated with indigenous and tribal societies. Shamans are believed to have the power to heal the sick, communicate with spirits, and escort souls to the afterlife.

In conclusion, Chien Po's character in *Mulan* is likely a Buddhist monk, based on his physical resemblance to the Buddha Budai, the setting of the film during a period when Buddhism was the state religion in China, and the use of Buddhist prayer in his chant. Buddhism has a long history in China and the practice of shamanism, which involves altered states of consciousness and communication with spirits, has been associated with indigenous and tribal societies around the world.

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