A VERSE IN PRAISE
of the Bodhisattva Who Regards the World’s Sounds
When hands and eyes that pierce the heavens and the great Dharani,
Shake the entire universe of three thousand worlds,
Those with and without affinities alike are gathered in taught,
As the universal compassion crosses over all in Jambudvipa.
THE SUTRA OF
THE VAST, GREAT, PERFECT, FULL, UNIMPEDED,
GREAT COMPASSION HEART DHARANI
OF THE
THOUSAND-HANDED, THOUSAND-EYED
BODHISATTVA WHO REGARDS THE WORLD’S SOUNDS
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 jeweled lion throne upon which he sat was adorned in purity with limitless varicolored mani-jewels, and a hundred jeweled 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 Boddhisattva, Empty Space Treasury Bodhisattva, Maitreya Bodhisattva, Universal Worthy Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, and others such as these, all Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas, great Dharma Princes who had been anointed on the crown.
Also with him were limitless, numberless, great Sound Hearers, all practicing 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 colored 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 rare and unheard-of appearance, arose from his seat, joined his palms, and with a verse, asked the Buddha who it was who had put forth such an appearance of spiritual penetration.
The verse runs:
Who on this day has realized right enlightenment,
Putting forth such great brilliant light?
The fields of the ten directions are all colored gold,
And three thousand world systems are also shining.
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 Honored 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 offenses, 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 fulfill all their longings. World Honored 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 Honored One and all the Buddhas approve."
The Bodhisattva Who Regards the World’s Sounds again addressed the Buddha, saying, “World Honored 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 Honored One, spoke this Vast, Great, Perfect, Full, Unimpeded, Great Compassion Heart Dharani. With his golden-colored 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 skillfull-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 disappear,
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.
After making these vows, you should recite MY NAME with a sincere heart and also recite singlemindedly the name of MY TEACHER, THE THUS COME ONE, AMITABHA. Afterwards, you should recite this Dharani, the Spiritual Mantra. To recite it A FULL FIVE TIMES in one evening is to wipe away your heavy offenses of hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of millions of aeons of BIRTH and DEATH.
The Bodhisattva Who Regards the World’s Sounds again addressed the Buddha, saying, “World Honored 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 the hand to rebirth in whatever Buddhaland they wish, according to their desire."
He further said to the Buddha. “World Honored 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 realize 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 realize the right enlightenment.
Should any living being who recites and holds the spiritual mantra of Great Compassion not obtain unlimited samadhis and eloquence, I vow not to realize the right enlightenment.
Should any living being who recites and holds the spiritual mantra of Great Compassion not obtain the 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.”
Merely cast out what is unwholesome and what is insincere. Should a Woman who dislikes her female body and wishes to become a Man recite the phrases of THE GREAT COMPASSION DHARANI and not change from a Female to a Male, I vow not to realize the right enlightenment. But if the slightest doubt is produced, the result will not follow.
If living beings usurp the food, drink, and possessions of the permanently dwelling, although a thousand buddhas appear in the world, they will not get to repent and reform. Should they repent, their offenses will not be eradicated. But now, to recite this spiritual MANTRA of GREAT COMPASSION is to wipe away even those offenses.
One who has usurped the food, drink, or possessions of the permanently dwelling should repent before the Masters of the ten directions; the offenses will then be wiped away. When one recites THE GREAT COMPASSION DHARANI, THE MASTERS of the ten directions come to guarantee that all offense-obstacles are completely wiped away. All heavy evil karmic offenses such as the ten evils, the five rebellious acts, slandering people, slandering the dharma, breaking the rules of pure eating, breaking the precepts, destroying Stupas or Temples, stealing from the Sangha, defiling pure Brahman conduct, all are completely eradicated. These is one exception: If one has doubt with regard to this Mantra, then even small offenses and light Karma will not be destroyed, how much the less the heavy Karma. Although heavy offenses are not destroyed, one may still plant the distant causes of Bodhi.
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 drowned 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:
MAHA KARUNA DHARANI
1. NAMO RATNATRAYÀYA
2. NAMO ARYA
3. AVALOKITÉSHAVARAYA
4. BODHISATTVAYA
5. MAHASATTVAYA
6. MAHA KARUNIKAYA
7. AUM!
8. SAVALAVATI
9. SUDHANATASYA
10. NAMASKRITTVA NIMAN ARYA
11. AVALOKITÉSHAVARA LANTABHA
12. NAMO NILAKANTHA
13. SRI MAHAPATASHAMI
14. SARVAD VATASHUBHAM
15. ASHIYUM
16. SARVASATTVA NAMO PASATTVA NAMO BHAGA
17. MABHATETU
18. TADYATHA
19. AUM! AVALOKA
20. LOKATE
21. KALATI
22. ISHIRI
23. MAHABODHISATTVA
24. SABHO SABHO
25. MARA MARA
26. MASHI MASHI RIDHAYU
27. GURU GURU GHAMAIN
28. DHURU DHURU BHASHIYATI
29. MAHA BHASHIYATI
30. DHARA DHARA
31. DHIRINI
32. SHVARAYA
33. JÁLA JÁLA
34. MÀMÀ BHÀMARA
35. MUDHILI
36. EHY EHY
37. SHINA SHINA
38. ALASHINBALASHÁRI
39. BASHÁ BHASNIN
40. BHARASHÁYA
41. HULU HULU PRA
42. HULU HULU SHRI
43. SARA SARA
44. SIRI SIRI
45. SURU SURU
46. BUDDHÀYA BUDDHÀYA
47. BODHÀYA BODHÀYA
48. MAITRIYÉ
49. NILAKANSTA
50. TRISA RANA
51. BHAYA MANE
52. SVAHA
53. SITAYA
54. SVAHA
55. MAHA SITAYA
56. SVAHA
57. SITAYAYE
58. SHVARAYA
59. SVAHA
60. NILAKANTHI
61. SVAHA
62. PRANILA
63. SVAHA
64. SHRISINHAMUKHAYA
65. SVAHA
66. SARVA MAHA ASTAYA
67. SVAHA
68. CHAKRA ASTAYA
69. SVAHA
70. PADMAKÉSHAYA
71. SVAHA
72. NILAKANTÉ PANTALAYA
73. SVAHA
74. MOPHOLISHAN KARAYA
75. SVAHA
76. NAMO RATNATRAYAYA
77. NAMO ARYA
78. AVALOKITÉ
79. SHAVARAYA
80. SVAHA
81. AUM! SIDDHYANTU
82. MANTRA
83. PATAYA
84. SVAHA
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 colorful 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.
At that time the Great Brahma Heaven King arose from his seat, arranged his robes, reverently joined his palms, and spoke to the Bodhisattva who Regards the World’s Sounds, saying, “Good indeed, Mahasattva. I have, in the past, attended countless Buddha-assemblies and heard various dharmas and Dharanis, but I have never before heard one like this Unimpeded Great Compassion Dharani with its spiritually wonderful phrases. I pray that the Mahasattva will speak to us about the style and appearance of this Dharani. The great assembly and I joyfully wish to hear.”
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