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. 🙏

[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.”