Has anyone here attained streamentry solely through mantra practice, nianfo/nembutsu, or the recitation of 'buddho' as taught in the Thai Forest Tradition?

[u/woai00]

I’m genuinely curious whether anyone has experienced streamentry (sotāpatti) through practices centered on mantra repetition—specifically:

Nianfo/Nembutsu (reciting Amitabha’s name)

"Buddho" meditation (as taught in the Thai Forest Tradition)

Or any other mantra-based practice that was used as the primary method

I understand that insight into the three characteristics is essential for awakening, but I also know some traditions emphasize that deep samādhi and unwavering mindfulness—developed through repetition—can become the foundation for insight to arise naturally.

So I’m wondering:

Did mantra or name-recitation play a central role in your path to streamentry?

How did you bridge from repetition to insight? Were you following a particular teacher or tradition?

I’d love to hear your experience or any resources/stories you’ve come across where streamentry was reached through these methods. 🙏

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[u/JhannySamadhi]

Stream entry can be attained through mantra as long as the samadhi achieved is deep enough for clear seeing upon emergence. 

[u/NibannaGhost → u/JhannySamadhi]

The necessary depth is access concentration right?

[u/JhannySamadhi → u/NibannaGhost]

That would be the least depth for this but technically wouldn’t be traditional vipassana. Generally dry vipassana is done in access concentration, but it’s ideal to be in samatha or jhana first.

[u/WideOne5208]

Off the cushion I mostly practice mantras, reciting them in my mind or, sometimes, under the breath. I mostly practice with Mani mantra, for which I received empowerment and transmission from Dalai Lama, and Vajra Guru mantra, from which I received transmission from Erik Pema Kunsang. But for this mantras you don't need transmission, as far as I know to recite them.

Mani mantra helps with developing compassion/bodhicitta, because Avalokiteshvara is bodhisattva of compassion, Vajra Guru mantra help with developing devotion, pure vision, wisdom etc. But any mantra of any Buddha is a complete practice in itself.

What is most important in any mantra practice is motivation and faith. Everything else is secondary. If you believe in Buddha, whom mantra you recite and have pure motivation it will bring immense results, without much hardship. Mantra is the essence of Buddha's mind, therefore, reciting it you will receive blessings of this Buddha corresponding to your faith/devotion and achieve the same level of awakening.

Another important aspect is visualization during mantra recitation. Visualization is not necessary, but can be really helpful. Reciting Mani mantra, for example, you can visualise that from your heart beaming countless rays of pure white light and entering into hearts of all countless sentient beings and as a result all of them are become completely free from any suffering.

As any practice, mantra recitation develops over time. At the beginning it can be no different than just ordinary shamatha, but over time your faith will become stronger and stronger, and faith/devotion is the most important factor to achieve Buddhahood.

[u/carpebaculum]

Not the path I took, but pretty sure I've read somewhere (maybe DhO) where mantra practice can be quite insight-y, for lack of a better word. Some describe how their experiences of hearing the mantras change, tracking the progress of insight. Not surprising at all, because one can attain stream entry via mindfulness of sounds, and mantra is a sound.

[u/AllDressedRuffles]

If you read just a few sutras on Om Mani Padme Hum, I guarantee you’ll be floored. I haven’t chanted it much myself, but from what I’ve read, simply dedicating yourself to this mantra alone can lead to full Buddhahood. I personally think its criminally undervalued in modern Dharma practices. Heres some quotes from the Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra or “Basket Display” sutra in reference to the 6 syllable mantra:

"Tathāgata Padmottama praised the qualities of this six-syllable mahāvidyā:

"Noble son, it is like this. As a comparison, I can know the number of atoms, but, noble son, I cannot calculate the accumulation of merit from repeating the six-syllable mahāvidyā once.

...

"Noble son, it is like this. As a comparison, a person builds a building that is a hundred yojanas high and five hundred yojanas wide, and completely fills it with sesame seeds. There isn’t even a needle-sized hole in this building. At its door there is an immortal man who never ages. If every hundred eons that man takes out one sesame seed, I can calculate the time when such a building would be emptied down to the floor, but, noble son, I cannot calculate the accumulation of merit that comes from repeating the six-syllable mahāvidyā once."

...

“The noble son or noble daughter who repeats this six-syllable mahāvidyā will attain these samādhis: the samādhi named Jewel Holder, the samādhi named Purification of Hells and Animals, the samādhi named Vajra Armor, the samādhi named Stable Conduct, the samādhi named Skillfulness in All Methods, the samādhi named Scattering, the samādhi named Revealing All Buddha Realms, the samādhi named Entering All Dharmas, the samādhi named Adornment of Dhyāna, the samādhi named Entering the Chariot of the Dharma, the samādhi named Complete Liberation from Desire and Anger, the samādhi named Eternal Calf, the samādhi named Teaching the Six Perfections, the samādhi named Holding Great Meru, the samādhi named Rescuing from All Existences, the samādhi named Seeing All the Tathāgatas, and the samādhi named Complete Stability. "Noble son, it is like this: those who possess the six-syllable queen of mahāvidyās will attain one hundred and eight samādhis.”

[u/WideOne5208]

Off the cushion I mostly practice mantras, reciting them in my mind or, sometimes, under the breath. I mostly practice with Mani mantra, for which I received empowerment and transmission from Dalai Lama, and Vajra Guru mantra, from which I received transmission from Erik Pema Kunsang. But for this mantras you don't need transmission, as far as I know to recite them.

Mani mantra helps with developing compassion/bodhicitta, because Avalokiteshvara is bodhisattva of compassion, Vajra Guru mantra help with developing devotion, pure vision, wisdom etc. But any mantra of any Buddha is a complete practice in itself.

What is most important in any mantra practice is motivation and faith. Everything else is secondary. If you believe in Buddha, whom mantra you recite and have pure motivation it will bring immense results, without much hardship. Mantra is the essence of Buddha's mind, therefore, reciting it you will receive blessings of this Buddha corresponding to your faith/devotion and achieve the same level of awakening.

Another important aspect is visualization during mantra recitation. Visualization is not necessary, but can be really helpful. Reciting Mani mantra, for example, you can visualise that from your heart beaming countless rays of pure white light and entering into hearts of all countless sentient beings and as a result all of them are become completely free from any suffering.

As any practice, mantra recitation develops over time. At the beginning it can be no different than just ordinary shamatha, but over time your faith will become stronger and stronger, and faith/devotion is the most important factor to achieve Buddhahood