Great Compassion Dharani Sutra
Thousand-Handed
and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Vast, Perfect, Unimpeded, Great-Compassionate Heart Dharani
Sutra
Thus I have heard, once
Sakyamuni Buddha was at Potalaka Mountain, in the treasure-adorned Way-place in
Avalokitesvara's palace, sitting on a precious Lion-Throne adorned in purity
with countless multifarious Mani-jewels. Hundreds of precious streamers and
banners were hanging all around.
At that time, the
Tathagata, who was sitting on his throne, intending to explain a teaching of the
Total-Retention Dharani, was along with innumerable Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas,
whose names are:
Dharani King Bodhisattva,
Treasure King Bodhisattva,
Bhaisajya-Raja(Medicine King) Bodhisattva,
Bhaisajya-Samudgata(Medicine Superior) Bodhisattva,
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva,
Maha-stamaprapta(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 great Dharma-Princes who had been empowered
through their crowns (Abhiseka).
The Buddha was also along
with innumerable great Voice-Hearers (Sravakas), all of whom were practicing
the tenth stage of Arhat, headed by Maha-Kasyapa;
He was also along with
innumerable gods of Brahma-Heaven, headed by Sinza-Brahma;
Also along with Him were
innumerable Gods of heavens of the desire realm, headed by Gopaka-God;
Also along with Him were
innumerable four-guardian-gods, headed by Dhritarastra;
Also along with Him were
innumerable gods, dragons, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garudas, Kinnaras,
Mahoragas, human beings, Amanusyas, headed by Heavenly Virtue great dragon
king;
Also along with Him were
innumerable goddesses of heavens of the desire realm, headed by Virginal Eye
goddesses;
Also along with Him were
innumerable Sunyatas(Gods of spaces), gods of rivers and oceans, gods of
fountains and spring, gods of stream and 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.
They all came and gathered
in the congregation.
At that time in the
congregation, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva secretly emitted his sacrosanct light,
thereupon, the worlds in the ten directions, along with this three-thousand-great-thousand
worlds system, were all illuminated and became golden. Heavenly palaces,
palaces of dragons, and palaces of all gods were all shaken. Rivers, oceans,
Iron-Ring Mountains (Cakravada-parvata), Sumeru Mountains, Earth Mountains, and
black mountains were also shaken. The light of suns, moons, pearls, fire, and
constellations 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 such great bright light universally?
The worlds of the ten directions are all golden,
so do these three-thousand-great-thousand worlds.
Who attained the ultimate freedom today,
manifesting the rare great holy power?
Innumerable Buddha-Worlds are shaken,
so do palaces of dragons and gods.
Now the entire congregation is wondering,
not knowing whose power caused these.
Is he a Buddha, Bodhisattva, or great Voice-Hearer,
or a Brahman, demon, heavenly god, or Sakra?
We pray for the Bhagavan (World Honored One)'s Great
Compassion, to tell us the source of this great supernatural power."
The Buddha told Dharani King Bodhisattva: "Virtuous man, you all should
know that in this congregation there is a Bodhisattva-Mahasattva named
Avalokitesvara, the Unrestricted One. He had achieved the Great Kindness and
Great Compassion since uncountable Kalpas before, and he excels at practicing
countless Dharani-Gates. In order to comfort and please all living-beings, he
secretly emits such great 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 White (pure) Dharmas; for maturing
all virtuous-roots; for overcoming all fears; for fulfilling all good wishes.
Bhagavan, please be merciful and allow me to speak."
The Buddha said:
"Virtuous man, you have great kindness and great compassion, in order to
comfort and please all living beings, you wish to speak the holy mantra, it is
the proper time now, please speak it soon, the Tathagata approves and rejoices
it, and so do all Buddhas."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
then said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, I remember that countless billions of
kalpas ago, a Buddha, whose name was Thousand Rays King Stillness Thus Come
One, appeared in the world. Because of his mercy and mindfulness towards me and
all living beings, that Buddha, the World Honored One spoke this Vast, Perfect,
Unimpeded, Great Compassionate Heart Dharani, rubbed my crown with his golden
hand and said: 'Virtuous man, you should hold this heart-mantra to give great
benefit and happiness to all living beings in the future evil age.' At that
time I was just at the first Bhumi(stage of Bodhisattva), right after hearing
this mantra, I exceeded the eighth Bhumi. At that time, as my heart was joyful,
I vowed: 'If I will be able to give benefit and happiness to all living beings
in the future, let me have one thousand hands and one thousand eyes
immediately.' Instantly after the vow, I got fully one thousand hands and one
thousand eyes on my body, then, the grounds of the worlds of the ten directions
quaked in six ways, thousands of Buddhas of the ten directions emitted their
light to my body and illuminated boundless worlds of the ten directions. From
then on, from countless Buddhas and congregations, I have repeatedly heard,
accepted and held this Dharani, and the joys were also repeatedly aroused from
my heart, and made me greatly enthusiastic. Therefore, I transcended
imperceptible births and deaths of countless billions of kalpas. Since then, I
have always been reciting and holding this mantra, and have never forgotten it.
Because of holding this mantra, I was always born by miraculous creation
(nirmana) from lotuses in front of Buddhas, and have never been born from any
womb."
"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 arouse heir great merciful and compassionate hearts for all living
beings, and follow me in making these vows:
(* The pronunciation of
"Namo" is [na:mo:] in international phonetic symbols)
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I quickly
know all Dharmas;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I soon obtain the Wisdom Eye;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I quickly ferry all living beings
(to the shore of liberation);
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I soon obtain virtuous skillful
means (to enlighten various living beings);
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I quickly board the Prajna Boat;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I soon transcend the ocean of
suffering;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I quickly achieve precepts,
Samadhi and the Way;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I soon ascend the mountain of
Nirvana;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I quickly dwell in the house of
non-action;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I soon unite with the
Dharma-Nature Body.
If I go towards the mountain of knives, the mountain of
knives of itself breaks up;
If I go towards the boiling oil, the boiling oil of itself dries up;
If I go towards the hells, the hells of themselves disappear;
If I go towards the hungry ghosts, the hungry ghosts of themselves become full.
If I go towards the Asuras, their evil thoughts of themselves are tamed.
If I go towards the animals, they themselves attain great wisdom."
"After making these
vows, recite my name(Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) with the deep-felt
sincere heart, also recite single-mindedly the name of my teacher -- Amitabha
Tathagata(Namo Amitabha), then recite this mantra, 5 times or more in a day, to
remove from the body the weighty sins of births and deaths accumulated in
hundreds of thousands of billions of kalpas."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
then said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, if humans or gods recite and hold the
phrases of the Great Compassion Dharani, when they are about to die, all the
Buddhas of the ten directions will come to receive them with their hands, and
they will be reborn in whichever Buddha-World 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-World, 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
completely sincere.
If a woman dislikes her
female body and wishes to become a male, if she recites the phrases of the
Great Compassion Dharani but can not change from a female to a male, I vow not
to achieve the Correct-Awakening. However, if she arouses even a slightest doubt,
her wish will not be satisfied.
If any living being usurps
the drinks, foods, or possessions of Sanghas (group of monks), even though one
thousand Buddhas appear in the world, he will not get to repent and reform.
Even if he repents, his sins will not be eliminated. But now, by reciting this
Great Compassion holy mantra, his sins will be eliminated. If anyone usurps,
eats, or uses the drinks, foods, or possessions of Sanghas, he must repent to
teachers of the ten directions to eliminate his sins. Now, when he reties this
Great Compassion Dharani, the teachers of the ten directions will come to bear
witness, and then all his weighty sins and hindrances will be eliminated.
All evil karma and weighty
sins such as the ten evil deeds, the five rebellious sins, slandering people,
slandering the Dharmas, breaking the Abstinent-precepts (*), breaking other
precepts, destroying stupas (holy towers), wrecking temples, stealing
properties of Sanghas, and profaning Brahma (pure) practices, can be completely
eliminated (by reciting this Dharani), except this: if one has doubts about
this Dharani, then even his small sins and light karma cannot be eliminated,
not to mention the weighty sins. Although the weighty sins do not disappear
immediately, the reciting can still be the cause of Bodhi in the future."
(* Abstinent-precepts: The
precepts of Tzie/Zhai. To observe these precepts, one must:
1. eats only vegetarian food;
2. takes only one meal before noon each day, eating after noon is prohibited;
3. also keeps the five basic precepts: no killing, no stealing, no sexual
misconduct, no false speech, no consumption of alcohol.)
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
continued to say to the Buddha:
"People and gods who recite and hold the Great Compassionate Heart Dharani
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 virtuous friends;
5. The organs of their body will always be complete;
6. Their hearts of Way(Bodhi) will be pure and mature;
7. They will not violate the prohibitive precepts;
8. All their relatives 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 possessions 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,
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva joined his palms and stood upright in front of the
congregation, aroused his great compassionate heart for all living beings,
smiled and in this way spoke the Sacrosanct Wonderful 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 skritva imam
arya-valokite-svara ramdhava
Namo narakindi hrih Maha-vadha-sva-me
Sarva-arthato-subham ajeyam
Sarva-sata Namo-vasat Namo-vaka mavitato
Tadyatha
Om avaloki-lokate-karate-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 finished speaking this mantra, the earth shook
in six ways. The heavens rained down precious flowers, which fell in colorful
profusion. All the Buddhas of the ten directions were delighted, while the
heavenly demons and Exterior-paths practitioners were so frightened that their
hair stood on end. Everyone in the congregation achieved different fruitions,
including the fruitions of stream-enterer (srota-apanna), once-returner
(sakrd-agamin), non-returner (Anagamin), and Arhat; others achieved the first
Bhumi(stage of Bodhisattva), the second Bhumi, the third, fourth, fifth ......
up to the tenth Bhumi. Innumerable living beings aroused the Bodhi-Heart (The
resolve to save all living beings and help them to achieve the Correct
Awakening).
Then the great Brahma
heavenly king arose from his seat, tidied up his clothes, joined his palms
respectfully, and said to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva: "How virtuous,
Mahasattva! I had attended innumerable Buddha-Congregations and heard myriads
of Dharmas and Dharanis, but never before had I heard such Sacrosanct Wonderful
Phrases of the Unimpeded Great Compassionate Heart's Great Compassion Dharani.
Mahasattva, please tell us the feature and characteristics 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, and I will tell you
in brief."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
said: "It is the great merciful and compassionate heart, the impartial
heart, the motionless heart, the unpolluted and unattached heart, the
emptiness-observing heart, the respectful heart, the humble heart, the
uncluttered heart, the non-view and non-grasping heart, and the uppermost
Bodhi-Heart. You should know that such hearts are the feature and
characteristics of this Dharani, you should practice according to them."
Then the great Brahma king
said: "We now know the feature and characteristics of this Dharani, from
now on, we will recite and hold it and will never dare to forget or loss
it."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
said: "If any virtuous men or virtuous women, who recite and hold this
holy Dharani, can arouse the vast Bodhi-Heart that vow to ferry all living
beings to the shore of liberation, keep the Abstinent-precepts(*) bodily,
arouse the heart of equality towards all living beings, keep reciting this
Dharani without interruption, reside in a clean room, wash themselves clean,
wear clean clothes, hang up streamers and light up lamps, make offerings with
fragrances, flowers, vegetable foods of hundreds of tastes, make their hearts stay
still at one place, do not think about others, and recite and hold this Dharani
according to the Dharma, then, Sunlight Bodhisattva, Moonlight Bodhisattva and
innumerable gods and immortals will come to bear witness and enhance the
efficacy of their recitation."
"At that time, I will
illuminate them with a thousand eyes, and protect and support them with a
thousand hands. From then on, they will be able to master all worldly
literature, and will perfectly understand all Exterior-paths' theories and sorceries,
as well as the Veda Scriptures."
"One who recites and
holds this holy mantra can heal all the 84000 kinds of diseases of the world,
without exception. He also can command all ghosts and spirits, vanquish
heavenly demons, and tame all Exterior-paths practitioners."
"If one is reading
Sutras or practicing Dhyana (Zen) in a mountain or a wild field, and some
mountain-spirits, various ghosts, demons, monsters or Devas come to disturb and
make him unable to concentrate, recite this mantra once, then all those ghosts
and spirits will be tied up."
"If one can recites
this Mantra in accord with Dharma and arouse merciful and compassionate heart
towards all living beings, I will then command all virtuous gods, dragon kings,
and Vajra Secret-Traces Divinities to always follow and guard him, never
leaving his side, guarding him as their own eyes and lives."
Then Avalokitesvara
Bodhisattva said the Gatha:
"I command the Vajra Secret-Traces Knights:
Ucchusma, Kundalin, Ankusa, and the eight clans' powerful knight Shankara, to
guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Mahesvaras, Narayana, Kumbhiraba and Kapila,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Pajis, Sahassakkhas, perfect-virtuous chebuds
and Kimnaras, to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Sajamahoras, Kumbhandas, Katabhutanas, and
Banjras, to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Bhipagara kings, and morality Vitasaharas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Brahma king Sambra, the five clans of
pure-abode heavens and Yamarajas, to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Sakra Devanam indra, the Lord of the
thirty-three heavens, Sarasvatis, and Vardhanas, to guard the Mantra-holders
constantly;
I command Dhritarastra king, Haritis, goddess and great
strength gods, to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Virudhaka king, Virupaksa king and Vaisravana
king, to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Golden Peacock King, and the twenty-eight
clans of great immortals, to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command 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, and
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 and sleeps alone
in an uninhabited mountain or wilderness, those virtuous gods will guard him by
turns to eliminate misfortunes. If the Mantra-holder loses his way deep in the
mountain, because of reciting this Mantra, the virtuous gods and dragon-kings
will transform themselves into virtuous people and tell him the correct way. If
the Mantra-holder lacks water or requires fire in a mountain, forest, or
wilderness, the dragon-kings will protect him by miraculously creating water
and fire for him."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
then said a misfortune-eliminating and refreshingly 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 wild way,
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 carbuncles, 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,
then the hexes and evil spells will return to its original senders.
When Dharma is about to disappear,
the world is evil, feculent and disordered,
poeple's sexual desire are like raging fire,
their hearts are deluded and they confuse right and wrong.
They have adulteries behind their spouses,
and think of lust days and nights ceaselessly.
If they can recite the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
the fire of sexual desire will quench and the evil minds will extinguish.
If I glorify the effect and power 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 the Dharani 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 the practitioners who practice the six Perfections (Paramita) but
have not yet fulfilled them, to make them succeed quickly;
For those who have not yet
aroused Bodhi-Heart, to make them arouse their Bodhi-Heart quickly;
For Sravakas who have not
yet achieved fruitions, to make them achieve fruitions quickly;
For all gods and
supernatural persons in the three-thousand-great-thousand worlds, who have not
yet aroused the unsurpassed Bodhi-Heart, to make them arouse the 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 Dharani, their seeds of Mahayana and Dharma-buds will grow quickly;
with the power of my expedients, mercy and compassion, all of their needs will
be supplied.
For those living beings of
the three evil paths, who live in the gloomy regions of the
three-thousand-great-thousand worlds, when they hear this Mantra, they will all
be free from suffering;
For Bodhisattvas who have
not yet achieved the first Bhumi, to make them achieve quickly, and make them
achieve even up to the tenth Bhumi, and even up to the Buddhahood, with the
thirty-two marks and the eighty minor marks achieved naturally.
If a Voice-Hearer
(Sravaka) once hears this Dharani pass by his ears, if he practices and writes
this Dharani, and if he settles down with straightforward heart in accord with
Dharma, then he will naturally achieve the four Sramana-fruits even if he does
not seek for the fruitions.
Suppose all the mountains,
rivers, cliffs, and oceans in the three-thousand-great-thousand worlds can be
boiled; the Sumeru mountains and Cakravada-parvata mountains can be shaken, and
grinded to dust, all living beings of that magnitude will arouse the
unsurpassed Bodhi-Hearts [by the power of this Dharani].
If anyone prays for any
wish in his present life, he should keep the Abstinent-precepts(*) and keep
reciting this Dharani for 21 days, 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 his evil karmas will be cleaned up. In the
three-thousand-great-thousand worlds, all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Brahmas,
Sakra Devanam-Indra (heavenly lord), the four guardian gods, divinities,
immortals, and dragon-kings, will bear witness."
(* Abstinent-precepts: The
precepts of Tzie/Zhai. To observe these precepts, one must:
1. eats only vegetarian food;
2. takes only one meal before noon each day, eating after noon is prohibited;
3. also keeps the five basic precepts: no killing, no stealing, no sexual
misconduct, no false speech, no consumption of alcohol.)
"If a human or
heavenly being, who recites and holds this Dharani, baths in a river or a sea,
the nearby living beings wet by his bath-water will have all their weighty sins
cleaned and be reborn in pure-lands of other directions. They will be born
through miraculous creation from lotuses, and will not undergo birth from
wombs, moistures, or eggs. How much more so, for those who recite and hold this
Dharani themselves!"
"If one who recites
and holds this Dharani is walking, a wind blows 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 the three evil paths, and often be born in front of
Buddhas. It should be known that the Mantra-holder's blessings, virtues, and
fruit-repayments will be unimaginable."
"If the Mantra-holder
says anything, no matter good or bad, it sounds like pure Dharma-sound to all
heavenly demons, Exterior-paths practitioners, gods, dragons, ghosts, and
spirits, thus they will respect the Mantra-holder as if he were a Buddha."
"As to one who
recites and holds this Dharani, we should know that he is a store of
Buddha-bodies, because he is cherished by 9.9 billions Ganges-river-sands
Buddhas;
We should know that he is
a brilliant light store, because he is illuminated by the light of all Tathagatas;
We should know that he is
a store of mercies and compassions, because he constantly saves living beings
with this Dharani;
We should know that he is
a wonderful-Dharmas store, because this Dharani includes all Dharani-Gates;
We should know that the he
is a store of Dhyana and Samadhi, because hundreds of thousands of Samadhis
often appear in front of him;
We should know that the he
is an Empty Spaces store, because he constantly observes living beings with
wisdom of emptiness;
We should know that the he
is a store of intrepidities, because he is constantly guarded by dragons, gods,
and virtuous gods;
We should know that the he
is a Wonderful Language store, because the Dharani-Sound come from his mouth is
uninterrupted;
We should know that the he
is an Eternally-Abiding store, because the three-disasters and evil-kalpas
cannot harm him;
We should know that the he
is a Liberation store, because heavenly demons and Exterior-paths practitioners
cannot detain him;
We should know that the he
is a Medicine-King store, because he constantly heals living beings with this
Dharani;
We should know that the he
is a supernatural power store, because he can freely travel round the
Buddha-Worlds.
The glorifications for the
merits and virtues of the Mantra-holder are endless."
"Virtuous men, if one
tires of the sufferings of the world and seeks for happiness of long life, he
should settle down in an unoccupied and clean place, make a pure Secure
Boundary, recite this Dharani towards his clothing, water, foods, fragrances,
or medicines for 108 times and then use them, then he will certainly gain a
long life. If he can make a Secure Boundary, accept and hold the Dharani in
accord with Dharma, then all things will be achievable."
"The method of making
a Secure Boundary is:
Recite the Dharani 21
times towards a knife, and then countermark the ground with the knife to make a
boundary;
or recite the Dharani 21
times towards some clean water, and then sprinkle it around as the boundary;
or recite the Dharani 21
times towards some white mustard seeds, and then scatter them around to mark a
boundary,;
or make a boundary by
mental visualisation;
or recite the Dharani 21
times towards some clean ashes(of Incense) and use them to mark a boundary;
or recite the Dharani 21
times towards a five-colored thread and then make a closed circle on the ground
with the threads as a boundary.
All of these will do.
If one can accept and hold
the Dharani in accord with the Dharma, he will achieve the fruit naturally."
"If anyone just hears
the name of this Dharani, his weighty sins of births and deaths of countless
kalpas will be eliminated, how much more so, of 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 planted his virtuous roots. If he can recite and hold the Dharani in
accord with Dharma to relieve all living beings from sufferings, we should know
that he is the one with the great compassionate heart, and will become a Buddha
soon."
"If he recites the
Dharani for all living beings that he sees, make them hear the Dharani and make
it become a cause of their achievement of Bodhi, then, his merits and virtues
are immeasurable, boundless, and cannot be praised completely."
"If he can, with pure
sincerity, apply his heart to keep the Abstinent-precepts, repent the previous
sins on behalf of all living beings, also repent his own various sins
accumulated in countless past kalpas, keep reciting this Dharani and never
allow the sound of recitation to be interrupted, then he will achieve the four
Sramana-fruits in his present life; if he has excellent talent for Dharma
(literally: sharp root) and masters the skillful means of Wisdom-Observing,
then achieving the fruits of ten Bhumis is not difficult for him, not to
mention those small worldly blessings. All his wishes will be fulfilled."
"If he wishes to
command ghosts, he should find a skull in the wild, wash it clean, set up a
Mandala(altar) in front of a statue of Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and make offerings of multifarious fragrances,
flowers, drinks, and vegetable foods. Do this day after day, then 7 days later,
the ghost will appear and obey his orders."
"If he wish to
command the four guardian gods, he should recite towards a sandalwood and burn
it, then he will achieve the goal - because the power of the Bodhisattva's
great compassionate vows are deep and weighty, and 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 according to correct laws, be liberal toward people and
animals, not to do anybody an injustice, absolve people from blames, and for 7
days and 7 nights, keep both his body and his mind sincere and diligent, and in
this way recite and hold this Great Compassionate Heart Dharani Holy Mantra,
then all the catastrophes of his country will disappear, the five kinds of
crops will be abundant and his people will live in peace and happiness."
"If a country is
being frequently 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, or even 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 and set it facing
the west, make offerings to it sincerely with fragrances, flowers, streamers,
precious canopies, or vegetable foods and drinks of hundreds of tastes, and,
for 7 days and 7 nights, if the king of the country can keep both his body and
mind sincere and diligent, and in this way recite and hold the Sacrosanct
Wonderful Phrases of this Dharani, then the foreign enemies will be tamed of
themselves, they will return to their own countries and make no further
disturbance. These countries will be in communication and will have friendly
relations, the princes and 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 protect this country, the rains will be seasonal, the fruits will be
abundant, and the people will be happy."
"If anyone in a
family gets a serious evil disease, or if hundreds of monsters appear, or if
ghosts, spirits, and demons deplete and demolish the family; or if some
villains malign the family and plot to harm them; or if 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, recite the name
of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva with their deep-felt sincere heart, and then
recite this Dharani fully 1000 times, then all those misfortunes will
disappear, the family will be peaceful forever."
Ananda asked the Buddha:
"Bhagavan, what is the name of this Mantra? How should we accept and hold
it?"
The Buddha told Ananda:
"This holy Mantra has many names, one of them is
Vast, Great, Perfect, another is Unimpeded Great Compassion, another is
Relieving Sufferings Dharani, another is Lengthening Life Dharani, another is
Extinguishing Evil Destinies Dharani, another is Breaking Evil Karma Hindrances
Dharani, another is Wish-Fulfilling Dharani, another is The Dharani Of The
Freedom In Accord With The Heart, another is Quickly Exceeding The Upper Stages
Dharani.
Thus should you accept and hold it."
Then Ananda asked the
Buddha: "Bhagavan, what is the name of this Bodhisattva-Mahasattva, who is
so good to teach us this Dharani?"
The Buddha said:
"This Bodhisattva is called Avalokitesvara, the Unrestricted One, also
called Nipping a Lariat, also called A Thousand Bright Eyes. Virtuous man, this
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva has unimaginable mighty and holy powers. Uncountable
kalpas before, he had already been a Buddha named True Dharma Brightness
Tathagata. Because of the power of his great compassionate vows, and in order
to call upon all Bodhisattvas to comfort and please all living beings, he
appears as a Bodhisattva. All of you, including the Bodhisattvas, Brahmas, Gods
of the 33 heavens, dragons, and divinities, should show respect to him, do not
despise him. All heavenly and human beings should constantly make offerings to
him and recite his name absorbedly, then they will get infinite blessings and
eliminate countless sins, and at the end of their lives, they will be reborn in
the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha."
The Buddha told Ananda:
"This holy Mantra spoken by Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is true, real, and
not false. If you wish to invite this Bodhisattva to come, recite the Mantra 21
times towards a Guggula Incense and burn it, then this Bodhisattva will
come."
"If being possessed
by a soul of cat, find a dead cat's skull, burn it to ashes, mix the ashes with
clean soil, and then use them to shape a cat. In front of a statue of
Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, recite the
Dharani 108 times towards a wrought iron knife, and then cut the model into 108
pieces with the knife. Recite once, cut once, and say his name once, then the
cat's soul will leave and never return."
"If harmed by
mediumistic insects(Gu), mix Karpura(Dragon Brain Incense) with a same bulk of
Guggula Incense, add 1 bowl of Well-flower-water and decoct them into 1 bowl of
decoction; when done, recite the Dharani 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 a well - each morning, the very first
bucket of water from the well)
"If bitten by fierce
snakes or scorpions, recite the Dharani 7 times towards some powder of dry
gingers, apply the powder on the bite and they will be healed."
"If someone plots to
harm you because of hatred and resentment, you should 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, recite the
Dharani 108 times towards a wrought iron knife, then cut the model into 108
pieces with the knife. Recite 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."
"If you have the
eye-diseases of dimmed vision or blindness, or if your eyes are covered by a
white haze or a red film, you should find a Haritaki fruit, an Amala fruit, and
a Vihetaki fruit, and grind them into powder. During the grinding, you must
guard their purity: do not be seen by women who have just given birth, or by
pigs or dogs, and you should keep reciting a Buddha's name, 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, recite the
Dharani 1008 times towards the medicine, then apply it on the sick eyes for
fully 7 days, stay in a quite room and do not be exposed to wind, then the eyes
will recover, the white haze and red film will disappear, and the eyesight will
be very clear."
"If you are afflicted
by recurrent fevers, recite the Dharani 21 times towards the skin of a tiger,
panther, or a wolf, place the skin on your body and the fever will be healed.
The skin of a lion is best."
"If someone is bitten
by a snake, get some earwax of that person, recite the Dharani 21 times towards
the earwax, apply them on his sore, then it will be healed."
"If an evil fever
enters your heart, and it is so oppressive that makes you even wish to die, in
this case, you should find a peach-glue as big as a normal peach, add 1 bowl of
clean water and decoct them into a half bowl of decoction. When done, recite
the Dharani 7 times towards the decoction, take them all, than the disease will
be healed. The medicine should not be decocted by a woman."
"If you are possessed
by a ghost, recite the Dharani 21 times towards a Guggula incense and burn it
to fume the nostrils, further, make 7 pills of Guggula each as big as a rabbit
dung, recite the Dharani 21 times towards them and take them, then you will be
cured. Be careful: do not drink alcohol, do not eat meat or the
five-pungencies, and do not abuse others. If you find some Manahsila (realgar),
mix it with white mustard seeds and YanSheng-salt, then recite the Dharani 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, recite
the Dharani towards some sesame oil and drop the oil into ears, then the
disease will be healed."
"If someone is
suffering from hemiplegias, his nose is blocked and his hands and feet cannot
move because of apoplexy, you should mix some sesame oil with Green-wood-spice
and decoct them, recite the Dharani 21 times towards the mixture, and rub it on
the body, then the diseases will forever be healed. Another prescription:
recite the Dharani 21 times towards some pure cow ghee, and rub it on the body,
then the diseases will also be healed."
"For dystocias,
recite the Dharani 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 dies in a
pregnant woman's womb, find one large Lerng(*) of hyssops, mix it with 2 bowls
of clean water, and decoct them into 1 bowl of decoction. Recite the Dharani 21
times towards the decoction and let the woman take it, then the dead baby will
come out, and the woman will not be in pain. If the placenta does not come out,
let her take this medicine again and it will be fine."
(* Lerng: a Chinese
measurement)
"If you have a
disease that your heart is often attacked by an unbearable pain, this is called
Hidden Corpse Disease. Find a Fume-Land Incense with mature nipples, recite the
Dharani 21 times towards it, chew and swallow it - no matter more or less.
After some time, it will cause vomiting or diarrhoea, then the disease will be
healed. Do not eat any of the five-pungencies, do not eat meat, and do not
drink alcohol."
"If burned by a fire,
recite the Dharani 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, recite the Dharani 21 times towards a half bowl of
urine of a white horse 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
come out like a linked rope."
"For a Nail-sore,
find some Ling-Sil-leaves, grind them and get the juice, recite the Dharani 21
times towards the juice, apply the juice to the sore, pull the sore out by the
root and it will be healed immediately."
"If one's eyes were
bitten by flies, find some new dung of donkey, filter it and get the liquid,
recite the Dharani 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, recite the Dharani 21
times towards them, take half a bowl of the medicine, then the disease will be
healed."
"For red-eyed
diseases, or neoplasms in eyes, or cataracts, find some leaves of
Chinese-wolfberry (Gau-Gey), grind them and get their juice, recite the Dharani
21 times towards the juice, soak a bronze copper coin in the juice overnight,
recite the Dharani towards it 7 more times, drop the juice into the eyes, then
the disease will be healed."
"If someone is afraid
and not peaceful at night, and he may even be frightened when entering or
leaving a house, he should make a rope with white threads, recite the Dharani
21 times towards it, tie it into 21 knots, and wear it on his neck, then the
fear will disappear. Not only will his fear disappear, his sins will also be
eliminated."
"If some unexpected
calamities come to your household, find a guava branch, cut it into 1008
segments, smear some ghee and honey on both ends of them, recite the Dharani
once and burn one segment, burn up all 1008 segments in this way, then all
calamities will disappear. This must be done in front of a Buddha."
"If you recite the
Dharani 21 times towards a white flagleaf and tie it to your right arm, you
will always win others in all fighting places and debating places."
"If you find some
leaves and branches of Sami(*), cut them into 1008 segments, smear some
true-cow-ghee and white-honey-cow-ghee on both ends of them, recite the Dharani
once towards each segment and burn it, and burn up all 1008 segments in this
way. Do this 3 times each day, 1008 times each time, for 7 days, then you, as a
Mantra-master, will realize the Through-Wisdom of yourself."
(* Sami: Chinese wolfberry
/ medlar)
"If you wish to tame
powerful ghosts or spirits, find some Wood-Wan-Tzee, recite the Dharani 49
times towards them, smear some ghee and honey on them, and burn them up. This
must be done in front of a statue of Great Compassionate Avalokitesvara
Bodhisattva."
"If you put 1 large
Lerng of bezoar(Cow yellow) into a lapis-lazuli bottle, then put the bottle in
front of a statue of Great Compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, recite the
Dharani 108 times toward it, apply the bezoar on your body and dot it on your
forehead, then all gods, dragons, ghosts, spirits, human and non-human beings
will be pleased."
(* Lerng: A Chinese
measurement)
"If being chained and
locked, find some dung of white pigeons, recite the Dharani 108 times towards
them, smear them on your hands and rub the chains and locks, then the chains
and locks will open of themselves."
"If a husband and
wife have a disharmonious relationship and their situation is like that of
water and fire, find some feathers of the tail of mandarin ducks, in front of a
statue of Great Compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, recite the Dharani
1008 times towards the feathers and let the couple wear them, then the couple
will be delightful, and will love and respect each other unto the end of their
lives."
"If the seeds and
fruits in your farm are being eaten by insects, find some clean ashes, or clean
sands, or clean water, recite the Dharani 21 times towards them, sprinkle them
around the farm and the seedlings, then the insects will quit. If you sprinkle
some Mantra-water on the fruit trees, the insects will not dare to eat the
fruits."
The Buddha told Ananda:
1. For richness, treasures, or various
valuables and necessities, use the Wish-Fulfilling Pearl Mudra(gesture).
2. For seeking stable life in various unstable
situations, use the Pasa(lasso / lariat) Mudra.
3. For various diseases in abdomen, use the Precious
Bowl Mudra.
4. For vanquishing all demons, monsters, ghosts, and
spirits, use the Precious Glave(double edge sword) Mudra.
5. For vanquishing all heavenly demons and deities, use
the Vajra Mudra.
6. For taming all enemies, use the Vajra Pestle Mudra.
7. For eliminating all fears in any situation, use the
Fearless-Giving (Abhayam-dada) Mudra.
8. For healing dim eyes, use the Sun-Quintessence Mani
Mudra.
9. If one has a disease caused by the poison of heat and
seeks for refreshing coolness, he should use the Moon-Quintessence Mani Mudra.
10. For high positions and promotions, use the Precious
Bow Mudra.
11. For meeting all virtuous friends as soon as
possible, use the Precious Arrow Mudra.
12. For healing various diseases on one's body, use the
Willow Branch Mudra.
13. For eliminating evil obstacles and misfortunes of
one's body, use the White Whisk Mudra.
14. For good harmony among all relatives, use the
Precious Vase Mudra.
15. For evading all tigers, wolves, jackals, panthers,
and other fierce beasts, use the Shield Mudra.
16. For always resting in peace and avoiding being
imprisoned, use the Axe-Tomahawk Mudra.
17. For commanding men and women, use the Jade Bracelet
Mudra.
18. For various merits and virtues, use the White Lotus
Mudra.
19. For rebirth in pure lands of the ten directions, use
the Blue Lotus Mudra.
20. For great wisdom, use the Precious Mirror Mudra.
21. For personally meeting all Buddhas of the ten
directions, use the Purple Lotus Mudra.
22. For underground precious deposits, use the Precious
Box Mudra.
23. For achieving the Way(Tao) of immortals, use the
Five Colored Cloud Mudra.
24. For rebirth in Brahma heaven, use the Bath Bottle
Mudra.
25. For rebirth in heavenly palaces, use the Red Lotus
Mudra.
26. For vanquishing traitors of other places, use the
Precious Halberd Mudra.
27. For summoning all virtuous heavenly gods, use the
Precious Trumpet Shell Mudra.
28. For commanding all ghosts and spirits, use the Skull
Staff Mudra.
29. For the Buddhas of the ten directions coming to
receive you with their hands quickly, use the Prayer Beads Mudra.
30. For achieving all superior wonderful Brahma sounds,
use the Precious Bell Mudra.
31. For the ability of eloquent, clever, and wonderful
speech (mouth karma), use the Precious Seal Mudra.
32. To be constantly guarded by virtuous gods and dragon
kings, use the Kusinagara Iron Hook Mudra.
33. For mercifully sheltering and protecting all living
beings, use the Tin Staff Mudra.
34. For making all living beings always respect and love
each others, use the Joining Palms Mudra.
35. For always being reborn beside Buddhas for all
lifetimes, use the Nirmana(Miraculously Created) Buddha Mudra.
36. To be always reborn in the palaces of Buddhas for
all lifetimes, and never be born from a womb, use the Nirmana-Palace Mudra.
37. For eruditeness, use the Precious Sutra Mudra.
38. If you wish that from your current
incarnation(lifetime) to the incarnation that you are a Buddha, you will never
retrogress from or lose the Bodhi-Heart, use the Non-retrogression Gold Wheel
Mudra.
39. If you wish that the Buddhas of the ten directions
will come quickly to rub your summit and award you the mark of future
Buddhahood, use the Summit Nirmana Buddha Mudra.
40. For fruits, melons, and various crops, use the Grape
Mudra.
41.
42.
Uniting and Holding Thousand Arms Hand (Mudra).
There are thousands of
such requesting Mudras, now I have just briefly said some of them."
Sunlight Bodhisattva then spoke a great holy Mantra for those who accept and hold
the Great Compassionate Heart Dharani to protect them:
"Namo Buddha Kunami, Namo Dharma Mahadi, Namo
Sangha Tayeni, DhriBhuBhi Sattva Yam Namo"
"This Mantra can
extinguish all sins, and can evade demons and natural disasters. If one can
recite the Dharani once and bow to the Buddhas once, 3 times daily, recite the
Dharani and bow to the Buddhas, then in his next lifetime, he will gain the
delightful fruit-repayment that all of his facial features are handsome."
Moonlight Bodhisattva also spoke a Dharani to protect practitioners:
"Sumdhidi Tusuza Ahjamidi Uduza SumKiza Bolaidi
Yemijaza Uduza Kuladiza Kimoza Svaha"
(* in the above sentence,
the 'z' should be pronounced as [tz])
"Recite this Mantra
five times, making a Mantra-Rope with five colored threads, and wear it on
where it is 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
serious diseases and 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 greatly benefit all living beings of the Three Realms
of Transmigrations, all living beings suffering from diseases can use this
Dharani to heal their diseases. Even a withered tree can grow new branches,
flowers and fruits when someone recites this great holy Dharani towards it.
Thus, it is impossible that any diseases of sentient and conscious beings
cannot be healed by this Dharani."
"Virtuous man, the
mighty and sacrosanct power of this Dharani is unimaginable, is unimaginable,
and one will never be able to fully praise it. If one has not extensively
planted virtuous roots since the long distant past, he is not able to hear even
the name of this Dharani, much less that he could see it. All of you in this
congregation -- the gods, human beings, dragons, spirits, should accordingly
rejoice when hearing my praise. Slandering this Dharani is equal to slandering
those 9.9 billion Ganges-river-sands Buddhas.
If anyone doubts, or
disbelieves this Dharani, we should know that he loses great benefits forever.
For billions of kalpas, he will constantly fall into the evil categories (of
hell beings, hungry ghosts, and animals) and unable to escape; he will always
be unable to see the Buddhas, unable to hear the Dharmas, and unable to see the
Sanghas."
After hearing the Buddha
praise this Dharani, the whole congregation -- the Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas,
Vajra Secret-Traces Divinities, Brahmas, Sakra, gods, the four heavenly kings,
dragons, ghosts, and spirits, were all delighted, they accepted the teaching
respectfully and started practicing it.
End of Translation
Translated into English by Silfong Tsun
Great Compassion Dharani Sutra
Thousand-Handed
and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Vast, Perfect, Unimpeded,
Great-Compassionate Heart Dharani Sutra
Tsin Sau Tsin Ngarn Gwun Syde Yarm Poe Sard
Gworng Dhye Yiun Moon Moe Ngoy Dhye Bey Sum Tor Lor Ney Ging
Qian Shou Qian Yan Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa Guang Da
Yuan Man Wu Ai Da Bei Xin Tuo Luo Ni Jing
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 Sakyamuni Buddha was at Potalaka Mountain, in the
treasure-adorned Way-place in Avalokitesvara's palace, sitting on a precious
Lion-Throne adorned in purity with countless multifarious Mani-jewels. Hundreds
of precious streamers and banners were hanging all around.
At that time, the
Tathagata, who was sitting on his throne, intending to explain a teaching of
the Total-Retention Dharani, was along with innumerable
Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas, whose names are: Dharani King Bodhisattva, Treasure
King Bodhisattva, Bhaisajya-Raja(Medicine King) Bodhisattva,
Bhaisajya-Samudgata(Medicine Superior) Bodhisattva, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva,
Maha-stamaprapta(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 great Dharma-Princes who had been
empowered through their crowns (Abhiseka).
The Buddha was also along
with innumerable great Voice-Hearers (Sravakas), all of whom were practicing
the tenth stage of Arhat, headed by Maha-Kasyapa;
He was also along with
innumerable gods of Brahma-Heaven, headed by Sinza-Brahma;
Also along with Him were
innumerable Gods of heavens of the desire realm, headed by Gopaka-God;
Also along with Him were
innumerable four-guardian-gods, headed by Dhritarastra;
Also along with Him were
innumerable gods, dragons, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garudas, Kinnaras,
Mahoragas, human beings, Amanusyas, headed by Heavenly Virtue great dragon
king;
Also along with Him were
innumerable goddesses of heavens of the desire realm, headed by Virginal Eye
goddesses;
Also along with Him were
innumerable Sunyatas(Gods of spaces), gods of rivers and oceans, gods of
fountains and spring, gods of stream and 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.
They all came and gathered
in the congregation.
At that time in the
congregation, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva secretly emitted his sacrosanct light,
thereupon, the worlds in the ten directions, along with this
three-thousand-great-thousand worlds system, were all illuminated and became
golden. Heavenly palaces, palaces of dragons, and palaces of all gods were all
shaken. Rivers, oceans, Iron-Ring Mountains (Cakravada-parvata), Sumeru Mountains,
Earth Mountains, and black mountains were also shaken. The light of suns,
moons, pearls, fire, and constellations 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 such great bright light universally?
The worlds of the ten directions are all golden,
so do these three-thousand-great-thousand worlds.
Who attained the ultimate
freedom today,
manifesting the rare great holy power?
Innumerable Buddha-Worlds are shaken,
so do palaces of dragons and gods.
Now the entire
congregation is wondering,
not knowing whose power caused these.
Is he a Buddha, Bodhisattva, or great Voice-Hearer,
or a Brahman, demon, heavenly god, or Sakra?
We pray for the Bhagavan
(World Honored One)'s Great Compassion,
to tell us the source of this great supernatural power."
The Buddha told Dharani King Bodhisattva: "Virtuous man, you all should
know that in this congregation there is a Bodhisattva-Mahasattva named
Avalokitesvara, the Unrestricted One. He had achieved the Great Kindness and
Great Compassion since uncountable Kalpas before, and he excels at practicing
countless Dharani-Gates. In order to comfort and please all living-beings, he
secretly emits such great 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 White (pure) Dharmas; for maturing
all virtuous-roots; for overcoming all fears; for fulfilling all good wishes.
Bhagavan, please be merciful and allow me to speak."
The Buddha said:
"Virtuous man, you have great kindness and great compassion, in order to
comfort and please all living beings, you wish to speak the holy mantra, it is
the proper time now, please speak it soon, the Tathagata approves and rejoices
it, and so do all Buddhas."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
then said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, I remember that countless billions of
kalpas ago, a Buddha, whose name was Thousand Rays King Stillness Thus Come
One, appeared in the world. Because of his mercy and mindfulness towards me and
all living beings, that Buddha, the World Honored One spoke this Vast, Perfect,
Unimpeded, Great Compassionate Heart Dharani, rubbed my crown with his golden
hand and said: 'Virtuous man, you should hold this heart-mantra to give great
benefit and happiness to all living beings in the future evil age.' At that
time I was just at the first Bhumi(stage of Bodhisattva), right after hearing
this mantra, I exceeded the eighth Bhumi. At that time, as my heart was joyful,
I vowed: 'If I will be able to give benefit and happiness to all living beings
in the future, let me have one thousand hands and one thousand eyes
immediately.' Instantly after the vow, I got fully one thousand hands and one
thousand eyes on my body, then, the grounds of the worlds of the ten directions
quaked in six ways, thousands of Buddhas of the ten directions emitted their
light to my body and illuminated boundless worlds of the ten directions. From
then on, from countless Buddhas and congregations, I have repeatedly heard,
accepted and held this Dharani, and the joys were also repeatedly aroused from
my heart, and made me greatly enthusiastic. Therefore, I transcended
imperceptible births and deaths of countless billions of kalpas. Since then, I
have always been reciting and holding this mantra, and have never forgotten it.
Because of holding this mantra, I was always born by miraculous creation
(nirmana) from lotuses in front of Buddhas, and have never been born from any
womb."
"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 arouse heir great merciful and compassionate hearts for all living
beings, and follow me in making these vows:
(* The pronunciation of
"Namo" is [na:mo:] in international phonetic symbols)
Namo great compassionate
Avalokitesvara, May I quickly know all Dharmas;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I soon obtain the Wisdom Eye;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I quickly ferry all living beings
(to the shore of liberation);
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I soon obtain virtuous skillful
means (to enlighten various living beings);
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I quickly board the Prajna Boat;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I soon transcend the ocean of
suffering;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I quickly achieve precepts,
Samadhi and the Way;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I soon ascend the mountain of
Nirvana;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I quickly dwell in the house of
non-action;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, May I soon unite with the
Dharma-Nature Body.
If I go towards the
mountain of knives, the mountain of knives of itself breaks up;
If I go towards the boiling oil, the boiling oil of itself dries up;
If I go towards the hells, the hells of themselves disappear;
If I go towards the hungry ghosts, the hungry ghosts of themselves become full.
If I go towards the Asuras, their evil thoughts of themselves are tamed.
If I go towards the animals, they themselves attain great wisdom."
"After making these
vows, recite my name(Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) with the deep-felt
sincere heart, also recite single-mindedly the name of my teacher -- Amitabha
Tathagata(Namo Amitabha), then recite this mantra, 5 times or more in a day, to
remove from the body the weighty sins of births and deaths accumulated in
hundreds of thousands of billions of kalpas."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
then said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, if humans or gods recite and hold the
phrases of the Great Compassion Dharani, when they are about to die, all the
Buddhas of the ten directions will come to receive them with their hands, and
they will be reborn in whichever Buddha-World 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-World, 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
completely sincere.
If a woman dislikes her
female body and wishes to become a male, if she recites the phrases of the
Great Compassion Dharani but can not change from a female to a male, I vow not
to achieve the Correct-Awakening. However, if she arouses even a slightest
doubt, her wish will not be satisfied.
If any living being usurps
the drinks, foods, or possessions of Sanghas (group of monks), even though one
thousand Buddhas appear in the world, he will not get to repent and reform.
Even if he repents, his sins will not be eliminated. But now, by reciting this
Great Compassion holy mantra, his sins will be eliminated. If anyone usurps,
eats, or uses the drinks, foods, or possessions of Sanghas, he must repent to
teachers of the ten directions to eliminate his sins. Now, when he reties this
Great Compassion Dharani, the teachers of the ten directions will come to bear
witness, and then all his weighty sins and hindrances will be eliminated.
All evil karma and weighty
sins such as the ten evil deeds, the five rebellious sins, slandering people,
slandering the Dharmas, breaking the Abstinent-precepts (*), breaking other
precepts, destroying stupas (holy towers), wrecking temples, stealing
properties of Sanghas, and profaning Brahma (pure) practices, can be completely
eliminated (by reciting this Dharani), except this: if one has doubts about
this Dharani, then even his small sins and light karma cannot be eliminated,
not to mention the weighty sins. Although the weighty sins do not disappear
immediately, the reciting can still be the cause of Bodhi in the future."
(* Abstinent-precepts: The
precepts of Tzie/Zhai. To observe these precepts, one must:
1. eats only vegetarian food;
2. takes only one meal before noon each day, eating after noon is prohibited;
3. also keeps the five basic precepts: no killing, no stealing, no sexual
misconduct, no false speech, no consumption of alcohol.)
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
continued to say to the Buddha:
"People and gods who recite and hold the Great Compassionate Heart Dharani
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 virtuous friends;
5. The organs of their body will always be complete;
6. Their hearts of Way(Bodhi) will be pure and mature;
7. They will not violate the prohibitive precepts;
8. All their relatives 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 possessions 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,
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva joined his palms and stood upright in front of the
congregation, aroused his great compassionate heart for all living beings,
smiled and in this way spoke the Sacrosanct Wonderful 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 skritva imam
arya-valokite-svara ramdhava
Namo narakindi hrih Maha-vadha-sva-me
Sarva-arthato-subham ajeyam
Sarva-sata Namo-vasat Namo-vaka mavitato
Tadyatha
Om avaloki-lokate-karate-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 finished speaking this mantra, the earth shook
in six ways. The heavens rained down precious flowers, which fell in colorful
profusion. All the Buddhas of the ten directions were delighted, while the
heavenly demons and Exterior-paths practitioners were so frightened that their
hair stood on end. Everyone in the congregation achieved different fruitions,
including the fruitions of stream-enterer (srota-apanna), once-returner
(sakrd-agamin), non-returner (Anagamin), and Arhat; others achieved the first
Bhumi(stage of Bodhisattva), the second Bhumi, the third, fourth, fifth ......
up to the tenth Bhumi. Innumerable living beings aroused the Bodhi-Heart (The
resolve to save all living beings and help them to achieve the Correct
Awakening).
Then the great Brahma
heavenly king arose from his seat, tidied up his clothes, joined his palms
respectfully, and said to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva: "How virtuous,
Mahasattva! I had attended innumerable Buddha-Congregations and heard myriads
of Dharmas and Dharanis, but never before had I heard such Sacrosanct Wonderful
Phrases of the Unimpeded Great Compassionate Heart's Great Compassion Dharani.
Mahasattva, please tell us the feature and characteristics 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, and I will
tell you in brief."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
said: "It is the great merciful and compassionate heart, the impartial
heart, the motionless heart, the unpolluted and unattached heart, the
emptiness-observing heart, the respectful heart, the humble heart, the
uncluttered heart, the non-view and non-grasping heart, and the uppermost
Bodhi-Heart. You should know that such hearts are the feature and
characteristics of this Dharani, you should practice according to them."
Then the great Brahma king
said: "We now know the feature and characteristics of this Dharani, from
now on, we will recite and hold it and will never dare to forget or loss
it."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
said: "If any virtuous men or virtuous women, who recite and hold this
holy Dharani, can arouse the vast Bodhi-Heart that vow to ferry all living
beings to the shore of liberation, keep the Abstinent-precepts(*) bodily,
arouse the heart of equality towards all living beings, keep reciting this
Dharani without interruption, reside in a clean room, wash themselves clean,
wear clean clothes, hang up streamers and light up lamps, make offerings with
fragrances, flowers, vegetable foods of hundreds of tastes, make their hearts
stay still at one place, do not think about others, and recite and hold this
Dharani according to the Dharma, then, Sunlight Bodhisattva, Moonlight
Bodhisattva and innumerable gods and immortals will come to bear witness and
enhance the efficacy of their recitation."
"At that time, I will
illuminate them with a thousand eyes, and protect and support them with a thousand
hands. From then on, they will be able to master all worldly literature, and
will perfectly understand all Exterior-paths' theories and sorceries, as well
as the Veda Scriptures."
"One who recites and
holds this holy mantra can heal all the 84000 kinds of diseases of the world,
without exception. He also can command all ghosts and spirits, vanquish
heavenly demons, and tame all Exterior-paths practitioners."
"If one is reading
Sutras or practicing Dhyana (Zen) in a mountain or a wild field, and some
mountain-spirits, various ghosts, demons, monsters or Devas come to disturb and
make him unable to concentrate, recite this mantra once, then all those ghosts
and spirits will be tied up."
"If one can recites
this Mantra in accord with Dharma and arouse merciful and compassionate heart
towards all living beings, I will then command all virtuous gods, dragon kings,
and Vajra Secret-Traces Divinities to always follow and guard him, never
leaving his side, guarding him as their own eyes and lives."
Then Avalokitesvara
Bodhisattva said the Gatha:
"I command the Vajra
Secret-Traces Knights: Ucchusma, Kundalin, Ankusa, and the eight clans'
powerful knight Shankara,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Mahesvaras,
Narayana, Kumbhiraba and Kapila,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Pajis,
Sahassakkhas, perfect-virtuous chebuds and Kimnaras,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Sajamahoras,
Kumbhandas, Katabhutanas, and Banjras,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Bhipagara kings,
and morality Vitasaharas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Brahma king
Sambra, the five clans of pure-abode heavens and Yamarajas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Sakra Devanam
indra, the Lord of the thirty-three heavens, Sarasvatis, and Vardhanas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Dhritarastra
king, Haritis, goddess and great strength gods,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Virudhaka king,
Virupaksa king and Vaisravana king,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Golden
Peacock King, and the twenty-eight clans of great immortals,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command 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, and 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 and sleeps alone
in an uninhabited mountain or wilderness, those virtuous gods will guard him by
turns to eliminate misfortunes. If the Mantra-holder loses his way deep in the
mountain, because of reciting this Mantra, the virtuous gods and dragon-kings
will transform themselves into virtuous people and tell him the correct way. If
the Mantra-holder lacks water or requires fire in a mountain, forest, or
wilderness, the dragon-kings will protect him by miraculously creating water
and fire for him."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
then said a misfortune-eliminating and refreshingly 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 wild way,
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 carbuncles, 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,
then the hexes and evil spells will return to its original senders.
When Dharma is about to
disappear,
the world is evil, feculent and disordered,
poeple's sexual desire are like raging fire,
their hearts are deluded and they confuse right and wrong.
They have adulteries behind their spouses,
and think of lust days and nights ceaselessly.
If they can recite the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
the fire of sexual desire will quench and the evil minds will extinguish.
If I glorify the effect
and power 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 the Dharani 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 the practitioners who practice the six Perfections (Paramita) but
have not yet fulfilled them, to make them succeed quickly;
For those who have not yet
aroused Bodhi-Heart, to make them arouse their Bodhi-Heart quickly;
For Sravakas who have not
yet achieved fruitions, to make them achieve fruitions quickly;
For all gods and
supernatural persons in the three-thousand-great-thousand worlds, who have not
yet aroused the unsurpassed Bodhi-Heart, to make them arouse the 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 Dharani, their seeds of Mahayana and Dharma-buds will grow quickly;
with the power of my expedients, mercy and compassion, all of their needs will
be supplied.
For those living beings of
the three evil paths, who live in the gloomy regions of the
three-thousand-great-thousand worlds, when they hear this Mantra, they will all
be free from suffering;
For Bodhisattvas who have
not yet achieved the first Bhumi, to make them achieve quickly, and make them
achieve even up to the tenth Bhumi, and even up to the Buddhahood, with the
thirty-two marks and the eighty minor marks achieved naturally.
If a Voice-Hearer
(Sravaka) once hears this Dharani pass by his ears, if he practices and writes
this Dharani, and if he settles down with straightforward heart in accord with
Dharma, then he will naturally achieve the four Sramana-fruits even if he does
not seek for the fruitions.
Suppose all the mountains,
rivers, cliffs, and oceans in the three-thousand-great-thousand worlds can be
boiled; the Sumeru mountains and Cakravada-parvata mountains can be shaken, and
grinded to dust, all living beings of that magnitude will arouse the
unsurpassed Bodhi-Hearts [by the power of this Dharani].
If anyone prays for any
wish in his present life, he should keep the Abstinent-precepts(*) and keep
reciting this Dharani for 21 days, 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 his evil karmas will be cleaned up. In the
three-thousand-great-thousand worlds, all the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Brahmas,
Sakra Devanam-Indra (heavenly lord), the four guardian gods, divinities,
immortals, and dragon-kings, will bear witness."
(* Abstinent-precepts: The
precepts of Tzie/Zhai. To observe these precepts, one must:
1. eats only vegetarian food;
2. takes only one meal before noon each day, eating after noon is prohibited;
3. also keeps the five basic precepts: no killing, no stealing, no sexual
misconduct, no false speech, no consumption of alcohol.)
"If a human or
heavenly being, who recites and holds this Dharani, baths in a river or a sea,
the nearby living beings wet by his bath-water will have all their weighty sins
cleaned and be reborn in pure-lands of other directions. They will be born
through miraculous creation from lotuses, and will not undergo birth from
wombs, moistures, or eggs. How much more so, for those who recite and hold this
Dharani themselves!"
"If one who recites
and holds this Dharani is walking, a wind blows 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 the three evil paths, and often be born in front of
Buddhas. It should be known that the Mantra-holder's blessings, virtues, and
fruit-repayments will be unimaginable."
"If the Mantra-holder
says anything, no matter good or bad, it sounds like pure Dharma-sound to all
heavenly demons, Exterior-paths practitioners, gods, dragons, ghosts, and
spirits, thus they will respect the Mantra-holder as if he were a Buddha."
"As to one who
recites and holds this Dharani, we should know that he is a store of
Buddha-bodies, because he is cherished by 9.9 billions Ganges-river-sands
Buddhas;
We should know that he is
a brilliant light store, because he is illuminated by the light of all
Tathagatas;
We should know that he is
a store of mercies and compassions, because he constantly saves living beings
with this Dharani;
We should know that he is
a wonderful-Dharmas store, because this Dharani includes all Dharani-Gates;
We should know that the he
is a store of Dhyana and Samadhi, because hundreds of thousands of Samadhis
often appear in front of him;
We should know that the he
is an Empty Spaces store, because he constantly observes living beings with
wisdom of emptiness;
We should know that the he
is a store of intrepidities, because he is constantly guarded by dragons, gods,
and virtuous gods;
We should know that the he
is a Wonderful Language store, because the Dharani-Sound come from his mouth is
uninterrupted;
We should know that the he
is an Eternally-Abiding store, because the three-disasters and evil-kalpas
cannot harm him;
We should know that the he
is a Liberation store, because heavenly demons and Exterior-paths practitioners
cannot detain him;
We should know that the he
is a Medicine-King store, because he constantly heals living beings with this
Dharani;
We should know that the he
is a supernatural power store, because he can freely travel round the
Buddha-Worlds.
The glorifications for the
merits and virtues of the Mantra-holder are endless."
"Virtuous men, if one
tires of the sufferings of the world and seeks for happiness of long life, he
should settle down in an unoccupied and clean place, make a pure Secure
Boundary, recite this Dharani towards his clothing, water, foods, fragrances,
or medicines for 108 times and then use them, then he will certainly gain a
long life. If he can make a Secure Boundary, accept and hold the Dharani in
accord with Dharma, then all things will be achievable."
"The method of making
a Secure Boundary is:
Recite the Dharani 21
times towards a knife, and then countermark the ground with the knife to make a
boundary;
or recite the Dharani 21
times towards some clean water, and then sprinkle it around as the boundary;
or recite the Dharani 21
times towards some white mustard seeds, and then scatter them around to mark a
boundary,;
or make a boundary by
mental visualisation;
or recite the Dharani 21
times towards some clean ashes(of Incense) and use them to mark a boundary;
or recite the Dharani 21
times towards a five-colored thread and then make a closed circle on the ground
with the threads as a boundary.
All of these will do.
If one can accept and hold
the Dharani in accord with the Dharma, he will achieve the fruit
naturally."
"If anyone just hears
the name of this Dharani, his weighty sins of births and deaths of countless
kalpas will be eliminated, how much more so, of 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 planted his virtuous roots. If he can recite and hold the Dharani in
accord with Dharma to relieve all living beings from sufferings, we should know
that he is the one with the great compassionate heart, and will become a Buddha
soon."
"If he recites the
Dharani for all living beings that he sees, make them hear the Dharani and make
it become a cause of their achievement of Bodhi, then, his merits and virtues
are immeasurable, boundless, and cannot be praised completely."
"If he can, with pure
sincerity, apply his heart to keep the Abstinent-precepts, repent the previous
sins on behalf of all living beings, also repent his own various sins
accumulated in countless past kalpas, keep reciting this Dharani and never
allow the sound of recitation to be interrupted, then he will achieve the four
Sramana-fruits in his present life; if he has excellent talent for Dharma
(literally: sharp root) and masters the skillful means of Wisdom-Observing,
then achieving the fruits of ten Bhumis is not difficult for him, not to
mention those small worldly blessings. All his wishes will be fulfilled."
"If he wishes to
command ghosts, he should find a skull in the wild, wash it clean, set up a
Mandala(altar) in front of a statue of Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, and make offerings of multifarious fragrances,
flowers, drinks, and vegetable foods. Do this day after day, then 7 days later,
the ghost will appear and obey his orders."
"If he wish to
command the four guardian gods, he should recite towards a sandalwood and burn
it, then he will achieve the goal - because the power of the Bodhisattva's
great compassionate vows are deep and weighty, and 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 according to correct laws, be liberal toward people and
animals, not to do anybody an injustice, absolve people from blames, and for 7
days and 7 nights, keep both his body and his mind sincere and diligent, and in
this way recite and hold this Great Compassionate Heart Dharani Holy Mantra,
then all the catastrophes of his country will disappear, the five kinds of
crops will be abundant and his people will live in peace and happiness."
"If a country is
being frequently 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, or even 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 and set it facing
the west, make offerings to it sincerely with fragrances, flowers, streamers,
precious canopies, or vegetable foods and drinks of hundreds of tastes, and,
for 7 days and 7 nights, if the king of the country can keep both his body and
mind sincere and diligent, and in this way recite and hold the Sacrosanct
Wonderful Phrases of this Dharani, then the foreign enemies will be tamed of
themselves, they will return to their own countries and make no further
disturbance. These countries will be in communication and will have friendly
relations, the princes and 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 protect this country, the rains will be seasonal, the fruits will be
abundant, and the people will be happy."
"If anyone in a
family gets a serious evil disease, or if hundreds of monsters appear, or if
ghosts, spirits, and demons deplete and demolish the family; or if some
villains malign the family and plot to harm them; or if 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, recite
the name of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva with their deep-felt sincere heart, and
then recite this Dharani fully 1000 times, then all those misfortunes will
disappear, the family will be peaceful forever."
Ananda asked the Buddha:
"Bhagavan, what is the name of this Mantra? How should we accept and hold
it?"
The Buddha told Ananda:
"This holy Mantra has many names, one of them is Vast, Great, Perfect,
another is Unimpeded Great Compassion, another is Relieving Sufferings Dharani,
another is Lengthening Life Dharani, another is Extinguishing Evil Destinies
Dharani, another is Breaking Evil Karma Hindrances Dharani, another is
Wish-Fulfilling Dharani, another is The Dharani Of The Freedom In Accord With
The Heart, another is Quickly Exceeding The Upper Stages Dharani. Thus should
you accept and hold it."
Then Ananda asked the
Buddha: "Bhagavan, what is the name of this Bodhisattva-Mahasattva, who is
so good to teach us this Dharani?"
The Buddha said:
"This Bodhisattva is called Avalokitesvara, the Unrestricted One, also
called Nipping a Lariat, also called A Thousand Bright Eyes. Virtuous man, this
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva has unimaginable mighty and holy powers. Uncountable
kalpas before, he had already been a Buddha named True Dharma Brightness
Tathagata. Because of the power of his great compassionate vows, and in order
to call upon all Bodhisattvas to comfort and please all living beings, he
appears as a Bodhisattva. All of you, including the Bodhisattvas, Brahmas, Gods
of the 33 heavens, dragons, and divinities, should show respect to him, do not
despise him. All heavenly and human beings should constantly make offerings to
him and recite his name absorbedly, then they will get infinite blessings and
eliminate countless sins, and at the end of their lives, they will be reborn in
the Pure Land of Amitabha Buddha."
The Buddha told Ananda:
"This holy Mantra spoken by Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is true, real, and
not false. If you wish to invite this Bodhisattva to come, recite the Mantra 21
times towards a Guggula Incense and burn it, then this Bodhisattva will
come."
"If being possessed
by a soul of cat, find a dead cat's skull, burn it to ashes, mix the ashes with
clean soil, and then use them to shape a cat. In front of a statue of
Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, recite the
Dharani 108 times towards a wrought iron knife, and then cut the model into 108
pieces with the knife. Recite once, cut once, and say his name once, then the
cat's soul will leave and never return."
"If harmed by
mediumistic insects(Gu), mix Karpura(Dragon Brain Incense) with a same bulk of
Guggula Incense, add 1 bowl of Well-flower-water and decoct them into 1 bowl of
decoction; when done, recite the Dharani 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 a well - each morning, the very first
bucket of water from the well)
"If bitten by fierce
snakes or scorpions, recite the Dharani 7 times towards some powder of dry
gingers, apply the powder on the bite and they will be healed."
"If someone plots to
harm you because of hatred and resentment, you should 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, recite the
Dharani 108 times towards a wrought iron knife, then cut the model into 108
pieces with the knife. Recite 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."
"If you have the eye-diseases
of dimmed vision or blindness, or if your eyes are covered by a white haze or a
red film, you should find a Haritaki fruit, an Amala fruit, and a Vihetaki
fruit, and grind them into powder. During the grinding, you must guard their
purity: do not be seen by women who have just given birth, or by pigs or dogs,
and you should keep reciting a Buddha's name, 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, recite the Dharani 1008 times
towards the medicine, then apply it on the sick eyes for fully 7 days, stay in
a quite room and do not be exposed to wind, then the eyes will recover, the
white haze and red film will disappear, and the eyesight will be very
clear."
"If you are afflicted
by recurrent fevers, recite the Dharani 21 times towards the skin of a tiger,
panther, or a wolf, place the skin on your body and the fever will be healed.
The skin of a lion is best."
"If someone is bitten
by a snake, get some earwax of that person, recite the Dharani 21 times towards
the earwax, apply them on his sore, then it will be healed."
"If an evil fever
enters your heart, and it is so oppressive that makes you even wish to die, in
this case, you should find a peach-glue as big as a normal peach, add 1 bowl of
clean water and decoct them into a half bowl of decoction. When done, recite
the Dharani 7 times towards the decoction, take them all, than the disease will
be healed. The medicine should not be decocted by a woman."
"If you are possessed
by a ghost, recite the Dharani 21 times towards a Guggula incense and burn it
to fume the nostrils, further, make 7 pills of Guggula each as big as a rabbit
dung, recite the Dharani 21 times towards them and take them, then you will be
cured. Be careful: do not drink alcohol, do not eat meat or the
five-pungencies, and do not abuse others. If you find some Manahsila (realgar),
mix it with white mustard seeds and YanSheng-salt, then recite the Dharani 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, recite
the Dharani towards some sesame oil and drop the oil into ears, then the
disease will be healed."
"If someone is
suffering from hemiplegias, his nose is blocked and his hands and feet cannot
move because of apoplexy, you should mix some sesame oil with Green-wood-spice
and decoct them, recite the Dharani 21 times towards the mixture, and rub it on
the body, then the diseases will forever be healed. Another prescription:
recite the Dharani 21 times towards some pure cow ghee, and rub it on the body,
then the diseases will also be healed."
"For dystocias,
recite the Dharani 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 dies in a
pregnant woman's womb, find one large Lerng(*) of hyssops, mix it with 2 bowls
of clean water, and decoct them into 1 bowl of decoction. Recite the Dharani 21
times towards the decoction and let the woman take it, then the dead baby will
come out, and the woman will not be in pain. If the placenta does not come out,
let her take this medicine again and it will be fine."
(* Lerng: a Chinese
measurement)
"If you have a
disease that your heart is often attacked by an unbearable pain, this is called
Hidden Corpse Disease. Find a Fume-Land Incense with mature nipples, recite the
Dharani 21 times towards it, chew and swallow it - no matter more or less.
After some time, it will cause vomiting or diarrhoea, then the disease will be
healed. Do not eat any of the five-pungencies, do not eat meat, and do not
drink alcohol."
"If burned by a fire,
recite the Dharani 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, recite the Dharani 21 times towards a half bowl of
urine of a white horse 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
come out like a linked rope."
"For a Nail-sore,
find some Ling-Sil-leaves, grind them and get the juice, recite the Dharani 21
times towards the juice, apply the juice to the sore, pull the sore out by the
root and it will be healed immediately."
"If one's eyes were
bitten by flies, find some new dung of donkey, filter it and get the liquid,
recite the Dharani 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, recite the Dharani 21
times towards them, take half a bowl of the medicine, then the disease will be
healed."
"For red-eyed
diseases, or neoplasms in eyes, or cataracts, find some leaves of
Chinese-wolfberry (Gau-Gey), grind them and get their juice, recite the Dharani
21 times towards the juice, soak a bronze copper coin in the juice overnight,
recite the Dharani towards it 7 more times, drop the juice into the eyes, then
the disease will be healed."
"If someone is afraid
and not peaceful at night, and he may even be frightened when entering or
leaving a house, he should make a rope with white threads, recite the Dharani
21 times towards it, tie it into 21 knots, and wear it on his neck, then the
fear will disappear. Not only will his fear disappear, his sins will also be
eliminated."
"If some unexpected
calamities come to your household, find a guava branch, cut it into 1008
segments, smear some ghee and honey on both ends of them, recite the Dharani
once and burn one segment, burn up all 1008 segments in this way, then all
calamities will disappear. This must be done in front of a Buddha."
"If you recite the
Dharani 21 times towards a white flagleaf and tie it to your right arm, you
will always win others in all fighting places and debating places."
"If you find some
leaves and branches of Sami(*), cut them into 1008 segments, smear some
true-cow-ghee and white-honey-cow-ghee on both ends of them, recite the Dharani
once towards each segment and burn it, and burn up all 1008 segments in this
way. Do this 3 times each day, 1008 times each time, for 7 days, then you, as a
Mantra-master, will realize the Through-Wisdom of yourself."
(* Sami: Chinese wolfberry
/ medlar)
"If you wish to tame
powerful ghosts or spirits, find some Wood-Wan-Tzee, recite the Dharani 49
times towards them, smear some ghee and honey on them, and burn them up. This
must be done in front of a statue of Great Compassionate Avalokitesvara
Bodhisattva."
"If you put 1 large
Lerng of bezoar(Cow yellow) into a lapis-lazuli bottle, then put the bottle in
front of a statue of Great Compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, recite the
Dharani 108 times toward it, apply the bezoar on your body and dot it on your
forehead, then all gods, dragons, ghosts, spirits, human and non-human beings
will be pleased."
(* Lerng: A Chinese
measurement)
"If being chained and
locked, find some dung of white pigeons, recite the Dharani 108 times towards
them, smear them on your hands and rub the chains and locks, then the chains
and locks will open of themselves."
"If a husband and
wife have a disharmonious relationship and their situation is like that of
water and fire, find some feathers of the tail of mandarin ducks, in front of a
statue of Great Compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, recite the Dharani
1008 times towards the feathers and let the couple wear them, then the couple
will be delightful, and will love and respect each other unto the end of their
lives."
"If the seeds and fruits
in your farm are being eaten by insects, find some clean ashes, or clean sands,
or clean water, recite the Dharani 21 times towards them, sprinkle them around
the farm and the seedlings, then the insects will quit. If you sprinkle some
Mantra-water on the fruit trees, the insects will not dare to eat the
fruits."
The Buddha told Ananda:
"
For richness, treasures, or various valuables and necessities, use the
Wish-Fulfilling Pearl Mudra(gesture).
For seeking stable life in
various unstable situations, use the Pasa(lasso / lariat) Mudra.
For various diseases in
abdomen, 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 deities, use the Vajra Mudra.
For taming all enemies,
use the Vajra Pestle Mudra.
For eliminating all fears
in any situation, use the Fearless-Giving (Abhayam-dada) Mudra.
For healing dim eyes, use
the Sun-Quintessence Mani Mudra.
If one has a disease
caused by the poison of heat and seeks for refreshing coolness, he should use
the Moon-Quintessence Mani Mudra.
For high positions and
promotions, use the Precious Bow Mudra.
For meeting all virtuous
friends as soon as possible, use the Precious Arrow Mudra.
For healing various
diseases on one's body, use the Willow Branch Mudra.
For eliminating evil
obstacles and misfortunes of one's body, use the White Whisk Mudra.
For good harmony among all
relatives, use the Precious Vase Mudra.
For evading all tigers,
wolves, jackals, panthers, and other fierce beasts, use the Shield 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 Blue 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 Way(Tao)
of immortals, 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 the Buddhas of the ten
directions coming to receive you 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
eloquent, clever, and wonderful speech (mouth karma), use the Precious Seal
Mudra.
To be constantly guarded
by virtuous gods and dragon kings, use the Kusinagara Iron Hook Mudra.
For mercifully sheltering
and protecting all living beings, use the Tin Staff Mudra.
For making all living
beings always 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 the
palaces of Buddhas for all lifetimes, and never be born from a womb, use the
Nirmana-Palace Mudra.
For eruditeness, use the
Precious Sutra Mudra.
If you wish that from your
current incarnation(lifetime) to the incarnation that you are a Buddha, you
will never retrogress from or lose the Bodhi-Heart, use the Non-retrogression
Gold Wheel Mudra.
If you wish that the
Buddhas of the ten directions will come quickly to rub your summit and award
you the mark of future Buddhahood, use the Summit Nirmana Buddha Mudra.
For fruits, melons, and
various crops, use the Grape Mudra.
There are thousands of such
requesting Mudras, now I have just briefly said some of them."
Sunlight Bodhisattva then
spoke a great holy Mantra for those who accept and hold the Great Compassionate
Heart Dharani to protect them:
"Namo Buddha Kunami,
Namo Dharma Mahadi, Namo Sangha Tayeni, DhriBhuBhi Sattva Yam Namo"
"This Mantra can
extinguish all sins, and can evade demons and natural disasters. If one can
recite the Dharani once and bow to the Buddhas once, 3 times daily, recite the
Dharani and bow to the Buddhas, then in his next lifetime, he will gain the
delightful fruit-repayment that all of his facial features are handsome."
Moonlight Bodhisattva also
spoke a Dharani to protect practitioners:
"Sumdhidi Tusuza
Ahjamidi Uduza SumKiza Bolaidi Yemijaza Uduza Kuladiza Kimoza Svaha"
(* in the above sentence,
the 'z' should be pronounced as [tz])
"Recite this Mantra
five times, making a Mantra-Rope with five colored threads, and wear it on
where it is 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
serious diseases and 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 greatly benefit all living beings of the Three Realms
of Transmigrations, all living beings suffering from diseases can use this
Dharani to heal their diseases. Even a withered tree can grow new branches,
flowers and fruits when someone recites this great holy Dharani towards it.
Thus, it is impossible that any diseases of sentient and conscious beings
cannot be healed by this Dharani."
"Virtuous man, the
mighty and sacrosanct power of this Dharani is unimaginable, is unimaginable,
and one will never be able to fully praise it. If one has not extensively
planted virtuous roots since the long distant past, he is not able to hear even
the name of this Dharani, much less that he could see it. All of you in this
congregation -- the gods, human beings, dragons, spirits, should accordingly
rejoice when hearing my praise. Slandering this Dharani is equal to slandering
those 9.9 billion Ganges-river-sands Buddhas.
If anyone doubts, or
disbelieves this Dharani, we should know that he loses great benefits forever.
For billions of kalpas, he will constantly fall into the evil categories (of
hell beings, hungry ghosts, and animals) and unable to escape; he will always
be unable to see the Buddhas, unable to hear the Dharmas, and unable to see the
Sanghas."
After hearing the Buddha
praise this Dharani, the whole congregation -- the Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas,
Vajra Secret-Traces Divinities, Brahmas, Sakra, gods, the four heavenly kings,
dragons, ghosts, and spirits, were all delighted, they accepted the teaching
respectfully and started practicing it.
End of Translation
Translated into English by Silfong Tsun
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