A group of followers requested the guru to give them a mantra.

“All you people have the same mantra,” he declared.

“Oh,” they asked, “what mantra is that?” 

And the guru recited, 

“To and fro, back and forth, I grow old as I wander on the path of distraction.         To my useless meaningless life SVĀHĀ.” 

The embarrassed group fell silent as the guru went on, 

“You already know that mantra, so why do you wish for another?”

Feeling very uncomfortable, one person spoke up and requested a mantra to prevent rebirth in hell.

The guru told them,“You must say this:  

OṀ What is wrong with going to hell?  

ĀḤ All has the nature of emptiness, so what’s the difference? 

HŪṀ From the mantra king, wisdom spontaneously arises!

PHAṬ Conceptual thoughts are destroyed!  

HRĪḤ Nothing in saṁsāra possesses inherent existence, SVĀHĀ.”