The Sutra Of The Vast, Great, Perfect, Full, Unimpeded Great Compassion Heart Dharini Of The Thousand-handed Thousand-eyed Bodhisattva Who Regards The World’s Sounds.

Sutra:

Thus have I heard. At one time  Shakyamuni Buddha dwelt in the jewel-adorned way field in the palace of the One Who Regards the World’s Sounds, on Potala mountain.

The jewelled lion throne upon which he sat was adorned in purity with limitless varicoloured mani-jewels, and a hundred jewelled banners hung suspended around it. 

At that time, the Thus Come One, sitting upon his throne, was about to proclaim the uniting and holding Dharani. With him were numberless Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas, their names were: Uniting and Holdings King Bodhisattva, Jewel King Bodhisattva, Medicine King Bodhisattva, Medicine Superior Bodhisattva, The Bodhisattva Who Regards The World’s Sounds, Great Strength Bodhisattva, Flower Adornment Bodhisattva, Great Adornment Bodhisattva, Jewel Treasury Bodhisattva, Virtue Treasury Bodhisattva, Vajra Treasury Bodhisattva, Empty Space Treasury Bodhisattva, Maitreya Bodhisattva, Universal Worthy Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and others such as these, all Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas, great Dharma Princes who have been anointed on the crown.

Also with him were limitless, numberless, great Sound Hearers, all practising Arahatship at the Tenth Ground, Mahakashyapa was at their head.

Also with him were countless gods of the Brahma world. The Brahma Shan Cha was at their head.

Also with him were all the innumerable gods of the desire realm. The God Gopaka was at their head.

Also with him were guardian kings of the four directions from limitless worlds, Dhrtarashtra was at their head.

Also with him were countless gods, dragons, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, people, non-people, and so forth. The Great Dragon King Heavenly Virtue was at their head.

Also with him were all the countless goddesses of the desire realm. The goddess Youthful Eye was at their head.

Also with him were countless empty space spirits, river and sea spirits, spring and fountain spirits, stream and pond spirits, medicinal herb spirits, tree and forest spirits, spirits of dwellings, water spirits, fire spirits, earth spirits, wind spirits, land spirits, mountain spirits, stone spirits, palace spirits, and so forth. All came and gathered together in the assembly.

At that time the Bodhisattva Who Regards the World’s Sounds, in the midst of the great assembly, secretly put forth spiritually penetrating bright light which brilliantly illuminated the fields of the ten directions, and reached throughout three thousand great-thousand worlds, so that they were all coloured gold.

All the heavenly palaces, dragon palaces, and all the venerable spirit palaces trembled. The large rivers, small rivers, and seas, Iron Mountain, Sumeru Mountain, Land Mountain, and Black Mountain also shook. The pearl fire of the sun and moon and the light of the constellations – all ceased to shine.

At that time Uniting and Holding King Bodhisattva, seeing this are and unheard-of appearance, arose from his seat, joined his palms and with a verse, asked the Buddha who it was and who had put forth such an appearance of spiritual penetration.

The verse runs:

Who on this day has realised right enlightenment,

Putting forth such great brilliant light?

The field of the ten directions are all coloured gold,

And three thousand world systems are also shinning,

Who on this day has attained comfort,

Diffusing spiritual powers, great and rare?

Boundless Buddhalands tremble and shake,

Dragon and spirit palaces are not at peace.

The entire assembly now holds doubts,

Not knowing whose power created these conditions.

Is it the Buddha, the Bodhisattvas,

Or the great Sound Hearers?

The Brahma gods, Mara gods, or Shakra perhaps?

We pray for the World Honoured One’s great compassion,

To explain to us the cause of this spiritual penetration.

The Buddha told Uniting and Holding King Bodhisattva, “Good man, you should all know that present in this assembly is a Bodhisattva, Mahasattva named The One Who Regards the World’s Sounds in Comfort who, from the remotest past onwards has attained great kindness and compassion and who is fully able to practice the limitless Dharani-doors. Desiring to delight all beings and to make them peaceful, he secretly puts forth such great spiritual penetration power as this.”

After the Buddha had finished speaking, the Bodhisattva Who Regards the Sounds of the World then arose from his seat, arranged his robes, inclined his joined hands towards the Buddha and said, “World Honoured One, I have a Great Compassion Dharani-Mantra which I now wish to speak so that all living beings might obtain peace and delight, be rid of every sickness, and attain long life; so that they might obtain prosperity, wipe away the evil Karma of heavy offences, separate themselves from obstacles and hardships, grow in all the pure Dharmas and in every kind of merit and virtue; so that they might create only good roots, become separate from fear, and quickly fulfil all their longings. World Honoured One, please be merciful and allow it to be heard.”

The Buddha said, “Good man, your great compassion puts living beings at ease. You wish to speak the spiritual mantra, now is the proper time. It is right and fitting that you speak it without delay. The World Honoured One and all the Buddhas approve.”

The Bodhisattva Who Regards the World’s Sounds again addressed the Buddha, saying, “World Honoured One, I recall that in the past, uncountable millions of aeons ago, a Buddha named Thousand Ray King Who Dwells in Stillness Thus Come One appeared in the world. Out of pity for me and all living beings, that Buddha, the World Honoured One, spoke this Vast, Great, Perfect, Full, Unimpeded, Great Compassion Heart Dharani. With his golden-coloured hand he rubbed the crown of my head and spoke thus:

“Good man, you should now hold this heart mantra for the sake of all living beings in the evil times of the future, for it will cause them great benefit and delight.”

“I was then, dwelling as a beginner at the First Ground, but upon once hearing this mantra, I ascended to the Eighth Ground. At that time, because of the great joy in my heart, I made this vow:

“If, in the future, I am able to benefit living beings and make them happy, then may my body right now be complete with a thousand hands and a thousand eyes.”

“After making this vow, my body immediately was fully complete with a thousand hands and a thousand eyes. In the ten directions, the great earth trembled in six ways. A thousand Buddhas in the ten directions each emitted bright light which illuminated my body and the boundless worlds of the ten directions. From that time onward, all beings in the places of the countless Buddhas and in limitless assemblies were able to hear, personally accept, and maintain this Dharani. There was happiness and dancing for joy without end as they transcended countless millions of aeons of subtle birth and death. From that time onward, the mantra has been constantly recited and never forgotten.”

“Because one holds this mantra, one is always born in the presence of the Buddhas, one is born by transformation from a lotus, and is never born from a womb.”

“If there are Bhikshus, Bhikshunis, Upasakas, Upasikas, young men or young women who wish to recite and hold this mantra, and to bring forth a heart of great compassion for all beings, they should first follow me in making these vows:

Namo Compassionate One Who Regards the World’s Sounds,

May I quickly know all dharmas,

Namo Compassionate One Who Regards the World’s Sounds,

May I soon attain the wisdom-eye,

Namo Compassionate One Who Regards the World’s Sounds,

May I quickly save all beings,

Namo Compassionate One Who Regards the World’s Sounds,

May I soon attain good skill-in-means,

Namo Compassionate One Who Regards the World’s Sounds,

May I quickly board the Prajna-boat,

Namo Compassionate One Who Regards the World’s Sounds,

May I soon get out of the sea of suffering,

Namo Compassionate One Who Regards the World’s Sounds,

May I quickly attain morality, Samadhi, and the Way,

Namo Compassionate One Who Regards the World’s Sounds,

May I soon ascend Nirvana Mountain,

Namo Compassionate One Who Regards the World’s Sounds,

May I quickly dwell in the unconditioned,

Namo Compassionate One Who Regards the World’s Sounds,

May I soon unite with the Dharma-nature body.

When I face the mountain of knives,

The mountain of knives of itself breaks up;

When I face the boiling oil,

The boiling oil of itself dries up,

When I face the hells,

The hells of themselves disappears,

When I face the hungry ghosts,

The hungry ghosts of themselves are full,

When I face the asuras,

Their evil thoughts of themselves are tamed,

When I face the animals,

They themselves attain great wisdom.

The Bodhisattva Who Regards the World’s Sounds again addressed the Buddha, saying, “World Honoured One, if humans and gods recite and hold the phrases of the Great Compassion Mantra, then when they approach the end of life, all the Buddhas of the ten directions will come to take them by hand to rebirth in whatever Buddhaland they wish, according to their desire.”

He further said to the Buddha. “World Honoured One, should any living being who recites and holds the spiritual mantra of Great Compassion fall into the three evil paths, I vow not to realise the right enlightenment. Should any living being who recites and holds the spiritual mantra of Great Compassion not be reborn in any Buddhaland, I vow not to realise the right enlightenment. Should any living being who recites and holds the spiritual mantra of Great Compassion no obtain unlimited samadhis and eloquence, I vow not to realise the right enlightenment. Should any living being who recites and holds the spiritual mantra of Great Compassion not obtain fruits of whatever is sought in this very life, then he cannot have been making proper use of the Dharani of the Great Compassion Heart.”

He addressed the Buddha further, saying, “World Honoured One, people and gods who recite and hold the Great Compassion 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 privation.

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 evil 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 die as a result of sorcery.

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 which bind the body.

15)   They will not commit suicide. 

“Those who recite and hold the spiritual Mantra of Great Compassion 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 Compassion Heart Dharani will obtain these fifteen kinds of good birth. All gods and people should constantly recite and hold it, without carelessness.”

After speaking these words before the assembly, the Bodhisattva Who Regards the World’s Sounds put his palms together, stood upright, and brought forth a heart of great compassion for all beings. He beamed, smiled and thus spoke the spiritually wonderful phrases of the Dharani of Great Compassion, perfect, unimpeded, vast and great. The Dharani runs like this:

NAMO RATNATRAYAYA

I take refuge in the Triple Gem

NAMO ARYAVALOKITESHVARAYA

I take refuge in the Lord-seer

BODHISATTVAYA MAHASATTVAYA MAHAKARUNIKAYA

In the Enlightened Being, in the Great Being, in the Great Compassionate One.

OM SARVA ABHAYAH SUNADHASYA

Om, in the fearless one

NAMO SUKRTVEMAMA ARYAVALOKITESHVARAGARBHA

May I enter into the heart of the Lord Seer

NAMO NILAKANTHA SIRI MAHABHADRASHRAME

I take refuge in Him with the blue neck, great abode of kindness

SARVARTHASUBHAM AJEYAM SARVASATTVANAMAVARGA MAHADHATU

Meaning the fullness of understanding of all ways, which is pure, making all sentient beings victorious and purifying all the realms of existence

TADYATHA OM AVALOKELOKITE KALATE

In whom who is thus. Om, the Seer, transcending the world

HARI MAHABODHISATTVA SARVA SARVA MALA MALA

Oh Hari Great Being of Light! All, All, Garland, Garland

MASI MAHAHRDAYAM KURU KURU KARMAM

Core of the world! Make success! Success!

KURU KURU VIJAYATIMAHAVIJAYATIYATI

Triumphant success! Great Triumphant success!

DHARADHARA DHARIN SURAYA

Stand by, stand by firm, O Indra!

CHALA CHALA MAMA BHRAMARA MUKTIR

Shake! Shake! Liberate me from my mental disturbance!

EHI EHI CHINDA CHINDA HARSHAM PRACHALI

Come! Come! Listen! Listen! The joy that arise!

BASHA BASHAM PRESAYA HULU HULU MALA

Speak! Speak! Give the sigh! (Hulu Hulu Mala are words of invocation)

HULU HULU HILE SARA SARA SIRI SIRI SURU SURU

(Magical sounds of invocation)

BODHIYA BODHIYA BODHAYA BODHAYA

Awake! Awake! Be awakened! Be awakened!

MAITREYA NILAKANTHA DHARSHININA

O friendly! The one with the blue neck, Worthy of being seen!

PAYAMAMA SVAHA SIDDHAYA SVAHA MAHA SIDDHAYA SVAHA

To the fearless, svaha! To the Powerful, svaha! To the Great Powerful, svaha!

SIDDHAYOGESHVA RAYASVAHA NILAKANTHA SVAHA

To the powerful Lord of the Union svaha! To the one with the blue neck, svaha!

VARAHANANAYA SVAHA, SIMHASHIRA MUKHAYA SVAHA

To the one who looks like a wild boar, svaha! To Him with the lion’s face, svaha!

SARVAMAHASIDDHAYA SVAHA CHAKRASIDDHAYA SVAHA

To Him who holds all great powers, svaha! To Him who holds the power of the circle, svaha!

PADMAHASTYA SVAHA. NILAKANTHAVIKARAYA SVAHA

To the Holder of the Lotus, svaha! To the creator with the blue neck, svaha!

MAHASISHANKARAYA SVAHA

To the Great Seer and Benefactor, svaha!

NAMO RATNATRAYAYA

I take refuge in the Triple Gem

NAMO ARYAVALOKITESHVARAYA SVAHA

I take refuge in the Noble Lord-Seer svaha

OM SIDDHYANTU MANTRAPADAYA SVAHA

Om! May the success of this Mantra be achieved!

When the Bodhisattva Who Regards the World’s Sounds had finished speaking this Mantra, the great earth trembled and moved in six ways. The heavens rained forth jewelled flowers, which fell in colourful profusion. All the Buddhas of the ten directions were delighted, while the heavenly demons and externalists were so afraid their hair stood on end. Everyone in the entire assembly certified to the result. Some won the result of a stream-winner, some won the result of a once-returner, some won the result of a never-returner. Some won the result of an arhat, others attained to the first ground of a Bodhisattva, the second, third, fourth and fifth ground, even up to the tenth Bodhisattva ground. Countless living beings brought forth the Bodhi heart.

SPIRIT MANTRA FOR REBIRTH IN THE PURE LAND

Salutation to the Three Gems.

Salutation to the Lord Amitabha and Buddha who is arhat and perfectly Enlightened.

Thus we offer to the Imperishable One, the source of Immortality, Creator filled with Nectar, whose attainment is perfect. Who is embodiment of light, radiating nectar of immortality, while walking, emanating lustre all round the sky with the sound of drum of Enlightenment, fulfilment of all the paths and performer of unselfish actions.

Hail

NAMO AMITABHAYA, TATHAGATAYA!

TADYATHA, AMRITODHAVE, AMRITSIDDHE,

AMRITAVIKRANTE, AMRITAVIKRANTA-GAMINE,

GAGANA-KIRTIKARE! SVAHA!

 

The followings as above are excerpts from The Dharani Sutra.

Translated into English by:

Buddhist Text Translation Society

Dharma Realm Buddhist University, USA.

** Any typical error mistakes in the article is solely due to my negligence and carelessness and I wish to seek forgiveness if there is any mistake. May all who reads this article gain in wisdom and be well and happy. 

Back to Buddhism main page