Difference between revisions of "How to Recite a Mantra"
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| − | At that time the great Brahma-king rose from his seat and arranged his attire. Joining his palms respectfully, he said to Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, “Very good! Great One, I have attended innumerable assemblies of the Buddha and have heard various kinds of Dharmas and various kinds of dhāraṇīs. Never have I heard such wonderful phrases as in this Hindrance-Free Great Compassion-Mind Dhāraṇī. Great One, please tell us the features and characteristics of this dhāraṇī. This large assembly and I would be delighted to hear them.” | + | At that [[time]] the great Brahma-king rose from his seat and arranged his attire. Joining his palms respectfully, he said to [[Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva]], “Very good! Great One, I have attended innumerable assemblies of the [[Buddha]] and have heard various kinds of [[Dharmas]] and various kinds of [[dhāraṇīs]]. Never [[have I heard]] such wonderful phrases as in this Hindrance-Free Great Compassion-Mind [[Dhāraṇī]]. Great One, please tell us the {{Wiki|features}} and {{Wiki|characteristics}} of this [[dhāraṇī]]. This large assembly and I would be [[delighted]] to hear them.” |
| − | : Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva said to the Brahma-king, “For the convenience and benefit of all sentient beings, you ask me this question. Now hearken well! I will briefly tell you all a few of them.” | + | : [[Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva]] said to the Brahma-king, “For the convenience and [[benefit]] of all [[sentient beings]], you ask me this question. Now hearken well! I will briefly tell you all a few of them.” |
| − | : Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva said, “They are the great loving-kind, compassionate mind, the equality mind, the asaṁskṛta mind, the no-attachment mind, the emptiness-seeing mind, the reverent mind, the humble mind, the unflustered mind, the not-taking-wrong-views mind, and the unsurpassed bodhi mind. You should know that such minds are the features of this dhāraṇī. Accordingly you should cultivate yourselves.” | + | : [[Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva]] said, “They are the great loving-kind, [[compassionate]] [[mind]], the equality [[mind]], the [[asaṁskṛta]] [[mind]], the no-attachment [[mind]], the emptiness-seeing [[mind]], the reverent [[mind]], the humble [[mind]], the unflustered [[mind]], the not-taking-wrong-views [[mind]], and the [[unsurpassed]] [[bodhi]] [[mind]]. You should know that such [[minds]] are the {{Wiki|features}} of this [[dhāraṇī]]. Accordingly you should cultivate yourselves.” |
| − | ::—'''''Sūtra of the Vast, Perfect, Hindrance-Free Great Compassion-Mind Dhāraṇī of the Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva'''''<br/> '''Translated from the digital Chinese Canon (T20n1060, 0108a4–15) | + | ::—'''''[[Sūtra]] of the Vast, Perfect, Hindrance-Free Great Compassion-Mind [[Dhāraṇī]] of the Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye [[Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva]]'''''<br/> '''Translated from the digital {{Wiki|Chinese}} [[Canon]] (T20n1060, 0108a4–15) |
| − | The features of the Great Compassion-Mind Dhāraṇī are true for all the mantras pronounced by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. One would be wise to cultivate these features whether one recites a mantra, studies a sūtra, or carries on one’s daily life. | + | The {{Wiki|features}} of the Great Compassion-Mind [[Dhāraṇī]] are true for all the [[mantras]] pronounced by [[Buddhas]] and [[Bodhisattvas]]. One would be [[wise]] to cultivate these {{Wiki|features}} whether one recites a [[mantra]], studies a [[sūtra]], or carries on one’s daily [[life]]. |
| − | : Those who have contact with Tibetan Tantrism may have some concern about receiving | + | : Those who have [[contact]] with [[Tibetan]] [[Tantrism]] may have some [[concern]] about receiving “[[transmission]]” of a [[mantra]] from a “highly [[realized]]” [[lama]], vested with the authority of a certain [[lineage]]. This has never been a problem in the [[Mahāyāna tradition]]. First, the [[Buddha]] has always instructed us to do our best to disseminate His teachings, including the [[mantras]]. Second, the [[aspiration]] to recite a [[mantra]] arises from one’s own [[Buddha]] [[mind]], one’s [[root lama]]. Can one find a [[lama]] higher than the [[Buddha]] or one’s own [[Buddha]] [[mind]]? Given the [[mantra]] texts, one can [[feel]] authorized to enjoy [[mantra recitation]] with a [[peaceful]] and grateful [[mind]], in addition to those [[minds]] taught by [[Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva]]. |
| − | : A mantra has boundless meanings if the meanings of the words are not known. However, some of the mantra words are well known to Buddhist students, and this knowledge by no means diminishes the power of the mantra. To look up the meaning of a mantra word, you can use the Monier-Williams Sanskrit Dictionary. Some mantra words are compound words, each formed with two or more words according to the Sanskrit rule of pronunciation. The component words of each compound word are given below each mantra. | + | : A [[mantra]] has [[boundless]] meanings if the meanings of the words are not known. However, some of the [[mantra]] words are well known to [[Buddhist]] students, and this [[knowledge]] by no means {{Wiki|diminishes}} the power of the [[mantra]]. To look up the meaning of a [[mantra]] [[word]], you can use the {{Wiki|Monier-Williams}} [[Sanskrit]] {{Wiki|Dictionary}}. Some [[mantra]] words are compound words, each formed with two or more words according to the [[Sanskrit]] rule of pronunciation. The component words of each compound [[word]] are given below each [[mantra]]. |
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
Revision as of 11:49, 19 October 2013
At that time the great Brahma-king rose from his seat and arranged his attire. Joining his palms respectfully, he said to Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, “Very good! Great One, I have attended innumerable assemblies of the Buddha and have heard various kinds of Dharmas and various kinds of dhāraṇīs. Never have I heard such wonderful phrases as in this Hindrance-Free Great Compassion-Mind Dhāraṇī. Great One, please tell us the features and characteristics of this dhāraṇī. This large assembly and I would be delighted to hear them.”
- Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva said to the Brahma-king, “For the convenience and benefit of all sentient beings, you ask me this question. Now hearken well! I will briefly tell you all a few of them.”
- Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva said, “They are the great loving-kind, compassionate mind, the equality mind, the asaṁskṛta mind, the no-attachment mind, the emptiness-seeing mind, the reverent mind, the humble mind, the unflustered mind, the not-taking-wrong-views mind, and the unsurpassed bodhi mind. You should know that such minds are the features of this dhāraṇī. Accordingly you should cultivate yourselves.”
- —Sūtra of the Vast, Perfect, Hindrance-Free Great Compassion-Mind Dhāraṇī of the Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva
Translated from the digital Chinese Canon (T20n1060, 0108a4–15)
- —Sūtra of the Vast, Perfect, Hindrance-Free Great Compassion-Mind Dhāraṇī of the Thousand-Hand Thousand-Eye Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva
The features of the Great Compassion-Mind Dhāraṇī are true for all the mantras pronounced by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. One would be wise to cultivate these features whether one recites a mantra, studies a sūtra, or carries on one’s daily life.
- Those who have contact with Tibetan Tantrism may have some concern about receiving “transmission” of a mantra from a “highly realized” lama, vested with the authority of a certain lineage. This has never been a problem in the Mahāyāna tradition. First, the Buddha has always instructed us to do our best to disseminate His teachings, including the mantras. Second, the aspiration to recite a mantra arises from one’s own Buddha mind, one’s root lama. Can one find a lama higher than the Buddha or one’s own Buddha mind? Given the mantra texts, one can feel authorized to enjoy mantra recitation with a peaceful and grateful mind, in addition to those minds taught by Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva.
- A mantra has boundless meanings if the meanings of the words are not known. However, some of the mantra words are well known to Buddhist students, and this knowledge by no means diminishes the power of the mantra. To look up the meaning of a mantra word, you can use the Monier-Williams Sanskrit Dictionary. Some mantra words are compound words, each formed with two or more words according to the Sanskrit rule of pronunciation. The component words of each compound word are given below each mantra.
