Namo Amitabha
I read the Flower Adornment Sutra and upon carefully reading the chapter about the Ten Grounds, I suddenly understood. It said that, “from the beginning to the end, the Ten Ground Bodhisattvas have always practiced mindfulness of the Buddha”. I then realized that the Bodhisattvas, from the first to the tenth ground and the level of equal enlightenment, all practiced the Buddha Name Chanting Method. And I also came to understand that “Chanting the Buddha’s name is the cause and attaining Buddhahood is the effect”. Many Bodhisattvas were not aware of this, which is why Buddha Shakyamuni explained it in this sutra. It was their firm belief in the above statement that led Great Wisdom Bodhisattva, Universal Worthy Bodhisattva and Sudhana to vow to be born into the Pure Land. -- Ven.Master Chin Kung --
Great Compassion Dharani
Sutra(Also known as:)
Maha Karuna Dharani
Sutra
Maha Karunikacitta Dharani Sutra
Nilakantha Dharani
Sutra
(The full title is:)
Thousand-Handed and
Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Vast, Perfect, Unimpeded,
Great-Compassionate Heart Dharani Sutra (Qian Shou Qian Yan
Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa Guang Da Yuan Man Wu Ai Da Bei Xin Tuo Luo Ni
Jing)(Tripitaka No. 1060)
(* Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is
also known as: Contemplator of the World's Sounds/Guan Shi Yin/Guan Zi Zai
Bodhisattva)
Translated during the Tang Dynasty by Shramana
Bhagavat-dharma from west India.
Thus I have heard, once the Buddha was in the honorable
sublime Way-place of Avalokitesvara's palace in Potalaka Mountain, sitting on a
noblest lion's throne decorated with various Mani-jewels. Hundreds of jeweled
streamers were hanging all around.
At that time, The Tathagata intending
to explain a teaching of the Total-Retention Dharani, was sitiing on the throne,
along with innumerable Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas whose names are: Dharani King
Bodhisattva, Precious King Bodhisattva, Bhaisajya-Raja(Medicine King)
Bodhisattva, Bhaisajya-Samudgata(Superior Medicine) Bodhisattva, Avalokitesvara
Bodhisattva, Mahastamaprapta(Great Strength) Bodhisattva, Avatamsaka
Bodhisattva, Great Sublime Bodhisattva, Precious Deposits Bodhisattva, Virtue
Store Bodhisattva, Vajragarbha Bodhisattva, Akasagarbha(Space Store)
Bodhisattva, Maitreya Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra(Universal Goodness)
Bodhisattva, Manjusri Bodhisattva, and so on. Such Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas are
all Abhiseka(Empowerment) great dharma-princes; also along with innumerable
great Sravakas(voice-hearer), all of whom practise the ten-stages of Arhat,
headed by Maha-Kasyapa; also along with innumerable Devas of Brahma-Heaven,
headed by Sinza-Brahma; also along with innumerable Gods of heavens of the
desire realm, headed by Kubhagha-God; also along with innumerable
four-guardian-gods, headed by Dhritarastra; also along with innumerable gods,
dragons, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garudas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas, human
beings, Amanusyas, headed by the Heaven-virtue great dragon king; also along
with innumerable Devakanyas of heavens of the desire realm, headed by the
Virgin-Eyed Devakanya; also along with innumerable Sunyatas(Gods of spaces),
gods of rivers and oceans, gods of fountains and spring, gods of natural pond,
gods of herb, gods of forest, gods of houses, gods of water, gods of fire, gods
of earth, gods of wind, gods of ground, gods of mountains, gods of rocks, gods
of palaces, and so on, came together to join the congregation.
At that time in the congregation, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
secretly emitted his sacrosanct light, illuminated the realms of the ten
directions and made one billion worlds' color turned to golden. Palaces of
heavens, palaces of dragons and palaces of all gods were all shaken. Rivers,
oceans, Cakravada-parvata Mountains, Sumeru Mountains, Earth Mountains, black
mountains were also shaken. The light of sun, moon, pearls, fire, and stars all
disappeared.
Witnessing this rare scene, Dharani King
Bodhisattva was more surprised than ever before, so he arose from his seat,
joined his palms and asked the Buddha with a Gatha(verse):
"Who achieved
the correct-awakening today,
emitting the great bright light universally?
Colors of realms of the ten directions have all become golden,
so do one
billion worlds?
Who attained the ultimate freedom today,
manifesting
the rare great holy power,
innumerable pure lands of Buddhas are shaken,
so do palaces of dragons and gods?
Now the congregation are all
wondering,
don't know that it's caused by the power of whom.
Is he a
Buddha, Bodhisattva, or great Sravaka,
or Brahman, or gods of heavens?
Bhagavan(World-honored One), by your great compassion,
please tell
us the cause of that great supernatural power."
The
Buddha told Dharani King Bodhisattva: "Good man, you should know that in this
congregation there is a Bodhisattva whose name is Avalokitesvara. He has
achieved great kindness and great compassion since uncountable Kalpas before,
and excels at practicing uncountable Dharma-gates of Dharani. In order to
comfort and please all living-beings, he secretly emits that sacrosanct power.
After the Buddha said that, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva arose
from his seat, tidied up his clothes, joined his palms towards the Buddha and
said:
"Bhagavan, I have a mantra of Great-Compassionate Heart Dharani and
now wish to proclaim it, for comforting and pleasing all living-beings; for
healing all illness; for living-beings to attain additional lifespan; for
living-beings to gain wealth; for extinguishing all evil-karma and weighty sins;
for keeping away from hindrance and disasters; for producing merits of all
undefiled-Dharmas; for maturing all virtuous-roots; for overcoming all fears;
for fulfilling all good wishes. Bhagavan, please allow me to speak."
The Buddha said: "Good man, you have great kindness and
great compassion, in order to comfort and please all living-beings, you wish to
speak the mantra, it's the proper time now, please speak it soon, the Tathagata
compliantly rejoice, and so do all Buddhas."
Avalokitesvara
Bodhisattva then said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, I remember that incalculable
billions Kalpas ago, there was a Buddha whose name is Thousand-rayed-King
Motionless Tathagata. Because of his mercy and mindfulness to me and all
living-beings, he spoke this Vast-Perfect-Unimpeded Great-Compassionate-Heart
Dharani, rubbed my crown with his golden hand and said: "Good man, you should
hold this heart-mantra to give great benefit and happiness to all living beings
in the future." At that time I was just at the first of the ten Bhumis(stages of
Bodhisattva), right after hearing this mantra, I exceeded the eighth Bhumi.
Becoming happy, I vowed: "If I will be able to give benefit and happiness to all
living beings in the future, let me have a thousand hands and a thousand eyes
immediately." Instantly after the vow, I got fully a thousand hands and a
thousand eyes on my body, six types of quakes occurred on the grounds of the ten
directions, thousands Buddhas of the ten directions emitted their light to my
body and illuminated unlimited worlds of the ten directions. From then on, in
uncountable Buddha realms and congregations, I repeatedly heard, accepted and
held this Dharani, and I was repeatedly pleased and joyful, thus I exceeded
imperceptible births and deaths of countless billions kalpas. Since then, I have
always recited, held and have never forgotten this mantra. Because of holding
this mantra, I was always born naturally from lotuses in front of Buddhas, and
have never be born from wombs."
"If there are
monks(Bhikshus), nuns(Bhikshunis), laymen(Upasakas), laywomen(Upasikas), pure
youth and maidens who wish to recite and hold(keep reciting) this mantra, they
should first develop their compassionate heart for all living beings, and follow
me in making these vows:
(* The pronunciation of "Namo" is [na:mo:] of
international phonetic symbols)
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara,
I vow that I will quickly know all Dharmas;
Namo great compassionate
Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will soon obtain the wisdom-eyes;
Namo great
compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will quickly ferry all living beings
to the shore of liberation;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow
that I will soon obtain good expedient-means;
Namo great compassionate
Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will quickly board the boat of Prajna;
Namo
great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will soon cross over the sea of
suffering;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will
quickly achieve precepts, Samadhi and the way;
Namo great compassionate
Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will soon climb the mountain of Nirvana;
Namo
great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will quickly dwell in the house
of the uncreated;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will
soon unite with the Dharma-nature body.
If I go towards the mountain of
knives, the mountain of knives by itself breaks up;
If I go towards the
boiling oil, the boiling oil by itself dries up;
If I go towards the hells,
the hells by themselves disappear;
If I go towards the hungry ghosts, the
hungry ghosts by themselves become full.
If I go towards the Asuras, their
evil thoughts by themselves are tamed.
If I go towards the animals, they by
themselves attain great wisdom."
"After these vows, chant my
name(Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) sincerely, also chant the name of my
teacher -- Amitabha Tathagata(Namo Amitabha) sincerely, then chant this mantra,
5 times or more in a day, to extinguish weighty sins of births-and-deaths of
billions Kalpas of the body."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
then said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, if humans or God(Deva)s recite and hold the
phrases of the Great Compassion Dharani, upon their death, all the Buddhas of
the ten directions will come to receive them with their hands, and they will be
reborn in whichever Buddha-land according to their wishes."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva continued to say to the Buddha:
"Bhagavan, Should any living being who recites and holds the
holy mantra of Great Compassion fall into the three evil paths, I vow not to
achieved the correct-awakening.
Should any living being who
recites and holds the holy mantra of Great Compassion not be reborn in any
Buddha-land, I vow not to achieve the correct-awakening.
Should any living being who recites and holds the holy
mantra of Great Compassion not obtain unlimited Samadhis and eloquence, I vow
not to achieve the correct-awakening.
Should any living being who
recites and holds the holy mantra of Great Compassion not obtain whatever he
seeks in his present life, then it cannot be called the Dharani of the Great
Compassionate Heart, unless it is used by those who are not virtuous or not
sincere.
If any woman who recites and holds the holy mantra
of Great Compassion, dislike the troubles of female body and wishes to become
male, but can not become male in the future, I vow not to achieved the
correct-awakening. However, those who disbelieve this Mantra will not achieve
this effect.
If anyone had stolen foods or properties of
Sanghas(group of monks), penitence to his sins is useless even if a thousand
Buddhas appear in the world, but now chant this Great Compassion Holy Mantra,
his sins will be extinguished. If one had stolen foods or properties of Sanghas,
he must repent to teachers of the ten directions to extinguish his sins. Now
when chanting this mantra, teachers of the ten directions will come to bear
witness, then all weighty sins and hindrances will disappear.
All the horrible sins including the Ten evil deeds, the Five
heinous sins, vilifications to people, vilifications to Dharma, breaking
precepts, destroying towers, wrecking temples, stealing properties of Sanghas,
profaning pure(Brahma) practices, can be extinguished by chanting this Mantra,
except one thing, the one without belief in this Mantra can not extinguish even
small sins and karmas, not to mention weighty sins. Though the weighty sins
don't disappear immediately, that chanting can still be the cause of Bodhi in
the future."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva continue to said the
Buddha:
"People and gods who recite and hold the Great
Compassionate Heart Mantra will obtain fifteen kinds of good birth and will not
suffer fifteen kinds of bad death. The bad deaths are:
1. They will not
die of starvation or poverty;
2. They will not die from having been yoked,
imprisoned, caned or otherwise beaten;
3. They will not die at the hands of
hostile enemies;
4. They will not be killed in military battle;
5. They
will not be killed by tigers, wolves, or other fierce beasts;
6. They will
not die from the venom of poisonous snakes, black serpents, or scorpions;
7.
They will not drown or be burned to death;
8. They will not be poisoned to
death;
9. They will not be killed by mediumistic insects;
10. They will
not die of madness or insanity;
11. They will not be killed by landslides or
falling trees;
12. They will not die of nightmares sent by evil people;
13. They will not be killed by deviant spirits or evil ghosts;
14. They
will not die of evil illnesses that bind the body;
15. They will not commit
suicide;
Those who recite and hold the Great Compassion Holy
Mantra will not suffer any of these fifteen kinds of bad death and will obtain
the following fifteen kinds of good birth:
1. Their place of birth will
always have a good king;
2. They will always be born in a good country;
3. They will always be born at a good time;
4. They will always meet
good friends;
5. The organs of their body will always be complete;
6.
Their heart will be pure and full in the way;
7. They will not violate the
prohibitive precepts;
8. Their family will be kind and harmonious;
9.
They will always have the necessary wealth and goods in abundance;
10. They
will always obtain the respect and help of others;
11. Their riches will not
be plundered;
12. They will obtain everything they seek;
13. Dragons,
gods, and good spirits will always protect them;
14. In the place where they
are born they will see the Buddha and hear the Dharma;
15. They will awaken
to the profound meaning of that Proper Dharma which they hear.
Those who recite and hold the Great Compassionate Heart
Dharani will obtain these fifteen kinds of good birth. All gods and people
should constantly recite and hold it without laziness."
After saying that, the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva joined his
palms and stood upright in front of the congregation, with his great
compassionate heart open for all living beings, he smiled and in this way spoke
the wonderful holy phrases of the Vast, Perfect, Unimpeded,
Great-Compassionate-Heart Great Dharani. The Dharani is:
Namo
ratna-trayaya
Namo ariya-valokite-svaraya
Bodhi-sattvaya Maha-sattvaya
Maha-karunikaya
Om sarva rabhaye sudhanadasya
Namo skrita imo
arya-valotite-svara ramdhava
Namo narakindi heri Maha-vadhi-sa-me
Sarva-arthato-subham ajeyam
Sarva-sat Namo-vasat Namo-vaka mavitato
Tadyatha
Om avaloki-lokate-krate-e-hrih Maha-bodhisattva
Sarva sarva
Mala mala
Mahi Mahi ridayam
Kuru kuru karmam
Dhuru dhuru
vijayate Maha-vijayati
Dhara dhara dhrini
svaraya cala cala
Mama
vimala muktele
Ehi ehi sina sina
arsam prasari
visva visvam prasaya
Hulu hulu mara
Hulu hulu hrih
Sara sara siri siri suru suru
Bodhiya Bodhiya Bodhaya Bodhaya
Maitreya narakindi dhrish-nina bhayamana
svaha
Siddhaya svaha
Maha siddhaya svaha
Siddha-yoge-svaraya svaha
Narakindi svaha
Maranara svaha
sira simha-mukhaya svaha
Sarva
maha-asiddhaya svaha
Cakra-asiddhaya svaha
Padma-kastaya svaha
Narakindi-vagalaya svaha
Mavari-sankharaya svaha
Namo ratna-trayaya
Namo arya-valokite-svaraya svaha
Om Sidhyantu mantra padaya svaha
When Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva had finished speaking
this mantra, the earth shook in six ways. The heavens rained precious flowers of
beautiful colors. all the Buddhas of the ten directions were delighted, while
the heaven-demons and heretics were so afraid that their hair stood on end.
Members of the meeting achieved different fruitions, including the fruitions of
stream-enterer, once-returner, non-returner, and Arhat, while others achieved
the first Bhumi(stage of Bodhisattva), the second Bhumi, the third, fourth,
fifth ...... up to the tenth Bhumi. Innumerable living beings arouse their
Bodhi-Heart(The resolve to help all living beings to attain upmost
enlightenment).
Then the great Brahma king arose from his
seat, tidied up his clothes, joined his palms respectfully, and said to the
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva: "Great, Mahasattva! I had been in innumerable
Buddha-meetings and heard of many kinds of Dharanis, but never heard of the
wonderful holy phrases of this great Dharani of the unimpeded great
compassionate heart. Mahasattva, please tell us the feature and figure of this
Dharani, all of us will be pleased to know that."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva told the Brahma king: "For the
convenience of benefiting all living beings, you have asked me this question.
Now you listen carefully, I'll tell you in brief."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva said: "The great kind and
compassionate heart, the fair heart, the uncreated heart, the unpolluted heart,
the heart of emptiness observation, the respectful heart, the humble heart, the
uncluttered heart, the heart without attachment to one's own view, the upmost
Bodhi-heart, is the feature of this Dharani. You should practise in such
manner."
Then the great Brahma king said: "We now know the
feature of this Dharani, from now on, we'll recite and hold it and never forget
or give it up.
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva said: "For all
virtuous men and all virtuous women who want to recite and hold this Mantra,
they should arouse their vast Bodhi-heart that wish to ferry all living beings
to the shore of liberation, and be vegetarians. They should arouse their
fair(impartial) heart to all living beings, keep reciting this Mantra, never
give up. Reside in a clean room, wash themselves clean, in clean dress, hang
streamers and light up lamps, make offerings with fragrance, flowers, vegetable
foods of hundreds tastes, concentrate their mind, don't think about others,
recite and hold the mantra in correct manner. Then the Sunshine Bodhisattva,
Moonshine Bodhisattva and innumerable gods and fairies will come to be witness
and enhance the effect of the Mantra. At that time, I will shine them with a
thousand eyes and protect them with a thousand hands, from then on, they will be
able to understand all books of the world, and also perfectly understand all
sorceries of other religions and all scriptures of Vedas. The one who recites
this mantra can heal 84000 categories of diseases of the world, and also can
command all ghosts and Devas, vanquish heaven-demons, tame all heretics. For
anyone who is reading sutras or practicing Zen(Dhyana) in mountains or fields,
if there are any mountain-spirits, ghosts, demons, monsters or Devas come to
disturb and make the practitioner unable to concentrate, recite this mantra
once, then all those ghosts spirits will be tied up. If one can recite this
Mantra in correct manner and have merciful heart to all living beings, I will
command all virtuous gods, dragon kings, Vajra secret-traces deities to guard
him, the guardians will always be with him and protect him as their own eyes and
lives. " Then Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva said the Gatha:
"I command the
Vajra secret-traces deities, Ucchu, Kunda, Ankusa, eight clans of celestials and
ShangKalas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the
Mahesvaras and Narayanas, Kumbhirabas and Kapilas,
to guard the
Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Pajis, Sahassakkhas,
perfect-virtuous chebuds and Kimnaras,
to guard the Mantra-holders
constantly;
I command the Sajamahoras, Kumbhandas, Katabhutanas, and
Banjras,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the
Bhipagara kings, and morality Vitasaharas,
to guard the Mantra-holders
constantly;
I command the Brahma king Sambra, five clans of pure-abode
heavens and Yamarajas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I
command the Sakra Devanam indra, thirty-three celestials(gods), Sarasvatis and
Vardhanas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the
Dhritarastra king, Haritis, goddess and great strength Devas,
to guard the
Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Virudhaka king, Virupaksa king
and Vaisravana king,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I
command the golden peacock-king, and twenty-eight clans of great fairies,
to
guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Manibhadra, and
Pancika-imperator Phalava,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I
command Nanda, Upandanda, and the Sagara dragon-king Ibhra,
to guard the
Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Asuras, Gandharvas, Karunas,
Kimnaras, Mahoragas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I
command the gods of water, fire, thunder, lightning, Kumbhanda king and Pisacas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
"Those
virtuous gods, dragon-kings and goddess, each along with 500 retinues of
great-strength Yaksas, will always follow and guard the holders of the Great
Compassion Holy Mantra. If the Mantra-holder dwells alone in void mountain or
wilderness, those virtuous gods will guard him by turns to eliminate
misfortunes. If the Mantra-holder loses his way in remote mountain, because of
reciting this Mantra, virtuous gods and dragon-kings will transform to
benefactors and tell him the correct way. If the Mantra-holder lacks water or
requires fire in mountain, forest, or wilderness, the dragon-king will create
water and fire for him."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva then
said a misfortune-eliminating refreshing cool Gatha(verse):
"When
walking in wilderness, mountain or marsh,
if encountering tigers, wolves, or
other fierce beasts,
or snakes, spirits, demons, monsters, ghosts,
they
will be unable to harm the Mantra-holder when they hear this Mantra;
When voyaging on river or sea,
poisoned dragons, flood dragons and
Makaras,
Yaksas, Rakshas, fishes, and soft-shelled turtles,
will dodge
when they hear this Mantra;
If besieged by battle arrays or robbers,
or being robbed by villains,
recite the Great Compassion Dharani
sincerely,
those villains will show mercy and go back;
If one is
imprisoned by government official,
jailed, chained and locked,
recite
the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
the officer will show mercy and set
him free;
If entered a house of a poisonous insects raising family in a
woody path,
the family purpose to venom with drinks, foods or medicines,
recite the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
the poison will turn to
nectar;
When a woman is giving birth to a child,
evil demons comes
to obstruct the birth and causing suffering and oppressive pain,
recite the
Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
the demons will disperse, leaving a safe
and comfortable birth;
If evil dragons or pestilence ghosts spread
poison,
people are infected by pyrexia and about to die,
recite the
Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
diseases will be healed and lives of
people will be lengthen;
If evil dragons or ghosts spread the tumescent
diseases,
people suffer from carbunculosis, sore, abscess, ulcer and
bleeding,
recite the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
then spit three
times to the abscesses and it will be cured.
If there are muddled and
wicked living beings who aroused immoral minds,
causing hatred by sending
nightmares, ghosts and curses to you,
recite the Great Compassion Dharani
sincerely,
these evil spirited spells will retreat back to its original
perpetrator.
When Dharma is about to disappear,
the world is evil,
feculent and disordered,
people are concupiscent and swear black is white,
having adulteries with others behind their spouses,
and think of lust
days and nights.
If they can recite the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
the fire of eroticism will quench and the evil minds will go out.
If
I glorify the effect of this Mantra in detail,
even one Kalpa is not enough
for the glorification."
Then Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
told the Brahmas: "Recite this Mantra 5 times, use threads of 5 colors to tie
knots, then recite 21 times, tie 21 knots, wear it on neck. This Mantra has been
spoken by previous 9.9 billions Ganges-river-sands Buddhas.
Those Buddhas spoke this Mantra for practitioners who
practise the Six-Perfections but not yet achieve the consummation, to make them
succeed quickly;
For those who have not yet aroused
Bodhi-Heart, to make them arouse Bodhi-Heart quickly;
For
Sravakas who have not yet achieved fruitions, to make them achieve fruitions
quickly;
For all one billion worlds' gods and celestial
being who have not yet aroused the upmost Bodhi-Heart, to make them arouse
upmost Bodhi-Heart quickly;
For all living beings who have
not yet gained the root of faith in Mahayana, with the mighty holy power of this
Mantra, their seeds of Mahayana and Dharma-buds will grow quickly; with my
expedient and merciful power, All of their needs will be supplied.
For three-evil-paths' living beings who living in gloomy
regions of the one billion worlds, when they heard this Mantra, they will get
away from suffering;
For Bodhisattvas who have not yet
achieved the first Bhumi, to make them achieve quickly; even make them achieve
up to the tenth Bhumi, even up to the Buddhahood, with the thirty-two marks and
the eighty minor marks achieved naturally.
If any Sravakas
once heard of this Mantra, practise and write this Mantra, settle down with
straightforward heart in correct manner, then they will achieve the four
Sramana-fruits even if they had not seek for the fruitions.
Suppose all the mountains, rivers, cliffs, oceans of the one
billion worlds can be boiled; the Sumeru mountains and Cakravada-parvata
mountains can be shaken, and grinded to dust, for all living beings of that
number to arouse upmost Bodhi-Hearts.
If anyone prays for
any wish in his present life, he should become vegetarian and keep complying
with pure precepts in 21 days, and recite this Dharani, then his wishes will
certainly be fulfilled. From the verge of the previous birth-and-death to the
verge of the next birth-and-death, all evil karmas will be cleaned up. All the
Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Brahmas, Lord of the Heavens(Sakra Devanam-Indra), four
guardian gods, fairies, dragon-kings, will bear witness."
"For any celestial or human being who recites and holds this
Dharani, if he bath in rivers or seas, the nearby living-beings wet by his
bath-water will have all their weighty sins cleaned and be reborn naturally from
lotus in pure-lands other than this world, and will not be born from wombs,
moistures, or eggs. How much more so those who recite and hold the Mantra
themselves! If the Mantra-holder is walking, a wind blow his hair and clothes,
then the living-beings blown by the wind that previously touched the
Mantra-holder will have all their heavy obstructions and evil karmas cleansed,
will not continue to suffer from karmas of three-evil-paths, and often be born
in front of Buddhas. The felicities and meritorious-virtues that are
accomplished by the Mantra-holder are unimaginable."
"If the
Mantra-holder say anything, no matter good or bad words sounds like pure
Dharma-sound for all heaven-demons, heretics, Devas, dragons, ghosts, spirits,
thus they will respect the Mantra-holder as if he was a Buddha.
We should know that the one who recites and holds this
Mantra is a store of Buddha-bodies, because he is cherished by 9.9 billions
Ganges-river-sands Buddhas;
We should know that the
Mantra-holder is a brilliant light store, because he is illuminated by light of
9.9 billions Ganges-river-sands Buddhas;
We should know that
the Mantra-holder is a store of mercies and compassions, because he constantly
saves living beings with this Dharani;
We should know that
the Mantra-holder is a wonderful-Dharmas store, because this Dharani includes
all Dharani-gates;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is
a Zen store, because hundreds and thousands of Samadhis often appear in front of
him;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a spaces
store, because he constantly observes living-beings with wisdom of emptiness;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a store of
intrepidities, because he is constantly guarded by dragons, gods, and virtuous
gods;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a
wonderful-language store, because sound of the Dharani from his mouth is
uninterrupted;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is an
eternally-abiding store, because the three-disasters and evil-kalpas cannot harm
him;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a liberation
store, because heaven-demons and heretics cannot detain him;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a medicine-king
store, because he constantly heals living beings with this Dharani;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a supernatural
power store, because he can freely travel round the Buddha-lands.
The glorifications for the meritorious-virtues of the
Mantra-holder are endless."
"Good men, if one tire of
sufferings of the world and seek for happiness of long live, he should settle
down in a tranquil place, make a pure secure-boundary, recite this Mantra
towards water, or foods, or spices, or medicines, chant 108 times and eat them,
then he will be certain to gain a long life. If he can make secure-boundary and
hold the Mantra in correct manner, then all fruits can be achieved.
The method of making secure-boundary is: Chant 21 times
towards a knife, then countermark the ground with the knife to make a boundary;
or chant 21 times towards white mustard seeds, then sprinkle the seeds on the
ground to make a boundary; or make a boundary by mind; or chant 21 times towards
clean ashes(of Incense) and make a boundary; or chant 21 times towards
five-colored threads and then make a closed circle on the ground with the
threads as a boundary. If one can do that in correct manner, he will achieve the
goal naturally."
"If anyone heard of the name of this
Dharani, his uncountable weighty sins of birth and death will be extinguished,
and how much more so those who recite and hold this Mantra themselves! If anyone
can know and recite this holy Mantra, we should know that he has already offered
and sustained innumerable Buddhas and have widely plant his good roots. If he
can recite and hold the Mantra in correct manner for relieving all suffering
living beings, we should know that he is the one with the great compassionate
heart, and will become a Buddha soon. If he chant for all the living beings that
he see, let them hear the Mantra, to be the cause of Bodhi for them, then the
meritorious-virtues that accomplished by this Mantra-holder are incalculable and
the glorifications for him are endless. If he can be very sincere, be vegetarian
and keep complying with pure precepts, repent previous sins for all living
beings, and also repent his own previous sins that have been produced in
uncountable past kalpas, keep chanting this Dharani, then he will achieve the
four Sramana-fruits in his present life; if he also has the means of
wisdom-observing, then achieving fruits of ten Bhumis is not difficult for him,
not to mention those little felicities of the world, all of his wishes will be
fulfilled. If he want to command ghosts, he should find a skull in the field,
wash it clean, set up a Mandala(altar) in front of a statue of Thousand-Handed
and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, offer and sustain it with
fragrance, flowers, vegetable foods, day after day, then 7 days later, the ghost
will come and obey his orders. If he want to command four guardian gods, chant
towards a sandalwood and then burn it, he can achieve the goal because the power
of the Bodhisattva's great compassionate vows are deep and weighty, also because
that the power of this holy Dharani is mighty and vast."
The
Buddha told Ananda: "When there are catastrophes in a country, if the king of
the country can manage state affairs in correct manners, be lenient to his
people, do not do anybody an injustice, and absolve people from blames, in 7
days and 7 nights, both his body and his mind can be sincere and diligent, to
recite and hold this Great Compassionated Heart Dharani Holy Mantra, then all
the catastrophes of his country will disappear, the five kinds of crops will be
abundant and the people will rest in peace and happiness.
If
a country is invaded by enemies from other countries, people are unsafe and
ministers are traitorous, pestilences are spreading everywhere, the rains and
the droughts are unbalanced and unseasonable, the sun and the moon lost their
accuracy, when such disasters come, the people should make a statue of
Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, face to west,
offer and sustain the statue sincerely with fragrance, flowers, streamers,
ceremonial canopies, or vegetable foods of hundreds tastes, then in 7 days and 7
nights, if the king of the country can recite and hold the Great Compassionated
Heart Dharani Holy Mantra, with both his body and mind sincerely and diligently,
then the foreign enemies will be tamed and go back to their own countries and
stop the intrusion, other countries will be merciful to this country, the prince
and the officers will be loyal, the queen, the prince's wife, and the maids will
also be loyal to the king. Dragons, ghosts and spirits will support this
country, rains will be seasonal, fruits will be abundant, and people will be
happy.
If anyone in a family get a evil disease, hundreds of
monsters appear, ghosts, spirits, demons come to annoy and demolish the family;
being maligned by villains and the members of the family are disharmonious. They
should set up a Mandala(altar) in front of a statue of Thousand-Handed and
Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, chant the name of Avalokitesvara
Bodhisattva sincerely, and then chant this Dharani 1000 times, then all the
misfortunes above will disappear, the family will be peaceful forever."
Ananda asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, what is the name of this
Mantra? How to uphold it?"
The Buddha told Ananda: "This
holy Mantra has many names, one of them is Vast Perfect, another is Unimpeded
Great Compassion, another is Relieve-Suffering Dharani, another is Extend-Life
Dharani, another is Extinguishing evil destinies Dharani, another is Break
hindrance of evil karmas Dharani, another is Fulfill-wishes Dharani, another is
Free and Self-master Dharani, another is Quickly exceed the upper stages
Dharani. Thus should you respectfully uphold it."
Then
Ananda asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, what is the name of this Bodhisattva, who is
so good to teach us this Dharani?"
The Buddha said: "This
Bodhisattva is called Avalokitesvara, also called Nimsor, also called Thousands
light eyes. Good man, this Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva has unimaginable mighty
and holy powers. Uncountable kalpas before, he had been a Buddha named True
Dharma enlightenment Tathagata. Because of the power of his great compassionate
vows, in order to call upon all Bodhisattvas to comfort and please all living
beings, he appear as a Bodhisattva. All of you, including Bodhisattvas, Brahmas,
Gods of 33 heavens, dragons, Devas, should show respect to him, do not despise
him. All celestial and human beings should offer and sustain him constantly,
chant his name, then you will get infinite felicities and extinguish
incalculable sins, and will be reborn in the pure-land of Amitabha Buddha at the
end of your lives.
The Buddha told Ananda: "The Mantra spoke
by Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is veracious. If you wish to invite this
Bodhisattva to come, chant the Mantra 21 times towards a Guggula and burn it,
then this Bodhisattva will come."
"If being possessed by a
soul of cat, find a discarded cat's skull, burn it to ashes, mix the ashes with
clean soil, then use it to shape a cat. In front of a statue of Thousand-Handed
and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, chant 108 times towards a wrought
iron knife, then cut the model into 108 pieces with the knife. Chant once and
cut once and say his name once, then the cat's soul will leave."
"If harmed by mediumistic insects(Gu), mix Karpura with same
bulk of Guggula, add 1 bowl of Well-flower-water and decoct them into 1 bowl of
decoction; when done, chant 108 times towards the decoction In front of a statue
of Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, then take the
decoction, the illness will be healed."
(*[Note] Well-flower-water: the
purest water from the well; each morning, the very first bucket of water from
the well)
"If stung by snakes or scorpions, chant 7 times
towards some powder of dry gingers, apply the powder on the sores and they will
be healed."
"If being hated by some person, find some clean
soil, or flour, or wax, to shape the enemy's body. In front of a statue of
Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, chant 108 times
towards a wrought iron knife, then cut the model into 108 pieces with the knife.
Chant once and cut once and say his name once, and then burn up all 108 pieces.
After that, the enemy will be happy, will respect you and will like to befriend
you for his entire life."
"For eye-diseases, find a
Haritaki, a Amatakis, a Vihetaki, grind them into powder. During grinding, one
must be careful, do not be seen by women who have just given birth, nor by pig
or dogs. Chanting Amitabha, mix the powder with white-honey or human milk. The
human milk must be from a mother of a boy, not from mothers of girls. When the
medicine is done, in front of a statue of Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, chant 1008 times towards the medicine, then apply it
on the sick eye for 7 days, stay in room and do not be blown by wind, then the
eyes will recover and function well."
"if bitten by snakes,
get some earwax of that person, chant 21 times towards the earwax, apply on his
sore, then it will be healed."
"If infected by malaria and
about to die, find a peach-glue as big as a normal peach, add 1 bowl of clean
water and decoct them into half bowl of decoction. When done, chant 7 times
towards the decoction, take them all, than the disease will be healed. The
medicine should not be decocted by women."
"If being
possessed by ghosts, chant 21 times towards a Guggula and burn it to fume the
nostrils, also find 7 Guggulas as big as rabbit dung, chant 21 times towards
each of them and take them, do not drink alcohol, do not eat meat or the
five-pungencies, do not abuse others, and find some arsenic sulphide, mix it
with white mustard seeds and YanSheng-salt, then chant 21 times towards the
mixture and burn it under the bed of the patient, then the possessing ghost will
run away and not dare to stay.
(*[Note] The five-pungencies are: onions,
leeks, garlic, chives or shallots)
"For deafness, chant
towards sesame oil and drop the oil into ears, then the disease will be healed."
"If suffering from hemiplegias, or having noses or ears
stopped up, or being unable to move hands and feet because of apoplexy, mix
sesame oil with Green-wood-spices and decoct, chant 21 times towards the
mixture, and apply it on the body, then the diseases will be healed. Another
prescription: Chant 21 times towards some ghee, and apply it on the body, then
the diseases will be healed."
"For dystocias, chant 21 times
towards sesame oil and apply on both the navel and the jade-gate of the woman
who is giving birth, then there will be an easy birth."
"If
a baby had died in the womb, find 1 Liang of hyssops, mix with 2 bowls of clean
water, and decoct into 1 bowl of decoction. Chant 21 times towards the decoction
and take it, then the dead baby will come out, and the woman will not be in
pain. If the placenta could not come out, take the decoction again, then it will
be fine."
"For cardiodynias, find a fume-land-spice with
mature papillas, chant 21 times towards it, chew and swallow it. After a while,
the medicine swallowed will transform, then vomit them out, the disease will be
healed. Do not eat Five-pungencies or meat, do not drink alcohol."
"If burned by fire, chant 21 times towards some dung of
black cows, apply them on the sores, the pain will be healed."
"If one's heart is being attacked by ascarids, chant 21
times towards some urine of white horses and take it, then the disease will be
healed. If the disease is serious, take more medicine up to 1 bowl, then the
ascarids will be expelled out like a group of ropes "
"For
Ding-sores, find some Ling-Xiu-leaves, grind them and get the juice, chant 21
times towards the juice, apply the juice to the sores, then the disease will be
healed."
"If one's eyes were bitten by flies, find some new
dung of donkey, filter it and get the liquid, chant 21 times towards the liquid,
drop it into the eyes when lying on the bed at night, then the disease will be
healed."
"For bellyaches, mix Well-flower-water with
YanSheng-salt to make 21 pellets, chant 21 times towards them, take them, then
the disease will be healed."
"For red-eyed diseases, or
neoplasms in eyes, or cataracts, find some medlar leaves, grind them and get
their juice, chant 21 times towards the juice, put some bronze coppers into the
juice for a night, chant 7 times more, drop the juice into the eyes, then the
disease will be healed."
"For phobias, make a rope with
white threads, chant 21 times towards it, tie 21 knots, and wear it on neck,
then the fear will disappear. Not only would the fear disappear, sins will also
be extinguished."
"If there are calamities in home, find a
guava branch, cut it into 1008 segments, apply ghee-honey on both ends of them,
chant once and burn one segment, burn up all 1008 segments, then all calamities
will disappear. This must be done in front of the Buddhas."
"If the Mantra-holder chant 21 times towards a white
flagleaf, wear it on the right arm, then he will always win victories at the
fighting places and polemical places "
"If the Mantra-holder
find some leaves and branches of SiaSiaMi, cut them into 1008 segments, apply
true-ghee and white-honey-ghee on both ends of them, chant once and burn one
segment, burn up all 1008 segments. Do that 3 times each day, for 7 days, then
the Mantra-holder will comprehend the through-Wisdom by himself."
"If you wish to tame powerful ghosts or spirits, find some
Wood-Wan-Zis, chant 49 times towards them, apply ghee-honey on them, and burn up
them. This must be done in front of a statue of Great Compassionate
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva."
"If you put 1 Liang of bezoar
into a lapis-lazuli bottle, then put the bottle in front of a statue of Great
Compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, chant 108 times toward it, apply the
bezoar on the body and the middle of the forehead, then All gods, dragons,
ghosts, spirits, human and non-human beings, will be pleased."
(* Liang:
A Chinese measurement)
"If being chained and locked, find
some dung of white pigeons, chant 108 times towards them, apply them on the hand
and rub the chain and lock, then they will break off."
"If
husband and wife hate each other, just like water and fire, find some feathers
of the tail of mandarin ducks, in front of a statue of Great Compassionate
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, chant 1008 times towards the feathers and wear them,
then the husband and the wife will love and respect each other for their whole
life."
"If seeds of fruits in farm are being eaten by
insects, find some clean ashes, or clean sands, or clean water, chant 21 times
towards them, sprinkle them around the farm and the seeds, then the insects will
quit. For fruit trees, sprinkle the Mantra-water on the trees, then the insects
will not dare to eat the fruits."
The Buddha told Ananda: "
For richness, treasures, or various materials, use the Wish-fulfilling pearl
Mudra(gesture).
If life is unstable and seeks for a stable life, use the
Pasa(lasso) Mudra.
For diseases in stomach, use the Precious bowl Mudra.
For vanquishing all demons, monsters, ghosts, and spirits, use the
Precious glave(double edge sword) Mudra.
For vanquishing all heavenly
demons and Devas, use the Vajra Mudra.
For taming all enemies, use the
Vajra pestle Mudra.
For eliminating all fears, use the Fearless-Giving
(Abhayam-dada) Mudra.
For healing dim eyes, use the Sun-quintessence
Mani Mudra.
For refresh cool to heal pyrexias, use the Moon-quintessence
Mani Mudra.
For high post, use the Precious bow Mudra.
For
meeting all good friends earlier, use the Precious arrow Mudra.
For
healing various diseases on one's body, use the willow branch Mudra.
For
extinguishing evil obstacle and misfortunes of one's body, use the White whisk
Mudra.
For pacification of kinfolks, use the Precious vase Mudra.
For evading all tigers, wolves, jackals, panthers, and other fierce
beasts, use the PongPie Mudra.
For always resting in peace and avoiding
being imprisoned, use the Axe-tomahawk Mudra.
For commanding men and
women, use the Jade bracelet Mudra.
For various merits and virtues, use
the White lotus Mudra.
For rebirth in pure lands of the ten directions,
use the Green lotus Mudra.
For great wisdom, use the Precious mirror
Mudra.
For personally meeting all Buddhas of the ten directions, use the
Purple lotus Mudra.
For underground precious deposits, use the Precious
box Mudra.
For achieving the immortal(rsi) Way(Tao), use the Five
colored cloud Mudra.
For rebirth in Brahma heaven, use the Bath bottle
Mudra.
For rebirth in heavenly palaces, use the Red lotus Mudra.
For vanquishing traitors of other places, use the Precious halberd
Mudra.
For summoning all virtuous heavenly gods, use the Precious
trumpet shell Mudra.
For commanding all ghosts and spirits, use the
Skull staff Mudra.
For Buddhas of the ten directions coming to receive
with their hands quickly, use the Prayer beads Mudra.
For achieving all
superior wonderful Brahma sounds, use the Precious bell Mudra.
For the
ability of speaking elegant languages, use the Ratna(Precious) seal Mudra.
To be constantly guarded by virtuous gods and dragon kings, use the
Kusinagara iron hook Mudra.
For mercifully protecting all living beings,
use the Khakkhara(Monk's Iron Staff) Mudra.
For all living beings to
respect and love each others, use the Joining palms Mudra.
For always
being reborn beside Buddhas for all lifetimes, use the Nirmana(Miraculously
Created) Buddha Mudra.
To be always reborn in palaces of Buddhas for all
lifetimes, and never be born from wombs, use the Nirmana-Palace Mudra.
For eruditeness, use the Precious Sutra Mudra.
For never to
retrogress or lose the Bodhi-Heart from this present life to the life being a
Buddha, use the Non-retrogression gold wheel Mudra.
If you wish the
Buddhas of the ten directions to come quickly to rub your summit and award you
the mark of future Buddhahood, use the Summit Nirmana Buddha Mudra.
For
fruits, melons, corns and crops, use the Grape Mudra.
There are
thousands of such requesting Mudras, now I have just curtly said some of them."
The Sunshine Bodhisattva then spoke a great holy Mantra for
supporting the Mantra-holders of the Great Compassionate Heart Dharani:
"Namo Buddha Kunami, Namo Dharma Mahadi, Namo Samgha Tayeni,
DhriBhuBhi Sattva Yam Namo"
"This Mantra can extinguish all
sins. also can evade demons and disasters. If one can chant once and bow to
Buddhas once, 3 times daily, chant and bow to Buddhas, then on the next life, he
will get the delightful result that all of his facial features are handsome."
The Moonshine Bodhisattva also spoke a Dharani Mantra for
supporting practitioners:
"Sumdhidi Tusuza Ahjamidi Uduza
SumKiza Bolaidi Yemijaza Uduza Kuladiza Kimoza Svaha"
"Make
a rope with five colored threads, chant this Mantra 5 times toward the rope, and
wear on the sore. This Mantra had been spoken by the previous 40
Ganges-river-sands Buddhas, now I also speak it, for supporting all
practitioners, for eliminating all obstacles and calamities, for healing all
diseases, for relieving all sufferings, for accomplishing all virtuous Dharmas,
for eliminating all fears."
The Buddha told Ananda: "You
should accept and uphold this Great Compassion Dharani with a deeply pure heart,
spread it abroad widely throughout Jambudvipa and never allow it to be lost.
This Dharani can bring great benefit for all living beings of the three realms
of Samsara, all living beings suffering from diseases can use this Dharani to
heal their diseases. Even withered trees can grow new branches and fruits when
being chanted towards with this great holy Mantra. Thus, it's impossible that
diseases of sentient and conscious beings cannot be healed by this Mantra. Good
man, the mighty and holy power of this Dharani is unimaginable, unimaginable,
the glorifications for it are endless. Not having widely planted good roots from
previous lives, one can not hear even the name of this Dharani, not to mention
the contents. You of the assembly, gods, human beings, dragons, spirits, should
also glorify it while hearing my glorifications. Slandering this Mantra is equal
to slandering those 9.9 billions Ganges-river-sands Buddhas. If anyone doubt, or
don't believe in this Dharani, we should know that he will lose the supreme
blessing for eons, he will fall into the evil destinies constantly in thousands
of kalpas and unable to escape; he will be unable to see the Buddhas, unable to
hear the Dharmas, and unable to see the Sanghas for a long time."
After hearing the Buddha glorified this Dharani, the
assembly: Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas, Vajra secret-traces deities, Brahmas, gods,
the four heavenly kings, dragons, ghosts, spirits, were all pleased, and
practise as taught.
(End of Translation)
(Translated into
English by Silfong Chen)
(Special thanks to Padma Te Yuen for grammar
correction)
Life’s most awesome event is death, and death comes to all without
regard to wealth, beauty, intelligence or fame. Death is inevitable, but how you
die—terrified and confused, or with confidence and spiritual mastery—is within
your control.
