The Innermost Essence of the Noble Mañjuśrī’s Tantra
The Innermost Essence of the Noble Mañjuśrī’s Tantra (Mañjuśrī-nāma-saṃgīti), A Treasure Teaching (gTerma) of Guru Chöwang, Chökyi Wangchuk
The Innermost Essence of the Noble Mañjuśrī’s Tantra (Mañjuśrī-nāma-saṃgīti)
(‘phags pa ‘jam dpal gyi rgyud kyi yang snying)
A Treasure Teaching (gTerma) of Guru Chöwang, Chökyi Wangchuk (gu ru chos kyi dbang phyug, 1212-1270/73)
Extracted from Dhāraṇīs Which Condense the Essence of the Kangyur
Mantras for Scriptures from the Tibetan Buddhist Canon
(bka’ ‘gyur snying po bsdus pa’i gzungs bzhugs so)
Translated from the Tibetan by Erick Tsiknopoulos
In the Language of India Sanskrit: Arya Mañjuśrī Nāma Saṃgīti Arya Mañjuśrī Tantra Citta) (arya-mañjuśrī-nāma-saṃgīti arya-mañjuśrī-tantra-citta)1
In the Tibetan Language: P’akpa Jampel gyi Gyü kyi Yangnying (‘phags pa ‘jam dpal gyi rgyud kyi yang snying)
[In the English Language: The Innermost Essence of the Noble Mañjuśrī’s Tantra (The Innermost Essence of the Tantra of Noble Mañjuśrī)
HOMAGE TO MAÑJUŚRĪ!
“Thus in this way, the Buddha Bhagavān Mañjuśrī
Is the Awakened Body of Deep Wisdom, which is self-arisen2,
Is the single eye of Deep Wisdom, which is stainless;
Is the illumination of Deep Wisdom, which is radiant.”
The Essence Mantra is as follows:
[[[OṂ]]] A RA PA CA NA YA TE NAMA3
[[[Tibetan]] pronunciation:
[ONG] A RA PA TSA NA YA TE NAMA]
“To the one who is the Awakened Body of Deep Wisdom (jñānakāya), to you I bow.”
“The ultimate names of the Bhagavān Mañjuśrī, the Heroic Being of Deep Wisdom (jñānasattva), which are proclaimed by all Complete Buddhas, have been genuinely expressed.”
The Bhagavān, the Tathāgata Śākyamuni spoke those words; and at that, this discourse of his, with which accomplishment can be attained in one month, was complete.
[Colophon:] The Mahāguru Padmasambhava concealed this on a stairway to heaven in Lhodrak (lho brag). Afterwards, Guru Chökyi Wangchuk (gu ru chos kyi dbang phyug) revealed this hidden treasure.
Note: Although not explicitly stated, this text, and its Mantra, is intended to be a condensation or summary of the meaning of the Mañjuśrī-nāma-saṃgīti-tantra (‘jam dpal mtshan brjod).
(Translated from the Tibetan by Erick Tsiknopoulos, first in early April 2008, and then again on May 31st, 2018. Revised further on September 2nd, 2018.)
1 This text features two different “Sanskrit” (or probably Sanskritized) names, in two different published editions of the text, which were both used for this translation. That found in the first version, which describes this as being a condensation of the Mañjuśrī-nāma-saṃgīti, appears to be more accurate.
2 Or “naturally arisen” (rang byung ba)
3 In the first version I used, the Mantra includes the OṂ, while in the second version it does not (however its inclusion does make sense based on the similarity to Mañjuśrī‘s main Mantra, OṂ A RA PA CA NA DHĪḤ. Also, in the first version, TE is apparently written as DA.
