Shiken haramitsu daikoumyo is a nine-syllable Japanese Buddhist mantra. Its kanji is 四拳 波羅蜜 大光明: shi-ken 四拳: (shi "four")-(ken "heart" or "fist") ha-ra-mitsu 波羅蜜: (ha "wave")-(ra "gauze")-(mitsu "nectar") dai-kou-myo 大光明: (dai "great")-(kou "light")-(myo "bright")
Shiken represents four attributes of the heart: Mercy, with love for everything Sincerity, doing what is right An attuned heart, following the natural order of things Dedication to a chosen pursuit
Haramitsu means pāramitā, or the Buddha's satori: reaching Buddhahood despite worldly distractions. 波 are waves; kanojyo wa nami ga aru ("she has waves in her mind") implies that a person is unstable from worry and confusion. 羅 is gauze, which metaphorically clouds the mind. 蜜 is the nectar of enlightenment. 大光明 (daikoumyo) is a great, bright light; 光明 literally means "a bright future" (hope). According to ninjutsu as taught by Masaaki Hatsumi, there are lessons to be learned from everything—good or bad.