Heart Sutra
Maha-Prajna-Paramita-Hridaya Sutra
Prajnaparamita-Hrdaya Sutra
When Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva was practicing the profound Prajna Paramita, he investigated and perceived the five Skandhas and saw that they were all non-existent, thus securing his deliverance from all suffering and difficulty.
"Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. Form itself is emptiness; emptiness itself is form. So too are feeling, cognition, mental function and consciousness in relation to emptiness.
Shariputra, all dharmas are empty of characteristics. They are not created, not annihilated, not impure, not pure, and they neither increase nor decrease. Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, feeling, cognition, mental function, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mind; no sights, sounds, smells, taste, touch, and ideas; no field of the eyes, up to and including no field of mind-consciousness, and no ignorance or ending of ignorance, up to and including no old age and death, or ending of old age and death. There are no Four Noble Truths, no wisdom and no gain.
Because nothing is gained, the Bodhisattva, through reliance on Prajna Paramita, has no hindrances in his heart. Because there is no hindrance, he is not afraid, is free from contrary and delusive ideas and attain the Final Nirvana.
All Buddhas of the past, present and future attain enlightenment through reliance on Prajna Paramita. Therefore, know that Prajna Paramita is a great spiritual mantra, a great bright mantra, a supreme mantra, an unequalled mantra. It can remove all suffering; it is genuine and not false. That is why the mantra of Prajna Paramita was spoken. Recite it like this:
GATE GATE PARAGATE PARASAMGATE BODHI SVAHA!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Heart Sutra
Great Compassion Dharani Sutra
Great Compassion Dharani Sutra
(Also known as:)
Maha Karuna Dharani Sutra
Maha Karunikacitta Dharani Sutra
Nilakantha Dharani Sutra
(The full title is:)
Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Vast, Perfect, Unimpeded, Great-Compassionate Heart Dharani Sutra
(Qian Shou Qian Yan Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa Guang Da Yuan Man Wu Ai Da Bei Xin Tuo Luo Ni Jing)
(Tripitaka No. 1060)
(* Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is also known as: Contemplator of the World's Sounds/Guan Shi Yin/Guan Zi Zai Bodhisattva)
Translated during the Tang Dynasty by Shramana Bhagavat-dharma from west India.
Thus I have heard, once the Buddha was in the honorable sublime Way-place of Avalokitesvara's palace in
At that time, The Tathagata intending to explain a teaching of the Total-Retention Dharani, was sitiing on the throne, along with innumerable Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas whose names are: Dharani King Bodhisattva, Precious King Bodhisattva, Bhaisajya-Raja(Medicine King) Bodhisattva, Bhaisajya-Samudgata(Superior Medicine) Bodhisattva, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Mahastamaprapta(Great Strength) Bodhisattva, Avatamsaka Bodhisattva, Great Sublime Bodhisattva, Precious Deposits Bodhisattva, Virtue Store Bodhisattva, Vajragarbha Bodhisattva, Akasagarbha(Space Store) Bodhisattva, Maitreya Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra(Universal Goodness) Bodhisattva, Manjusri Bodhisattva, and so on. Such Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas are all Abhiseka(Empowerment) great dharma-princes; also along with innumerable great Sravakas(voice-hearer), all of whom practise the ten-stages of Arhat, headed by Maha-Kasyapa; also along with innumerable Devas of Brahma-Heaven, headed by Sinza-Brahma; also along with innumerable Gods of heavens of the desire realm, headed by Kubhagha-God; also along with innumerable four-guardian-gods, headed by Dhritarastra; also along with innumerable gods, dragons, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garudas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas, human beings, Amanusyas, headed by the Heaven-virtue great dragon king; also along with innumerable Devakanyas of heavens of the desire realm, headed by the Virgin-Eyed Devakanya; also along with innumerable Sunyatas(Gods of spaces), gods of rivers and oceans, gods of fountains and spring, gods of natural pond, gods of herb, gods of forest, gods of houses, gods of water, gods of fire, gods of earth, gods of wind, gods of ground, gods of mountains, gods of rocks, gods of palaces, and so on, came together to join the congregation.
At that time in the congregation, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva secretly emitted his sacrosanct light, illuminated the realms of the ten directions and made one billion worlds' color turned to golden. Palaces of heavens, palaces of dragons and palaces of all gods were all shaken. Rivers, oceans, Cakravada-
Witnessing this rare scene, Dharani King Bodhisattva was more surprised than ever before, so he arose from his seat, joined his palms and asked the Buddha with a Gatha(verse):
"Who achieved the correct-awakening today,
emitting the great bright light universally?
Colors of realms of the ten directions have all become golden,
so do one billion worlds?
Who attained the ultimate freedom today,
manifesting the rare great holy power,
innumerable pure lands of Buddhas are shaken,
so do palaces of dragons and gods?
Now the congregation are all wondering,
don't know that it's caused by the power of whom.
Is he a Buddha, Bodhisattva, or great Sravaka,
or Brahman, or gods of heavens?
Bhagavan(World-honored One), by your great compassion,
please tell us the cause of that great supernatural power."
The Buddha told Dharani King Bodhisattva: "Good man, you should know that in this congregation there is a Bodhisattva whose name is Avalokitesvara. He has achieved great kindness and great compassion since uncountable Kalpas before, and excels at practicing uncountable Dharma-gates of Dharani. In order to comfort and please all living-beings, he secretly emits that sacrosanct power.
After the Buddha said that, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva arose from his seat, tidied up his clothes, joined his palms towards the Buddha and said:
"Bhagavan, I have a mantra of Great-Compassionate Heart Dharani and now wish to proclaim it, for comforting and pleasing all living-beings; for healing all illness; for living-beings to attain additional lifespan; for living-beings to gain wealth; for extinguishing all evil-karma and weighty sins; for keeping away from hindrance and disasters; for producing merits of all undefiled-Dharmas; for maturing all virtuous-roots; for overcoming all fears; for fulfilling all good wishes. Bhagavan, please allow me to speak."
The Buddha said: "Good man, you have great kindness and great compassion, in order to comfort and please all living-beings, you wish to speak the mantra, it's the proper time now, please speak it soon, the Tathagata compliantly rejoice, and so do all Buddhas."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva then said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, I remember that incalculable billions Kalpas ago, there was a Buddha whose name is Thousand-rayed-King Motionless Tathagata. Because of his mercy and mindfulness to me and all living-beings, he spoke this Vast-Perfect-Unimpeded Great-Compassionate-Heart Dharani, rubbed my crown with his golden hand and said: "Good man, you should hold this heart-mantra to give great benefit and happiness to all living beings in the future." At that time I was just at the first of the ten Bhumis(stages of Bodhisattva), right after hearing this mantra, I exceeded the eighth Bhumi. Becoming happy, I vowed: "If I will be able to give benefit and happiness to all living beings in the future, let me have a thousand hands and a thousand eyes immediately." Instantly after the vow, I got fully a thousand hands and a thousand eyes on my body, six types of quakes occurred on the grounds of the ten directions, thousands Buddhas of the ten directions emitted their light to my body and illuminated unlimited worlds of the ten directions. From then on, in uncountable Buddha realms and congregations, I repeatedly heard, accepted and held this Dharani, and I was repeatedly pleased and joyful, thus I exceeded imperceptible births and deaths of countless billions kalpas. Since then, I have always recited, held and have never forgotten this mantra. Because of holding this mantra, I was always born naturally from lotuses in front of Buddhas, and have never be born from wombs."
"If there are monks(Bhikshus), nuns(Bhikshunis), laymen(Upasakas), laywomen(Upasikas), pure youth and maidens who wish to recite and hold(keep reciting) this mantra, they should first develop their compassionate heart for all living beings, and follow me in making these vows:
(* The pronunciation of "Namo" is [na:mo:] of international phonetic symbols)
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will quickly know all Dharmas;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will soon obtain the wisdom-eyes;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will quickly ferry all living beings to the shore of liberation;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will soon obtain good expedient-means;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will quickly board the boat of Prajna;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will soon cross over the sea of suffering;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will quickly achieve precepts, Samadhi and the way;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will soon climb the mountain of Nirvana;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will quickly dwell in the house of the uncreated;
Namo great compassionate Avalokitesvara, I vow that I will soon unite with the Dharma-nature body.
If I go towards the mountain of knives, the mountain of knives by itself breaks up;
If I go towards the boiling oil, the boiling oil by itself dries up;
If I go towards the hells, the hells by themselves disappear;
If I go towards the hungry ghosts, the hungry ghosts by themselves become full.
If I go towards the Asuras, their evil thoughts by themselves are tamed.
If I go towards the animals, they by themselves attain great wisdom."
"After these vows, chant my name(Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) sincerely, also chant the name of my teacher -- Amitabha Tathagata(Namo Amitabha) sincerely, then chant this mantra, 5 times or more in a day, to extinguish weighty sins of births-and-deaths of billions Kalpas of the body."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva then said to the Buddha: "Bhagavan, if humans or God(Deva)s recite and hold the phrases of the Great Compassion Dharani, upon their death, all the Buddhas of the ten directions will come to receive them with their hands, and they will be reborn in whichever Buddha-land according to their wishes."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva continued to say to the Buddha:
"Bhagavan, Should any living being who recites and holds the holy mantra of Great Compassion fall into the three evil paths, I vow not to achieved the correct-awakening.
Should any living being who recites and holds the holy mantra of Great Compassion not be reborn in any Buddha-land, I vow not to achieve the correct-awakening.
Should any living being who recites and holds the holy mantra of Great Compassion not obtain unlimited Samadhis and eloquence, I vow not to achieve the correct-awakening.
Should any living being who recites and holds the holy mantra of Great Compassion not obtain whatever he seeks in his present life, then it cannot be called the Dharani of the Great Compassionate Heart, unless it is used by those who are not virtuous or not sincere.
If any woman who recites and holds the holy mantra of Great Compassion, dislike the troubles of female body and wishes to become male, but can not become male in the future, I vow not to achieved the correct-awakening. However, those who disbelieve this Mantra will not achieve this effect.
If anyone had stolen foods or properties of Sanghas(group of monks), penitence to his sins is useless even if a thousand Buddhas appear in the world, but now chant this Great Compassion Holy Mantra, his sins will be extinguished. If one had stolen foods or properties of Sanghas, he must repent to teachers of the ten directions to extinguish his sins. Now when chanting this mantra, teachers of the ten directions will come to bear witness, then all weighty sins and hindrances will disappear.
All the horrible sins including the Ten evil deeds, the Five heinous sins, vilifications to people, vilifications to Dharma, breaking precepts, destroying towers, wrecking temples, stealing properties of Sanghas, profaning pure(Brahma) practices, can be extinguished by chanting this Mantra, except one thing, the one without belief in this Mantra can not extinguish even small sins and karmas, not to mention weighty sins. Though the weighty sins don't disappear immediately, that chanting can still be the cause of Bodhi in the future."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva continue to said the Buddha:
"People and gods who recite and hold the Great Compassionate Heart Mantra will obtain fifteen kinds of good birth and will not suffer fifteen kinds of bad death. The bad deaths are:
1. They will not die of starvation or poverty;
2. They will not die from having been yoked, imprisoned, caned or otherwise beaten;
3. They will not die at the hands of hostile enemies;
4. They will not be killed in military battle;
5. They will not be killed by tigers, wolves, or other fierce beasts;
6. They will not die from the venom of poisonous snakes, black serpents, or scorpions;
7. They will not drown or be burned to death;
8. They will not be poisoned to death;
9. They will not be killed by mediumistic insects;
10. They will not die of madness or insanity;
11. They will not be killed by landslides or falling trees;
12. They will not die of nightmares sent by evil people;
13. They will not be killed by deviant spirits or evil ghosts;
14. They will not die of evil illnesses that bind the body;
15. They will not commit suicide;
Those who recite and hold the Great Compassion Holy Mantra will not suffer any of these fifteen kinds of bad death and will obtain the following fifteen kinds of good birth:
1. Their place of birth will always have a good king;
2. They will always be born in a good country;
3. They will always be born at a good time;
4. They will always meet good friends;
5. The organs of their body will always be complete;
6. Their heart will be pure and full in the way;
7. They will not violate the prohibitive precepts;
8. Their family will be kind and harmonious;
9. They will always have the necessary wealth and goods in abundance;
10. They will always obtain the respect and help of others;
11. Their riches will not be plundered;
12. They will obtain everything they seek;
13. Dragons, gods, and good spirits will always protect them;
14. In the place where they are born they will see the Buddha and hear the Dharma;
15. They will awaken to the profound meaning of that Proper Dharma which they hear.
Those who recite and hold the Great Compassionate Heart Dharani will obtain these fifteen kinds of good birth. All gods and people should constantly recite and hold it without laziness."
After saying that, the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva joined his palms and stood upright in front of the congregation, with his great compassionate heart open for all living beings, he smiled and in this way spoke the wonderful holy phrases of the Vast, Perfect, Unimpeded, Great-Compassionate-Heart Great Dharani. The Dharani is:
Namo ratna-trayāya
Namo āriyā-valokite-śvarāya
Bodhi-sattvāya Maha-sattvāya Mahā-kārunikāya
Om sarva rabhaye sudhanadasya
Namo skrita imo
āryā-valotite-śvara ramdhava
Namo narakindi heri Mahā-vadhi-sā-me
Sarva-arthato-śubham ajeyam
Sarva-sat Namo-vasat Namo-vāka mavitāto
Tadyathā
Om avaloki-lokate-krate-e-hrih Mahā-bodhisattva
Sarva sarva
Mala mala
Mahi Mahi ridayam
Kuru kuru karmam
Dhuru dhuru
vijayate Mahā-vijayati
Dhara dhara dhrini
śvarāya cala cala
Mama vimala muktele
Ehi ehi śina śina
ārsam prasari
viśva viśvam prasaya
Hulu hulu mara
Hulu hulu hrih
Sara sara siri siri suru suru
Bodhiya Bodhiya Bodhaya Bodhaya
Maitreya narakindi dhrish-nina bhayamana svāhā
Siddhāya svāhā
Maha siddhāya svāhā
Siddha-yoge-śvaraya svāhā
Narakindi svāhā
Māranara svāhā
śira simha-mukhāya svāhā
Sarva mahā-asiddhaya svāhā
Cakra-asiddhāya svāhā
Padma-kastāya svāhā
Narakindi-vagalāya svaha
Mavari-śankharāya svāhā
Namo ratna-trāyāya
Namo āryā-valokite-śvaraya svāhā
Om Sidhyantu mantra padāya svāhā
When Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva had finished speaking this mantra, the earth shook in six ways. The heavens rained precious flowers of beautiful colors. all the Buddhas of the ten directions were delighted, while the heaven-demons and heretics were so afraid that their hair stood on end. Members of the meeting achieved different fruitions, including the fruitions of stream-enterer, once-returner, non-returner, and Arhat, while others achieved the first Bhumi(stage of Bodhisattva), the second Bhumi, the third, fourth, fifth ...... up to the tenth Bhumi. Innumerable living beings arouse their Bodhi-Heart(The resolve to help all living beings to attain upmost enlightenment).
Then the great Brahma king arose from his seat, tidied up his clothes, joined his palms respectfully, and said to the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva: "Great, Mahasattva! I had been in innumerable Buddha-meetings and heard of many kinds of Dharanis, but never heard of the wonderful holy phrases of this great Dharani of the unimpeded great compassionate heart. Mahasattva, please tell us the feature and figure of this Dharani, all of us will be pleased to know that."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva told the Brahma king: "For the convenience of benefiting all living beings, you have asked me this question. Now you listen carefully, I'll tell you in brief."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva said: "The great kind and compassionate heart, the fair heart, the uncreated heart, the unpolluted heart, the heart of emptiness observation, the respectful heart, the humble heart, the uncluttered heart, the heart without attachment to one's own view, the upmost Bodhi-heart, is the feature of this Dharani. You should practise in such manner."
Then the great Brahma king said: "We now know the feature of this Dharani, from now on, we'll recite and hold it and never forget or give it up.
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva said: "For all virtuous men and all virtuous women who want to recite and hold this Mantra, they should arouse their vast Bodhi-heart that wish to ferry all living beings to the shore of liberation, and be vegetarians. They should arouse their fair(impartial) heart to all living beings, keep reciting this Mantra, never give up. Reside in a clean room, wash themselves clean, in clean dress, hang streamers and light up lamps, make offerings with fragrance, flowers, vegetable foods of hundreds tastes, concentrate their mind, don't think about others, recite and hold the mantra in correct manner. Then the Sunshine Bodhisattva, Moonshine Bodhisattva and innumerable gods and fairies will come to be witness and enhance the effect of the Mantra. At that time, I will shine them with a thousand eyes and protect them with a thousand hands, from then on, they will be able to understand all books of the world, and also perfectly understand all sorceries of other religions and all scriptures of Vedas. The one who recites this mantra can heal 84000 categories of diseases of the world, and also can command all ghosts and Devas, vanquish heaven-demons, tame all heretics. For anyone who is reading sutras or practicing Zen(Dhyana) in mountains or fields, if there are any mountain-spirits, ghosts, demons, monsters or Devas come to disturb and make the practitioner unable to concentrate, recite this mantra once, then all those ghosts spirits will be tied up. If one can recite this Mantra in correct manner and have merciful heart to all living beings, I will command all virtuous gods, dragon kings, Vajra secret-traces deities to guard him, the guardians will always be with him and protect him as their own eyes and lives. " Then Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva said the Gatha:
"I command the Vajra secret-traces deities, Ucchu, Kunda, Ankusa, eight clans of celestials and ShangKalas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Mahesvaras and Narayanas, Kumbhirabas and Kapilas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Pajis, Sahassakkhas, perfect-virtuous chebuds and Kimnaras,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Sajamahoras, Kumbhandas, Katabhutanas, and Banjras,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Bhipagara kings, and morality Vitasaharas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Brahma king Sambra, five clans of pure-abode heavens and Yamarajas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Sakra Devanam indra, thirty-three celestials(gods), Sarasvatis and Vardhanas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Dhritarastra king, Haritis, goddess and great strength Devas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Virudhaka king, Virupaksa king and Vaisravana king,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the golden peacock-king, and twenty-eight clans of great fairies,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Manibhadra, and Pancika-imperator Phalava,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command Nanda, Upandanda, and the Sagara dragon-king Ibhra,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the Asuras, Gandharvas, Karunas, Kimnaras, Mahoragas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
I command the gods of water, fire, thunder, lightning, Kumbhanda king and Pisacas,
to guard the Mantra-holders constantly;
"Those virtuous gods, dragon-kings and goddess, each along with 500 retinues of great-strength Yaksas, will always follow and guard the holders of the Great Compassion Holy Mantra. If the Mantra-holder dwells alone in void mountain or wilderness, those virtuous gods will guard him by turns to eliminate misfortunes. If the Mantra-holder loses his way in remote mountain, because of reciting this Mantra, virtuous gods and dragon-kings will transform to benefactors and tell him the correct way. If the Mantra-holder lacks water or requires fire in mountain, forest, or wilderness, the dragon-king will create water and fire for him."
Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva then said a misfortune-eliminating refreshing cool Gatha(verse):
"When walking in wilderness, mountain or marsh,
if encountering tigers, wolves, or other fierce beasts,
or snakes, spirits, demons, monsters, ghosts,
they will be unable to harm the Mantra-holder when they hear this Mantra;
When voyaging on river or sea,
poisoned dragons, flood dragons and Makaras,
Yaksas, Rakshas, fishes, and soft-shelled turtles,
will dodge when they hear this Mantra;
If besieged by battle arrays or robbers,
or being robbed by villains,
recite the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
those villains will show mercy and go back;
If one is imprisoned by government official,
jailed, chained and locked,
recite the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
the officer will show mercy and set him free;
If entered a house of a poisonous insects raising family in a woody path,
the family purpose to venom with drinks, foods or medicines,
recite the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
the poison will turn to nectar;
When a woman is giving birth to a child,
evil demons comes to obstruct the birth and causing suffering and oppressive pain,
recite the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
the demons will disperse, leaving a safe and comfortable birth;
If evil dragons or pestilence ghosts spread poison,
people are infected by pyrexia and about to die,
recite the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
diseases will be healed and lives of people will be lengthen;
If evil dragons or ghosts spread the tumescent diseases,
people suffer from carbunculosis, sore, abscess, ulcer and bleeding,
recite the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
then spit three times to the abscesses and it will be cured.
If there are muddled and wicked living beings who aroused immoral minds,
causing hatred by sending nightmares, ghosts and curses to you,
recite the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
these evil spirited spells will retreat back to its original perpetrator.
When Dharma is about to disappear,
the world is evil, feculent and disordered,
people are concupiscent and swear black is white,
having adulteries with others behind their spouses,
and think of lust days and nights.
If they can recite the Great Compassion Dharani sincerely,
the fire of eroticism will quench and the evil minds will go out.
If I glorify the effect of this Mantra in detail,
even one Kalpa is not enough for the glorification."
Then Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva told the Brahmas: "Recite this Mantra 5 times, use threads of 5 colors to tie knots, then recite 21 times, tie 21 knots, wear it on neck. This Mantra has been spoken by previous 9.9 billions Ganges-river-sands Buddhas.
Those Buddhas spoke this Mantra for practitioners who practise the Six-Perfections but not yet achieve the consummation, to make them succeed quickly;
For those who have not yet aroused Bodhi-Heart, to make them arouse Bodhi-Heart quickly;
For Sravakas who have not yet achieved fruitions, to make them achieve fruitions quickly;
For all one billion worlds' gods and celestial being who have not yet aroused the upmost Bodhi-Heart, to make them arouse upmost Bodhi-Heart quickly;
For all living beings who have not yet gained the root of faith in Mahayana, with the mighty holy power of this Mantra, their seeds of Mahayana and Dharma-buds will grow quickly; with my expedient and merciful power, All of their needs will be supplied.
For three-evil-paths' living beings who living in gloomy regions of the one billion worlds, when they heard this Mantra, they will get away from suffering;
For Bodhisattvas who have not yet achieved the first Bhumi, to make them achieve quickly; even make them achieve up to the tenth Bhumi, even up to the Buddhahood, with the thirty-two marks and the eighty minor marks achieved naturally.
If any Sravakas once heard of this Mantra, practise and write this Mantra, settle down with straightforward heart in correct manner, then they will achieve the four Sramana-fruits even if they had not seek for the fruitions.
Suppose all the mountains, rivers, cliffs, oceans of the one billion worlds can be boiled; the Sumeru mountains and Cakravada-parvata mountains can be shaken, and grinded to dust, for all living beings of that number to arouse upmost Bodhi-Hearts.
If anyone prays for any wish in his present life, he should become vegetarian and keep complying with pure precepts in 21 days, and recite this Dharani, then his wishes will certainly be fulfilled. From the verge of the previous birth-and-death to the verge of the next birth-and-death, all evil karmas will be cleaned up. All the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Brahmas, Lord of the Heavens(Sakra Devanam-Indra), four guardian gods, fairies, dragon-kings, will bear witness."
"For any celestial or human being who recites and holds this Dharani, if he bath in rivers or seas, the nearby living-beings wet by his bath-water will have all their weighty sins cleaned and be reborn naturally from lotus in pure-lands other than this world, and will not be born from wombs, moistures, or eggs. How much more so those who recite and hold the Mantra themselves! If the Mantra-holder is walking, a wind blow his hair and clothes, then the living-beings blown by the wind that previously touched the Mantra-holder will have all their heavy obstructions and evil karmas cleansed, will not continue to suffer from karmas of three-evil-paths, and often be born in front of Buddhas. The felicities and meritorious-virtues that are accomplished by the Mantra-holder are unimaginable."
"If the Mantra-holder say anything, no matter good or bad words sounds like pure Dharma-sound for all heaven-demons, heretics, Devas, dragons, ghosts, spirits, thus they will respect the Mantra-holder as if he was a Buddha.
We should know that the one who recites and holds this Mantra is a store of Buddha-bodies, because he is cherished by 9.9 billions Ganges-river-sands Buddhas;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a brilliant light store, because he is illuminated by light of 9.9 billions Ganges-river-sands Buddhas;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a store of mercies and compassions, because he constantly saves living beings with this Dharani;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a wonderful-Dharmas store, because this Dharani includes all Dharani-gates;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a Zen store, because hundreds and thousands of Samadhis often appear in front of him;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a spaces store, because he constantly observes living-beings with wisdom of emptiness;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a store of intrepidities, because he is constantly guarded by dragons, gods, and virtuous gods;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a wonderful-language store, because sound of the Dharani from his mouth is uninterrupted;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is an eternally-abiding store, because the three-disasters and evil-kalpas cannot harm him;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a liberation store, because heaven-demons and heretics cannot detain him;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a medicine-king store, because he constantly heals living beings with this Dharani;
We should know that the Mantra-holder is a supernatural power store, because he can freely travel round the Buddha-lands.
The glorifications for the meritorious-virtues of the Mantra-holder are endless."
"Good men, if one tire of sufferings of the world and seek for happiness of long live, he should settle down in a tranquil place, make a pure secure-boundary, recite this Mantra towards water, or foods, or spices, or medicines, chant 108 times and eat them, then he will be certain to gain a long life. If he can make secure-boundary and hold the Mantra in correct manner, then all fruits can be achieved.
The method of making secure-boundary is: Chant 21 times towards a knife, then countermark the ground with the knife to make a boundary; or chant 21 times towards white mustard seeds, then sprinkle the seeds on the ground to make a boundary; or make a boundary by mind; or chant 21 times towards clean ashes(of Incense) and make a boundary; or chant 21 times towards five-colored threads and then make a closed circle on the ground with the threads as a boundary. If one can do that in correct manner, he will achieve the goal naturally."
"If anyone heard of the name of this Dharani, his uncountable weighty sins of birth and death will be extinguished, and how much more so those who recite and hold this Mantra themselves! If anyone can know and recite this holy Mantra, we should know that he has already offered and sustained innumerable Buddhas and have widely plant his good roots. If he can recite and hold the Mantra in correct manner for relieving all suffering living beings, we should know that he is the one with the great compassionate heart, and will become a Buddha soon. If he chant for all the living beings that he see, let them hear the Mantra, to be the cause of Bodhi for them, then the meritorious-virtues that accomplished by this Mantra-holder are incalculable and the glorifications for him are endless. If he can be very sincere, be vegetarian and keep complying with pure precepts, repent previous sins for all living beings, and also repent his own previous sins that have been produced in uncountable past kalpas, keep chanting this Dharani, then he will achieve the four Sramana-fruits in his present life; if he also has the means of wisdom-observing, then achieving fruits of ten Bhumis is not difficult for him, not to mention those little felicities of the world, all of his wishes will be fulfilled. If he want to command ghosts, he should find a skull in the field, wash it clean, set up a Mandala(altar) in front of a statue of Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, offer and sustain it with fragrance, flowers, vegetable foods, day after day, then 7 days later, the ghost will come and obey his orders. If he want to command four guardian gods, chant towards a sandalwood and then burn it, he can achieve the goal because the power of the Bodhisattva's great compassionate vows are deep and weighty, also because that the power of this holy Dharani is mighty and vast."
The Buddha told Ananda: "When there are catastrophes in a country, if the king of the country can manage state affairs in correct manners, be lenient to his people, do not do anybody an injustice, and absolve people from blames, in 7 days and 7 nights, both his body and his mind can be sincere and diligent, to recite and hold this Great Compassionated Heart Dharani Holy Mantra, then all the catastrophes of his country will disappear, the five kinds of crops will be abundant and the people will rest in peace and happiness.
If a country is invaded by enemies from other countries, people are unsafe and ministers are traitorous, pestilences are spreading everywhere, the rains and the droughts are unbalanced and unseasonable, the sun and the moon lost their accuracy, when such disasters come, the people should make a statue of Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, face to west, offer and sustain the statue sincerely with fragrance, flowers, streamers, ceremonial canopies, or vegetable foods of hundreds tastes, then in 7 days and 7 nights, if the king of the country can recite and hold the Great Compassionated Heart Dharani Holy Mantra, with both his body and mind sincerely and diligently, then the foreign enemies will be tamed and go back to their own countries and stop the intrusion, other countries will be merciful to this country, the prince and the officers will be loyal, the queen, the prince's wife, and the maids will also be loyal to the king. Dragons, ghosts and spirits will support this country, rains will be seasonal, fruits will be abundant, and people will be happy.
If anyone in a family get a evil disease, hundreds of monsters appear, ghosts, spirits, demons come to annoy and demolish the family; being maligned by villains and the members of the family are disharmonious. They should set up a Mandala(altar) in front of a statue of Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, chant the name of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva sincerely, and then chant this Dharani 1000 times, then all the misfortunes above will disappear, the family will be peaceful forever."
Ananda asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, what is the name of this Mantra? How to uphold it?"
The Buddha told Ananda: "This holy Mantra has many names, one of them is Vast Perfect, another is Unimpeded Great Compassion, another is Relieve-Suffering Dharani, another is Extend-Life Dharani, another is Extinguishing evil destinies Dharani, another is Break hindrance of evil karmas Dharani, another is Fulfill-wishes Dharani, another is Free and Self-master Dharani, another is Quickly exceed the upper stages Dharani. Thus should you respectfully uphold it."
Then Ananda asked the Buddha: "Bhagavan, what is the name of this Bodhisattva, who is so good to teach us this Dharani?"
The Buddha said: "This Bodhisattva is called Avalokitesvara, also called Nimsor, also called Thousands light eyes. Good man, this Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva has unimaginable mighty and holy powers. Uncountable kalpas before, he had been a Buddha named True Dharma enlightenment Tathagata. Because of the power of his great compassionate vows, in order to call upon all Bodhisattvas to comfort and please all living beings, he appear as a Bodhisattva. All of you, including Bodhisattvas, Brahmas, Gods of 33 heavens, dragons, Devas, should show respect to him, do not despise him. All celestial and human beings should offer and sustain him constantly, chant his name, then you will get infinite felicities and extinguish incalculable sins, and will be reborn in the pure-land of Amitabha Buddha at the end of your lives.
The Buddha told Ananda: "The Mantra spoke by Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is veracious. If you wish to invite this Bodhisattva to come, chant the Mantra 21 times towards a Guggula and burn it, then this Bodhisattva will come."
"If being possessed by a soul of cat, find a discarded cat's skull, burn it to ashes, mix the ashes with clean soil, then use it to shape a cat. In front of a statue of Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, chant 108 times towards a wrought iron knife, then cut the model into 108 pieces with the knife. Chant once and cut once and say his name once, then the cat's soul will leave."
"If harmed by mediumistic insects(Gu), mix Karpura with same bulk of Guggula, add 1 bowl of Well-flower-water and decoct them into 1 bowl of decoction; when done, chant 108 times towards the decoction In front of a statue of Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, then take the decoction, the illness will be healed."
(*[Note] Well-flower-water: the purest water from the well; each morning, the very first bucket of water from the well)
"If stung by snakes or scorpions, chant 7 times towards some powder of dry gingers, apply the powder on the sores and they will be healed."
"If being hated by some person, find some clean soil, or flour, or wax, to shape the enemy's body. In front of a statue of Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, chant 108 times towards a wrought iron knife, then cut the model into 108 pieces with the knife. Chant once and cut once and say his name once, and then burn up all 108 pieces. After that, the enemy will be happy, will respect you and will like to befriend you for his entire life."
"For eye-diseases, find a Haritaki, a Amatakis, a Vihetaki, grind them into powder. During grinding, one must be careful, do not be seen by women who have just given birth, nor by pig or dogs. Chanting Amitabha, mix the powder with white-honey or human milk. The human milk must be from a mother of a boy, not from mothers of girls. When the medicine is done, in front of a statue of Thousand-Handed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, chant 1008 times towards the medicine, then apply it on the sick eye for 7 days, stay in room and do not be blown by wind, then the eyes will recover and function well."
"if bitten by snakes, get some earwax of that person, chant 21 times towards the earwax, apply on his sore, then it will be healed."
"If infected by malaria and about to die, find a peach-glue as big as a normal peach, add 1 bowl of clean water and decoct them into half bowl of decoction. When done, chant 7 times towards the decoction, take them all, than the disease will be healed. The medicine should not be decocted by women."
"If being possessed by ghosts, chant 21 times towards a Guggula and burn it to fume the nostrils, also find 7 Guggulas as big as rabbit dung, chant 21 times towards each of them and take them, do not drink alcohol, do not eat meat or the five-pungencies, do not abuse others, and find some arsenic sulphide, mix it with white mustard seeds and YanSheng-salt, then chant 21 times towards the mixture and burn it under the bed of the patient, then the possessing ghost will run away and not dare to stay.
(*[Note] The five-pungencies are: onions, leeks, garlic, chives or shallots)
"For deafness, chant towards sesame oil and drop the oil into ears, then the disease will be healed."
"If suffering from hemiplegias, or having noses or ears stopped up, or being unable to move hands and feet because of apoplexy, mix sesame oil with Green-wood-spices and decoct, chant 21 times towards the mixture, and apply it on the body, then the diseases will be healed. Another prescription: Chant 21 times towards some ghee, and apply it on the body, then the diseases will be healed."
"For dystocias, chant 21 times towards sesame oil and apply on both the navel and the jade-gate of the woman who is giving birth, then there will be an easy birth."
"If a baby had died in the womb, find 1 Liang of hyssops, mix with 2 bowls of clean water, and decoct into 1 bowl of decoction. Chant 21 times towards the decoction and take it, then the dead baby will come out, and the woman will not be in pain. If the placenta could not come out, take the decoction again, then it will be fine."
"For cardiodynias, find a fume-land-spice with mature papillas, chant 21 times towards it, chew and swallow it. After a while, the medicine swallowed will transform, then vomit them out, the disease will be healed. Do not eat Five-pungencies or meat, do not drink alcohol."
"If burned by fire, chant 21 times towards some dung of black cows, apply them on the sores, the pain will be healed."
"If one's heart is being attacked by ascarids, chant 21 times towards some urine of white horses and take it, then the disease will be healed. If the disease is serious, take more medicine up to 1 bowl, then the ascarids will be expelled out like a group of ropes "
"For Ding-sores, find some Ling-Xiu-leaves, grind them and get the juice, chant 21 times towards the juice, apply the juice to the sores, then the disease will be healed."
"If one's eyes were bitten by flies, find some new dung of donkey, filter it and get the liquid, chant 21 times towards the liquid, drop it into the eyes when lying on the bed at night, then the disease will be healed."
"For bellyaches, mix Well-flower-water with YanSheng-salt to make 21 pellets, chant 21 times towards them, take them, then the disease will be healed."
"For red-eyed diseases, or neoplasms in eyes, or cataracts, find some medlar leaves, grind them and get their juice, chant 21 times towards the juice, put some bronze coppers into the juice for a night, chant 7 times more, drop the juice into the eyes, then the disease will be healed."
"For phobias, make a rope with white threads, chant 21 times towards it, tie 21 knots, and wear it on neck, then the fear will disappear. Not only would the fear disappear, sins will also be extinguished."
"If there are calamities in home, find a guava branch, cut it into 1008 segments, apply ghee-honey on both ends of them, chant once and burn one segment, burn up all 1008 segments, then all calamities will disappear. This must be done in front of the Buddhas."
"If the Mantra-holder chant 21 times towards a white flagleaf, wear it on the right arm, then he will always win victories at the fighting places and polemical places "
"If the Mantra-holder find some leaves and branches of SiaSiaMi, cut them into 1008 segments, apply true-ghee and white-honey-ghee on both ends of them, chant once and burn one segment, burn up all 1008 segments. Do that 3 times each day, for 7 days, then the Mantra-holder will comprehend the through-Wisdom by himself."
"If you wish to tame powerful ghosts or spirits, find some Wood-Wan-Zis, chant 49 times towards them, apply ghee-honey on them, and burn up them. This must be done in front of a statue of Great Compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva."
"If you put 1 Liang of bezoar into a lapis-lazuli bottle, then put the bottle in front of a statue of Great Compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, chant 108 times toward it, apply the bezoar on the body and the middle of the forehead, then All gods, dragons, ghosts, spirits, human and non-human beings, will be pleased."
(* Liang: A Chinese measurement)
"If being chained and locked, find some dung of white pigeons, chant 108 times towards them, apply them on the hand and rub the chain and lock, then they will break off."
"If husband and wife hate each other, just like water and fire, find some feathers of the tail of mandarin ducks, in front of a statue of Great Compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, chant 1008 times towards the feathers and wear them, then the husband and the wife will love and respect each other for their whole life."
"If seeds of fruits in farm are being eaten by insects, find some clean ashes, or clean sands, or clean water, chant 21 times towards them, sprinkle them around the farm and the seeds, then the insects will quit. For fruit trees, sprinkle the Mantra-water on the trees, then the insects will not dare to eat the fruits."
The Buddha told Ananda: "
For richness, treasures, or various materials, use the Wish-fulfilling pearl Mudra(gesture).
If life is unstable and seeks for a stable life, use the Pasa(lasso) Mudra.
For diseases in stomach, use the Precious bowl Mudra.
For vanquishing all demons, monsters, ghosts, and spirits, use the Precious glave(double edge sword) Mudra.
For vanquishing all heavenly demons and Devas, use the Vajra Mudra.
For taming all enemies, use the Vajra pestle Mudra.
For eliminating all fears, use the Fearless-Giving (Abhayam-dada) Mudra.
For healing dim eyes, use the Sun-quintessence Mani Mudra.
For refresh cool to heal pyrexias, use the Moon-quintessence Mani Mudra.
For high post, use the Precious bow Mudra.
For meeting all good friends earlier, use the Precious arrow Mudra.
For healing various diseases on one's body, use the willow branch Mudra.
For extinguishing evil obstacle and misfortunes of one's body, use the White whisk Mudra.
For pacification of kinfolks, use the Precious vase Mudra.
For evading all tigers, wolves, jackals, panthers, and other fierce beasts, use the PongPie Mudra.
For always resting in peace and avoiding being imprisoned, use the Axe-tomahawk Mudra.
For commanding men and women, use the Jade bracelet Mudra.
For various merits and virtues, use the White lotus Mudra.
For rebirth in pure lands of the ten directions, use the Green lotus Mudra.
For great wisdom, use the Precious mirror Mudra.
For personally meeting all Buddhas of the ten directions, use the Purple lotus Mudra.
For underground precious deposits, use the Precious box Mudra.
For achieving the immortal(rsi) Way(Tao), use the Five colored cloud Mudra.
For rebirth in Brahma heaven, use the
For rebirth in heavenly palaces, use the Red lotus Mudra.
For vanquishing traitors of other places, use the Precious halberd Mudra.
For summoning all virtuous heavenly gods, use the Precious trumpet shell Mudra.
For commanding all ghosts and spirits, use the Skull staff Mudra.
For Buddhas of the ten directions coming to receive with their hands quickly, use the Prayer beads Mudra.
For achieving all superior wonderful Brahma sounds, use the Precious bell Mudra.
For the ability of speaking elegant languages, use the Ratna(Precious) seal Mudra.
To be constantly guarded by virtuous gods and dragon kings, use the Kusinagara iron hook Mudra.
For mercifully protecting all living beings, use the Khakkhara(Monk's Iron Staff) Mudra.
For all living beings to respect and love each others, use the Joining palms Mudra.
For always being reborn beside Buddhas for all lifetimes, use the Nirmana(Miraculously Created) Buddha Mudra.
To be always reborn in palaces of Buddhas for all lifetimes, and never be born from wombs, use the Nirmana-Palace Mudra.
For eruditeness, use the Precious Sutra Mudra.
For never to retrogress or lose the Bodhi-Heart from this present life to the life being a Buddha, use the Non-retrogression gold wheel Mudra.
If you wish the Buddhas of the ten directions to come quickly to rub your summit and award you the mark of future Buddhahood, use the Summit Nirmana Buddha Mudra.
For fruits, melons, corns and crops, use the Grape Mudra.
There are thousands of such requesting Mudras, now I have just curtly said some of them."
The Sunshine Bodhisattva then spoke a great holy Mantra for supporting the Mantra-holders of the Great Compassionate Heart Dharani:
"Namo Buddha Kunami, Namo Dharma Mahadi, Namo Samgha Tayeni, DhriBhuBhi Sattva Yam Namo"
"This Mantra can extinguish all sins. also can evade demons and disasters. If one can chant once and bow to Buddhas once, 3 times daily, chant and bow to Buddhas, then on the next life, he will get the delightful result that all of his facial features are handsome."
The Moonshine Bodhisattva also spoke a Dharani Mantra for supporting practitioners:
"Sumdhidi Tusuza Ahjamidi Uduza SumKiza Bolaidi Yemijaza Uduza Kuladiza Kimoza Svaha"
"Make a rope with five colored threads, chant this Mantra 5 times toward the rope, and wear on the sore. This Mantra had been spoken by the previous 40 Ganges-river-sands Buddhas, now I also speak it, for supporting all practitioners, for eliminating all obstacles and calamities, for healing all diseases, for relieving all sufferings, for accomplishing all virtuous Dharmas, for eliminating all fears."
The Buddha told Ananda: "You should accept and uphold this Great Compassion Dharani with a deeply pure heart, spread it abroad widely throughout Jambudvipa and never allow it to be lost. This Dharani can bring great benefit for all living beings of the three realms of Samsara, all living beings suffering from diseases can use this Dharani to heal their diseases. Even withered trees can grow new branches and fruits when being chanted towards with this great holy Mantra. Thus, it's impossible that diseases of sentient and conscious beings cannot be healed by this Mantra. Good man, the mighty and holy power of this Dharani is unimaginable, unimaginable, the glorifications for it are endless. Not having widely planted good roots from previous lives, one can not hear even the name of this Dharani, not to mention the contents. You of the assembly, gods, human beings, dragons, spirits, should also glorify it while hearing my glorifications. Slandering this Mantra is equal to slandering those 9.9 billions Ganges-river-sands Buddhas. If anyone doubt, or don't believe in this Dharani, we should know that he will lose the supreme blessing for eons, he will fall into the evil destinies constantly in thousands of kalpas and unable to escape; he will be unable to see the Buddhas, unable to hear the Dharmas, and unable to see the Sanghas for a long time."
After hearing the Buddha glorified this Dharani, the assembly: Bodhisattva-Mahasattvas, Vajra secret-traces deities, Brahmas, gods, the four heavenly kings, dragons, ghosts, spirits, were all pleased, and practise as taught.
Amitabha Buddha Sutra
Amitabha Buddha Sutra
At that time, the Buddha told the Elder Shariputra, From here, passing through hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddhalands to the West there is a world called Utmost Happiness. In this land a Buddha called Amitabha right now teaches the Dharma.
Shariputra, why is this land called Utmost Happiness? All living beings of this country never suffer, but enjoy every bliss. Therefore it is called Utmost Happiness.
Moreover, Shariputra, this
Moreover, Shariputra, in the
In the pools bloom lotuses as large as carriage wheels with colors of green light, red light, yellow light, and white light, subtle, rare, fragrant, and pure. Shariputra, the
Moreover, Shariputra, in this Buddhaland heavenly music always plays, and the ground is made of gold. In the six periods of the day and night a heavenly rain of mandarava flowers falls, and throughout the clear morning, each living being of this land offers sacks filled with myriads of wonderful flowers to the hundreds of thousands of millions of Buddhas of the other directions. At mealtime they return to their own countries and after eating they walk about. Shariputra, the
Moreover, Shariputra, in this country there are always rare and unusual birds of many kinds and colors: white geese, cranes, peacocks, parrots, egrets, kalavinkas and two-headed birds. In the six periods of the day and night the flocks of birds sing forth harmonious and elegant sounds. Their clear and joyful calls proclaim the Five Roots, the Five Powers, the Seven Limbs of Bodhi, the Eightfold Path of Sages, and dharmas such as these. When living beings of this land hear their calls they are altogether mindful of the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, and mindful of the Sangha.
Shariputra! Do not say that these birds are born as retribution for their sins. And why not? Because in this Buddhaland the three evil paths do not exist. Shariputra, even the names of the three evil paths are unknown in this Buddha's land; how much the less could they actually exist! Wishing to proclaim the Dharma's sound far and wide, Amitabha Buddha created these multitudes of birds by transformation.
Shariputra, in that Buddhaland when the gentle winds blow, the rows of jewelled trees and jewelled nets reverberate with fine and wondrous sounds, as a symphony of one hundred thousand kinds of music played in harmony. All who hear these sounds are naturally mindful of the Buddha, mindful of the Dharma, and mindful of the Sangha. Shariputra, the
Shariputra, what do you think? Why is this Buddha called Amitabha? Shariputra, the brilliance of that Buddha's light is measureless, illumining the lands of the ten directions everywhere without obstruction. For this reason he is called Amitabha.
Moreover, Shariputra, the lifespan of that Buddha and that of his people extends for measureless, limitless asamkhyeyas of kalpas. For this reason he is called Amitayus. And, Shariputra, since Amitabha became a Buddha, ten kalpas have passed.
Moreover, Shariputra, that Buddha has measureless, limitless asamkheyas of Sound-Hearer disciples, their number incalculable. So too is the assembly of Bodhisattvas. Shariputra, that Buddhaland is crowned in splendor and virtues such as these.
Moreover, Shariputra, the living beings born in the
Shariputra, those living beings who hear of this should vow: I wish to be born in that country. And why? Because those who are born there assemble in one place with people whose goodness is unsurpassed. Shariputra, if one has few good roots, blessings, and virtues, one cannot be born in that land.
Shariputra, if there is a good man or good woman who hears of Amitabha and holds his name whether for one day, two days, three, four, five days, six days, as long as seven days with one mind unconfused, when this person nears the end of life, before him will appear Amitabha and all the Assembly of Holy Ones. When the end comes, his mind will not be utterly confused, and in Amitabha's
Shariputra, just as I now praise the inconceivable benefits arising from the merit and virtue of Amitabha, so too in the East does Akshobya Buddha, Sumeru Likeness Buddha, Great Sumeru Buddha, Sumeru Light Buddha, Wonderful Sound Buddha; all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All you living beings should believe in this sutra which all the Buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, in the Southern World, Sun-Moon Lamp Buddha, Sumeru Lamp Buddha, Celebrated Light Buddha, Great Radiant Shoulders Buddha, Sumeru Lamp Buddha, Measureless Vigor Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All you living beings should believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, in the Western World, Measureless Life Buddha, Infinite Features Buddha, Measureless Curtain Buddha, Great Light Buddha, Great Clarity Buddha, Jewelled Likeness Buddha, Pure Light Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All you living beings should believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue, protecting and bearing it in mind.
Shariputra, in the Northern World, Radiant Shoulders Buddha, Most Glorious Sound Buddha, Invincible Buddha, Sun-Birth Buddha, Luminous Net Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All you living beings should believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, in the World Below, Lion Buddha, Well-Known Buddha, Celebrated Light Buddha, Dharma Buddha, Dharma-Curtain Buddha, Upholding Dharma Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All you living beings should believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, in the World Above, Pure Sound Buddha, Constellation King Buddha, Superior Fragrance Buddha, Fragrant Light Buddha, Great Radiant Shoulders Buddha, Varicolored Jewels-Adorned Body Buddha, Sala Tree King Buddha, Jewelled Flower of Virtue Buddha, Discerning All Meanings Buddha, Like Sumeru Mountain Buddha, all Buddhas such as these, numberless as Ganges' sands, each in his own country gives forth a vast and far-reaching sound that pervades the threefold, great, thousand-world realm and proclaims these sincere and honest words: All you living beings should believe in this sutra which all Buddhas praise for its inconceivable merit and virtue, a sutra they protect and bear in mind.
Shariputra, what do you think? Why is it called Sutra which all Buddhas protect and bear in mind? Shariputra, if a good man or good woman hears this sutra and upholds it, and hears the names of all these Buddhas, this good man or good woman will also be one whom all Buddhas protect and bear in mind, and will attain non-retreat from anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Therefore, Shariputra, all of you should believe and accept my words and the words all Buddhas speak.
Shariputra, if there are people who have already made the vow, who now make the vow, or who will make the vow, I wish to be born in Amitabha's country, these people, whether born in the past, now being born there, or to be born there in the future, will all attain non-retreat from anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Therefore, Shariputra, all good men and good women who believe should make the vow, I wish to be born in that country.
Shariputra, just as I now praise the inconceivable merit and virtue of all Buddhas, all those Buddhas also praise my inconceivable merit and virtue, saying these words: Shakyamuni Buddha can accomplish extremely difficult and rare deeds in the Saha Land during the evil time of the Five Turbidities: during the time turbidity, the views turbidity, the affliction turbidity, the living beings turbidity, and the lifespan turbidity. He can attain anuttarasamyaksambodhi and for the sake of living beings proclaim this Dharma, which the whole world finds hard to believe.
Shariputra, you should know that I, in the evil time of the Five Turbidities, perform these difficult deeds, attain anuttarasamyaksambodhi, and for the entire world proclaim this Dharma which is difficult to believe, extremely difficult!
After the Buddha spoke this Sutra, Shariputra, all the Bhikshus, and the entire world of gods, humans, asuras, and others, hearing what the Buddha had said, joyously delighted in it, faithfully accepted it, bowed and withdrew.
End of the Sutra of the Buddha's Teaching on Amitabha
The High King Avalokitesvara Sutra
The High King Avalokitesvara Sutra
(Taisho Tripitaka 2898)
Homage to Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.
Namo Buddha-yah.
Namo Dharma-yah
Namo Sangha-yah
Due to the great relationship with Buddhas' Worlds,
and the interlinked great causes,
There comes the Buddha's Dharmas,
which is Eternal, Bliss, Self, and Pure;
And we have become the relations of the Buddha-Dharmas.
Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, the great sacrosanct mantra;
Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, the great brilliant mantra;
Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, the unsurpassed mantra;
Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, the unequaled mantra.
Namo Pure Light Secret Buddha, Dharma Treasury Buddha, the Tranquil King Buddha with Lion's roar and divine speed, the Sumeru Light King Buddha announced by Buddha, Dharma Protector Buddha, Vajra Treasury Roaming Lion Buddha, Precious Victory Buddha, Supernatural Power Buddha, Medicine Master Crystal Light King Buddha, Universal Light Merit Mountain King Buddha, Merit Retaining Jewel King Buddha,
the seven past Buddhas, the coming one thousand Buddhas of the Fortunate kalpa, the fifteen hundred Buddhas, the fifteen thousand Buddhas, the five hundred Flower Victory Buddhas, the one hundred billion Vajra Treasury Buddhas, and Samadhi Light Buddha.
The Buddhas of Six Directions:
To the East the Precious Light Moon Palace Venerable Wonderful Voice King Buddha,
To the South the Tree-Root Flower King Buddha,
To the West the Spiritual Power Flower Blazing King Buddha,
To the North the Moon Palace Purity Buddha,
Above, the countless Vigor Jewel Crown Buddha,
Below, the Tranquil Moon Sound King Buddha.
All the countless Buddhas, Prabhuta-ratna(Many Treasures) Buddha, Sakyamuni Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, Akshobhya Buddha, Amitabha Buddha,
All beings in the Central Realm, and those in the Pure Lands, while moving upon the Earth and in the Heavens, continually shower compassion upon all living beings, affording them equanimity and peace, that they might cultivate day and night. By constantly invoking this sutra, one is liberated from the pain of death and birth, and freed from all the many kinds of suffering.
Namo the Great Wisdom Avalokitesvara, the Observant Avalokitesvara, the Noble Avalokitesvara, the Expansively-Minded Avalokitesvara, the Medicine King Bodhisattva, the Supreme Medicine Bodhisattva, Manjusri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, Akasagarbha Bodhisattva, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, the billions of Clear Cool Treasure Mountain Bodhisattvas, the Universal Light Venerable King Tathagata Bodhisattva, Chanting this sutra continually, the Seven World-Honored Buddhas, recite this mantra:
Lee-poh-lee-poh-deh, kyo-ho-kyo-ho-deh, toh-loh-nee-deb, nee-ah-la-deh, pee-lee-nee-deh, mo-ho-kya-deh, jun-len-chan-deh, so-ha.
All the transformation bodies of Avalokitesvara
and all the bodhisattvas
have vowed to liberate every being in samsara,
and to cleanse all sufferings when called upon.
One who has non-dual faith in Buddha
will be greatly blessed with guidance.
By keeping intact the root of virtue
one will be able to practice this,
and with one thousand recitations,
the practice blends into one's mindstream.
Then one remains unharmed by fire or weapons,
and anger is transformed into happiness.
Even those who are left for dead
returns thereby to life.
One must not doubt this,
for it is the word of Buddha.
The High King Avalokitesvara
In truth removes all obstacles.
Even in the most grave plight
One is saved from death.
This is the truth all Buddhas announce,
Therefore pay them homage.
By reciting this praise one thousand times,
One purifies the most negative of karmas.
Those fortunate ones endowed with indestructible faith
Are to always uphold this sutra.
Recite the name of the Eight Mahasattvas:
Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Mahasattva
Namo Maitreya Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
Namo Akasa-garbha Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
Namo Samanta-bhadra Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
Namo Vajra-pani Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
Namo Manjusri Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
Namo Sarva-nivaraNaviskambhin Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
Namo all venerable Bodhisattva Mahasattvas.
May these merits and virtues
be spread universally to everything.
Fully recite this one thousand times,
And serious sins will be purified.
Kalachakra Specific Precepts & Mandala
KALACHAKRA SPECIFIC PRECEPTS:
Six Types of Precepts for Upholding Buddhas
1. Upholding Akshobhya: Generate Bodhicita by committing to attain enlightenment and benefit all sentient beings, act upon the Three Basic Teachings of Buddhism (avoid evils, develop virtues and purify oneself), uphold the vajra scepter, uphold the vajra bell, uphold the mudra of the Buddha's body, and revere the Root Guru.
2. Upholding Ratnasambhawa: Unselfishly contribute one's own wealth and belongings, apply Buddhadharma to guide and help others, overcome their difficulties and protect their safety.
3. Upholding Vairocana: Use five meats and five fluids as wondrous potion to assist one's attainment.
4. Upholding Amoghasiddhi: Make frequent offerings to the Root Guru and the Three Treasures.
5. Upholding Amitabha: Guard the leakage of semen (white bodhicitta).
6. Upholding Vajrasattva: Train in developing the wisdom of non-dualism of emptiness and bliss.
Kalachakra Mandalas
The Kalachakra mandala is a cosmographic representation of the inner, outer, and alternative dimensions of reality. A support for tantric contemplative practice, mandalas are regarded as the actual abode of a particular deity. Presenting the sphere of the deity's presence, the deity's surrounds and the range and depth of a deity's influence, mandalas are meditation devices for actualizing and embodying a specific sublime form.
Encompassing the body, speech and mind of the Kalachakra deity along with the 636 complementary deities in the mandala, the Kalachakra mandala is particularly complex. For this reason, there is an emphasis within the Tibetan Buddhist tantric practice traditions of using supports for contemplation such as replicas of the actual mandala including thangka paintings, 3D constructions, and now computer-generated animations for imagining or visualizing the Kalachakra mandala. What follows are a selection of mandalas of the Kalachakra as a 3-dimensional animation, as photographs of 3-dimensional representations of the mandala, and as traditional thangka painting depictions of the Kalachakra.
Kalachakra Authentic Twenty-Five Prohibited Conducts
A. Five Primary Prohibitive Conducts (Five Basic Precepts):
1. Killing
2. Stealing
3. Engaging in sexual misconduct
4. Not telling the truth
5. Being intoxicated
B. Five Secondary Prohibitive Conducts:
1. Gambling
2. Earning a living through unvirtuous means
3.
4. Killing for the purpose of praying to ancestors or spirits (gods, ghosts, etc.)
5. Believing in deviant teachings or paths
C. Five Severe Killing ill-deeds:
1. Killing a man
2. Killing a woman
3. Killing a baby
4. Killing a cow
5. Destroying temples, pagodas or buddha statues
D. Five Harming ill-deeds:
1. Harming a buddha or teacher
2. Harming a sangha member
3. Harming a friend
4. Harming a leader
5. Harming a confidant
E. Five Desirous ill-deeds:
1. Eyes craving beauty
2. Ears craving beautiful sounds
3. Nose craving nice fragrances
4. Mouth craving good taste
5. Body craving pleasures
1. Disrespectful towards the lineage Root Guru, disturbing the mind of the Root Guru
2. Deviating from guidance or directives from the Root Guru
3. Creating discord, speaking faults of Vajra brothers and sisters, not cooperating with other Vajra members
4. Lack of compassionate heart towards sentient beings
5. Willingly losing white boddhicitta
6. Slandering Mahayana Buddhism and the realization of emptiness through Mahayana practices
7. Revealing Tantra secrets to the unripened practitioners
8. Disregarding the well being of one’s own body, practicing austerity that is harmful to health, despising one`s own five aggregates which are five Buddha embodiments
9. Abandoning, rejecting or opposing Empty Nature
10. Being hypocritical and inconsistent between inner thoughts and outer conduct
11. Doubting or despising Root Guru`s teaching of the wisdom of Supreme Immutable Bliss
12. Using ordinary viewpoint and concept to judge a true yogi/yogini, slandering his/her behavior that does not fit the norm
13. Holding onto one`s own opinion, not committing body and mind to the pledged Tantra precepts
14. Deriding women
Kalachakra Authentic Eight Secondary Root Infractions
1. Engaging in Consort Practice without proper Tantric empowerments (Anyone who is disqualified to receive empowerments or to practice Tantra, anyone who violates the precepts and break his/her vows cannot engage in consort practice)
2. Engaging in Consort Practice without fulfilling the three unities (Inability to merge body, speech and mind with the deity)
3. Transmitting Tantra prior to maturity (Revealing pictures, Tantra texts, mudra or dharma implements of consort practice to the uninitiated or non-believers)
4. Disputing at the time of assembly (Creating dispute at the time of dharma ceremony, group practice, offering rites, etc)
5. Lying to devout practitioners (Misleading or not answering dharma questions asked by fully qualified or devout Tantric practitioners)
6. Staying seven days at the place of a Pratyeka Buddha (Stream-hearer) (Staying more than one week at the home of a Hinayana practitioner that lacks Tantric belief or slanders Tantra)
7. Bearing arrogance prior to realization (Prior to attaining true realization, exaggerating one's own fruition and spiritual power)
8. Transmitting dharma to non-believers (Transmitting secret dharma essences to non-believers)
Note: The above precepts are authentic Tantra infractions for consort practitioners, however,
* In front of the Root Guru (spiritual teacher of heart), sincerely generate heartfelt repentance and then pray for another bestowal of empowerment.
* Practice Homa retreat and sincerely generate heartfelt repentance. Make Homa offering to the Root Guru, all lineage gurus and Buddhas and then pray for another bestowal of empowerment.
* In front of the altar, sincerely generate heartfelt repentance and chant Vajrasattva Hundred Syllable Mantra more than one hundred thousand times and then pray for another bestowal of empowerment.
Hevajra
Hevajra
The first chapter of the awakening of Vajragarbha will help to explain:
Thus have I heard, Lord Buddha was residing in the womb of the Vajra Lady which is the Body, Speech and Mind of all the Buddhas
There Buddha spoke, "The heart of the Body, Speech, and Mind of all the Buddhas is the Noble Lord, who is the most secret of all the secrets. Oh Vajragarbha, great Bodhisattva of great mercy, listen to the essence of Vajrasattva, Mahasattva, and Samayasattva which is known as Hevajra."
Vajragarbha asked Lord Buddha, " Explain to me why He is called Vajrasattva, how is He Mahasattva, by what criteria is He Samayasattva?"
Buddha replied, "Vajra is said to be the indivisible and Sattva the unity of the three Centers. By this kind of wise reasoning Vajrasattva, the Adamantine Being, is so called. He is called Mahasattva because of
being full of the flavors of the Great Knowledge. And He is Samayasattva because of being uninterruptedly active at all times."
Vajragarbha asked, "What is intended by the composite name Hevajra? What is proclaimed by the sound HE and what by VAJRA?"
Buddha replied, "HE symbolizes Great Compassion and VAJRA symbolizes Wisdom. Now listen to this Tantra that I proclaim which is the essence of Wisdom and Skillfull Means.
The proficiency of this Tantra is known to be vast. This Tantra teaches the Gazes, how to attract, the Secret Sign Language, how to paralyze, how to drive away. It teaches the correct method of generating the Yoginis, their location, and their source. It is proficient in the science and technique of the correct method of manifesting the deities.
The first of these techniques is one method, the method of generating the Heruka, for it is by utilizing the existent itself that men are liberated. Oh Vajragarbha of great mercy. Men are bound by the bondage of existence and are liberated by understanding the nature of existence. Oh wise one, existence should be conceived through the understanding of
non-existence and likewise the divine Heruka should also be conceived through the understanding on non-existence.
Great Knowledge is located in the body and is free of all illusory conceptions, pervades all phenomenal things and although abiding in the body does not originate from the body."
Vajragharba asked, " Oh Buddha, how many nerve-channels are there in the Vajra body?"
Buddha replied, " There are thirty-two nerve-channels. These thirty-two are the bearers of the bodhicitta and flow into the center of Great Bliss. Among them three nerve-channels, Lalana, Rasana, and Avadhuti are the most important. Lalana has the nature of Wisdom and Rasana of Skillfull means. In the middle, between them is Avadhuti, free from the duality of subject and object. Lalana is the bearer of Aksobhya and Rasana is the bearer of Rakta. The bearer of both Wisdom and Moon is known as Avadhuti.
The names of the thirty-two nerve-channels are Abhedya, Suksamarupa, Divya, Vama, Vamini, Kurmaja, Bhavaki. Seka, Dosa, Vista, Matari, Savari, Sitada, Usma, Lalana, Avadhuti, Rasana, Pravana, Krisnavarna, Surupini, Samanya, Hetudayika, Viyoga, Premani, Siddha, Pavaki, Sumana, Traivratta, Kamini, Geha, Candika, and Maradarika."
Vajragharba asked, "Lord Buddha, what is the nature of these thirty-two nerve-channels?"
Buddha relied, "The nerve-channels are all transformations of the three realms of existence and are devoid of the duality of subject and object. But when they are used as means, they are all conceived as possessing characteristics of phenomenal things. The various Concealed Essences are mentioned: Ali and Kali, Moon and Sun, Wisdom and Skillfull means,
the centers of Essencial Nature, Enjoyment, Creation and Great Bliss, and the Body, Speech, and Mind. Evam Maya: by E the goddess Locana is indicated, by VAM Mamaki, by MA Pandura and by YA Tarini. In the Center of Creation a sixty-four petal lotus. In the Center of Essential Nature an eight petal lotus, In the Center of Enjoyment a sixteen petal lotus. In the Center of Great Bliss a thirty-two petal lotus.
The fourfold division that follows should be actualized in the proper order of the four centers described above.
The four Moments: Diverse, Ripening, Dissolving, and Signless.
The four Noble Truths: Sorrow, its Origin, its Cessation, and the WAY.
The four Principles: Self, Mantra, Divinity, and Knowledge.
The four Joys: Ordinary, Refined, Cessation, and Innate Joy.
The four Doctrinal Schools: Sthavari, Sarastivada, Samvidt, and Mahasanghi.
Moon, Sun, Ali and Kali, the sixteen Phases, the sixty-four Periods,
the thirty-two Nerve-channels, and the four Watches. Thus, everything
goes in fours.
Chandali blazes up in the navel. She burns the Five Buddhas. She burns Locana and the others. Aham is burnt and the Moon flows down."
Thus the first chapter regarding the Family of Vajra which is the Body, Speech, and Mind of all the Buddhas.
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Here are the details of the Hevajra:
Shri Hevajra (Tibetan: pal gye pa'i dor je. English: Glorious Joyful Vajra): principle meditational deity of the Sakya School and central focus of the Lamdre cycle of teachings, together with eight goddesses, deities and lineage teachers above and protectors below.
SHRI HEVAJRA (Tibetan: pal gye pa'i dor je): principle tutelary deity of the Sakya School and central focus of the Lamdre cycle of teachings. Wrathful in appearance, dark blue in colour with multiple heads and hands he stands in a dancing posture amidst orange flames of wisdom fire.
At each side of the central blue face are three further faces with a small fierce face placed above making a total of eight. Each face has three eyes, yellow hair flowing upward, a crown of five skulls and earrings. With sixteen hands each holds a skullcup and a unique object inside. The first pair folded at the heart embrace the consort Vajra Nairatmya, light blue in colour with one face and two hands, holding aloft a curved knife with the right hand, standing embracing the consort with the right leg. Both are adorned with various wrathful ornaments, bones, skull garlands and the like. Atop a series of stacked figures, sun disc and multi-coloured lotus seat they stand completely engulfed in the orange flames of pristine awareness. In a half circle standing in front are the eight goddesses of the Hevajra mandala each with one face and two hands of various colours, holding unique symbolic objects and standing in dancing postures.
At the top center is the primordial buddha Vajradhara, blue, with one face and two hands holding to the heart the stems of two lotus blossoms supporting a vajra and bell. At the left is a mahasiddha, dark in colour, wearing a red meditation belt. At the right is a peaceful figure attired in the garb of a bodhisattva. At the far left is Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (1092-1158), dressed as a layman, holding a white lotus blossom in the right hand. At the far right a lama wears monastic robes and a red pandita hat. Below that are three lamas in a row all wearing monastic robes and performing various mudras. The central figure is seated on a large multi-petalled pink lotus.
At the middle left is Vajrayogini, red, with one face and two hands, in a standing posture. At the right is Bhutadamara Vajrapani, dark blue, wrathful, with one face and two hands.
At the bottom center is the wrathful protector Panjarnata Mahakala, black, with one face and two hands. At the right is the wrathful consort Shri Devi, black, with one face and four hands riding a brown mule. At the left is Brahmarupa Mahakala, in the appearance of an Indian mahasiddha. These are the three main Dharma protectors of the Sakya School.
Hevajra Lineage: Vajradhara, Nairatmya, Virupa, Kanhapa, Damarupa, Avadhutipa, Gayadhara, Drogmi Lotsawa, Seton Kunrig, Shangton Chobar, Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, etc.
