千手千眼觀世音菩薩治病合藥經

At that time the Buddha said to Ānanda: "This Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva has spoken the Vast, Great, Perfect, Unobstructed, Great Compassionate Mind Dhāraṇī (Mantra), true and without falsehood. If there is a group of people who, having prayed, wish to invoke Avalokiteśvara the Sovereign Bodhisattva Mahāsattva, then take Cuṅgula incense, recite the mantra over it 21 times and burn it, and Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva will at once come (Cuṅgula incense is benzoin incense).

If a person is afflicted by a Hoạnh ghost (a tyrannical, wayward ghost), then take Nirliṭana, burn it to ash, mix it with clean mud, and mold it into the form of the Hoạnh ghost. Before the image of the Thousand-Eyed One, take a knife of tempered steel, recite the mantra over it 108 times, then cut the figure into segments, cutting it into a full 108 pieces. Then call out that ghost's name and command it; once it has been commanded, the sick person recovers and is no longer possessed by the ghost (Nirliṭana is the skull-bone of a cat).

If a person is harmed by Gu poison (Cổ Độc), then take Kapūra incense mixed with Cuṅgula incense in equal measure. Take one peck of fragrant well-water (Tỉnh Hoa Thủy / flower-water of the well), mix it with the incense above, then boil and decoct it down to half a measure, remove the dregs and take the concentrated liquid. Before the image of the Thousand-Eyed One, recite the mantra over it 108 times and the illness will be cured (Kapūra incense is camphor incense).

If a person is bitten by a venomous snake or scorpion, then take large and small fragments of aged ginger (dried ginger / Càn khương), recite the mantra over them seven times, then apply them to the wound, and it will be removed at once.

If a person is targeted by evil enemies who use wicked words and scheme together to cause harm, then take clean earth, or flour, or discarded beeswax, and make the form of that evil person. Before the image of the Thousand-Eyed One, take a knife of tempered steel, recite the mantra over it 108 times—with each recitation make one cut, and with each cut call out that person's name—burning all 108 segments. That person will then joyfully reform themselves, and they will cherish, love, and respect one another with no more hatred.

If a person has an eye disease in which the pupil is damaged, or is blind, or sightless in darkness, or the eye is filmed with white opacity, or the eye is drawn with a red membrane so that it cannot see light: take haritaki fruit, āmalaka fruit, and bibhitaki fruit. Of these three kinds, take one of each, pound them so that the oil runs down, then sift and grind them. While making it, only keep it clean (pure protection); do not let a woman who has just given birth, nor a dog, see it; in the mouth recite the Buddha's name, then mix it with white honey and the essence of human milk and apply it within the eye.

That essence of human milk must be the milk of a mother who has borne a son, or the milk for a daughter. When the medicine is made, after mixing it, return before the image of the Thousand-Eyed One and recite the mantra over it 1008 times. Carefully avoid drafts within the chamber, the five pungent herbs, and all impure things, and the pupil will become bright again, filled with pure, clear light.

If a person is made ill by a Ngược ghost (a ghost that causes malarial fever), then take the hide of a tiger, leopard, or wolf, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then drape it over the body and the illness will be cured. The hide of a lion is supreme.

If a person is bitten by a snake, take the hardened earwax of the one who was bitten, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then smear it on the wound and it will be cured (Kết ninh is the wax that hardens inside the ear-hole; it is the excretion of the ear).

If a person is afflicted by a virulent malarial fever that has entered the heart, delirious and on the verge of death: take one lump of the resin of the peach tree, large or small as a very large peach, mix it with one measure of clean water, then decoct it down to half a measure, recite the mantra over it 7 times, then quickly give it all to drink and the illness will be cured. Do not let a woman decoct this medicine; while making it, keep it pure and protected. As a rule, when making any of these medicines, do not employ a person who is unproven.

If a person is made chronically ill by the lurking energy of a Truyền Thi ghost (corpse-transmitting ghost): take Cuṅgula incense, recite the mantra over it 21 times, burn it, and fume it into the nostrils. Also take 7 pellets each the size of a Thố Thất Đại, recite the mantra over them 14 times, then swallow them and one will be cured; carefully avoid wine and meat, the five pungent herbs, and vicious cursing. Also take Manaḥśilā mixed with white mustard seed, press it into grains of salt, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then burn it beneath the sick person's bed.

The body of the ghost causing the illness will then be torn apart, and the ghost will flee away, not daring to remain [Manaḥśilā is realgar. White (white mustard seed) is purity; pressing it into grains of salt is auspiciousness].

If a person is afflicted with Thiên Phong (hemiplegic wind), paralyzed on one side, with the ears and nose blocked and the hands and feet inconvenient to use: take fir oil and Mộc Nội incense, decoct them, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then rub and wipe it on the body and the illness will be completely cured. Also take pure ghee, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then rub it on the body and the illness will heal.

If a woman has a difficult delivery, take sesame oil, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then rub it on the navel and the jade gate (vulva) of the woman in labor. Or have her swallow it, and she will give birth easily.

If a woman is pregnant but the child has died within the womb: take a large quantity of A-Bà-Mạt-Lợi grass, mix it with two measures of water, boil it and remove the dregs, take one measure of the concentrated liquid, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then give it to drink, and the fetus will come out without pain. If the fetus does not come out, drinking this medicine will also bring it forth and cure the illness (A-Bà-Mạt-Lợi grass is achyranthes / Ngưu Tất grass).

If a person suffers unbearable heart pain—this is the Đạo Thi Chú (corpse-robbing curse): take Đỗ-Lỗ incense the size of a nipple as one pellet, recite the mantra over it 21 times, hold it in the mouth and keep it at the throat, regardless of amount, then have them spit it out and it will be cured. Carefully avoid the five pungent herbs, wine and meat, oily things, all impure things, and sexual intercourse (Đỗ-Lỗ incense is frankincense incense).

If a person is burned by fire into a sore, take hot Gomaya, recite the mantra over it 14 times, then rub it on the sore and it will be cured (Gomaya is the dung of a black ox).

If a person is bitten by worms or insects so that the heart aches: take half a measure of Cốt-Lỗ-Mạt-Già, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then drink it and it will be cured. If the illness is severe, take one measure, and the worms will coil up like a cord and pour out, and the illness will be cured (Cốt-Lỗ-Mạt-Già is the dung of a white horse).

If a person suffers from Hạ Sang (a downward sore), pound and grind the leaves of the trumpet creeper (Lăng Tiêu) to take the concentrated juice, recite the mantra over it 21 times, and at night lying down apply it within the eye and it will be cured. If needed, use the concentrated essence of a white mare (Bạch Mẫu Mã Thất), recite the mantra over it 21 times, and as above it will cure the illness (Cốt-Lỗ-Đát-Khư is fresh donkey dung).

If a person suffers from pain within the abdomen, take fragrant well-water mixed with two grains of salt, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then drink half a measure and the illness will be cured.

If a person has red eyes with an excess of flesh in the eye and a film drawn over it: pound and crush the leaves of Xa-Nhĩ to take the concentrated juice, recite the mantra over it 7 times, then soak a new copper coin in it for one night; afterward recite the mantra over it 7 times, apply it within the eye and it will be cured (Xa-Nhĩ leaves are goji / Câu Kỷ leaves).

If a person is afraid at night, terrified and unsettled, startled coming and going: take white thread to make a cord, recite the mantra over it 21 times, tie 21 knots, then bind it on the neck and the fear will be removed. Not only will the fear be removed, but one will also gain blessings, extinguish offenses, and have a long life.

If a person within a household suddenly meets with disaster: take branches of the pomegranate tree, cut them into a thousand segments (? 1008 segments), dip both ends in butter, curds, and honey. With each recitation of the mantra make one burning; when 1008 recitations are complete, all disasters will be entirely extinguished. It is essential to do this before the image of the Thousand-Eyed One.

If one takes white sweet flag (Bạch Xương Bồ), recites the mantra over it 108 times, then binds it on the right arm, one will be victorious in all situations of listening and debate.

If one takes Xa-Diệp leaves, or cuts a tree branch one inch long, dips both ends in ghee, white honey, and curds, and with each recitation of the mantra makes one burning, completing 1008 segments—each day separately at three times of day, each time separately 108 recitations—when seven days are fulfilled, the Mantra Master will awaken of himself and gain thorough comprehension.

If a person wishes to subdue the great and powerful ghosts and spirits, take seeds of A-Lợi-Sắt-Ca, recite the mantra over them 21 times, then burn them in fire; one also needs butter, curds, and honey, and it is essential to do this before the image of the Compassionate One (? the Greatly Compassionate One) [A-Lợi-Sắt-Ca seeds are soapberry / Mộc Hoạn Tử].

If one takes a large quantity of Hồ-Lô-Già-Na, puts it in a vaiḍūrya (lapis lazuli / beryl) flask, places it before the image of the Greatly Compassionate One, and recites the mantra over it 1008 times, then all the devas, nāgas, ghosts and spirits, humans, and non-humans will rejoice (Hồ-Lô-Già-Na is gorocana / Ngưu Hồng).

If a person is bound in cangue and fetters, take Bạch Lĩnh Thất (? the dung of a white dove), recite the mantra over it 108 times, then smear it on the palm of the hand and rub it on the cangue and fetters, and they will release of themselves at once.

If a husband and wife are in discord, like water and fire, take the tail feathers of mandarin ducks (uyên ương), before the image of the Greatly Compassionate One recite the mantra over them 1008 times, then wear them on the body, and that husband and wife will then be joyful their whole lives long, loving and respecting one another.

If a person's rice fields, tender seedlings, and the five kinds of fruit are eaten by worms and insects: take clean sand-ash, recite the mantra over it 1008 times, then scatter it on the four sides of the field, and the worms and insects will retreat and disperse. If there are fruit trees, also recite the mantra over water 108 times, up to 1008 times, and sprinkle it on the trees, and the worms and insects will not dare to eat or harm the fruit.

If a person encounters a ghost so that they are struck mute, vomiting senselessly, with their complexion about to die: take small fragments of amber and jade, recite the mantra over them 108 times, and give them with wine to drink. Also take the concentrated essence of Cốt-Lỗ-Vạn-Dị, recite the mantra over it 14 times and have them drink it; further, draw a ghost-spirit on that person's forehead, recite the mantra 1008 times, and the illness will be cured (Cốt-Lỗ-Vạn-Dị is the dung of a white horse).

If a person is injured by hot water (scalded): take tree-ash mixed with water, recite the mantra over it 21 times, make it into a mud and rub it on the wound, three times a day. Also recite the mantra 21 times over hot Gomaya and rub it on the wound, and it will be cured.

If a person eats some domestic animal and is poisoned by it, the heart distressed and longing for death: take one measure of clean earth mixed with three measures of water, then boil and decoct it down to one measure of concentrated liquid, recite the mantra over it 21 times, and have them drink it, and it will be cured.

If a person suffers from swellings (sinews and flesh swollen up) and abscesses, pound and grind the leaves of Vu-Diệp mixed with clear wine, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then rub it on the abscess and it will be cured.

If a person has an evil abscess that has entered the abdomen so that they long for death: burn Gomaya mixed with wine, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then rub it on the abscess, and also order them to drink it, and it will be cured.

If a person's nose pours forth a profusion of blood so that they long for death: take fresh Bồng-Lai (? fresh mugwort grass and Lai grass), mix it with water, boil and decoct it to take the concentrated liquid, regardless of amount, recite the mantra over it 21 times and have them swallow it, and life will be preserved (? the illness cured).

If a person suffers from bloody dysentery, take the resin of the peach fruit, the size of a millet grain, recite the mantra over it 21 times and have them swallow it, and the illness will be cured.

If a person has a dry cough, take one measure of peach kernels, warm them over fire, mix them with maltose, recite the mantra over it 108 times, then quickly have them drink it all, doing this 12 times, and the illness will be cured.

If a person has an itching anus, take a tiny fragment of Thảo-Triền-La fruit mixed with sugar, recite the mantra over it 108 times, then smear it on the anus, three times a day, and the illness will be cured (Thảo-Triền-La fruit is Thố-Mịch-Tử).

If a person's bowels do not move, take two measures of mallow seeds (Quỳ Tử) mixed with four measures of water, boil and decoct it down to one measure of concentrated liquid, recite the mantra over it 21 times and give it to drink several times, and the bowels will move.

If a person cannot pass urine, strain Gomaya to take the concentrated liquid, recite the mantra over it 21 times and have them drink it, and it will be cured (Gomaya is the dung of a young bull-calf).

If a person cannot pass urine, take the fine dust on the ridgepole beam within the chamber, with three fingers take a pinch and mix it with clear water, recite the mantra over it 21 times, drink it, and the illness will be cured.

If a person suddenly passes urine many times, or in dribbles too frequent to count, take one quantity of trichosanthes root (Quát Lâu) mixed with three measures of clear water, boil and decoct it, strain it to take half of the concentrated liquid, recite the mantra over it 21 times or 108 times, then quickly give it to drink and it will be cured.

If a pregnant woman becomes ill, take five measures of small beans, decoct them down to three measures; take one peck of clear water and decoct it to obtain three measures of concentrated liquid, then divide it in two and give it to drink, and the illness will be cured, and she will give birth in peace and joy.

If a woman has the calamity of a breech birth and is about to die, take one measure of mugwort grass and Lai grass, use three measures of water to boil it down to one measure, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then have her drink it, and she will give birth easily without illness.

If a child cries at night (Dạ Đề) and cannot sleep peacefully, write the character "ghost" (鬼) beneath that child's eyes, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then blow upon it, and the child will sleep peacefully.

If a child breaks out in sores on the head, take Cồ-Ma-Ma-Giác-Tai, burn it into fine dust, mix it with Trư Thử, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then rub it on the sores, and the illness will be cured (Bán Giác trung tử).

If a child's tongue is swollen so that it cannot suckle, take the concentrated essence of Đông-Phương-Thừa, recite the mantra over it 108 times, then rub it on the tongue, and it will be cured at once.

If a child develops sores in the mouth so that it cannot eat, take lotus root (Hồng Liên), pound it, sift it so that it falls down, then mix it with the milk of a mother who has borne a son, recite the mantra over it 21 times, then rub it on the sores, and it will be cured.

At that time Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva Mahāsattva said to the great assembly: "If, at the time when the Tathāgata enters Parinirvāṇa, in the age of the Final Dharma (Mạt Thế), sentient beings come to have 'mugwort-mouths' (mouths like mugwort grass), then diseases and afflictions will respond in immeasurable number. For this very reason, I now speak these healing treatments, which are likewise so.

"Or there may be bhikṣus, bhikṣuṇīs, upāsakas, upāsikās, good men, and good women—if any can uphold and practice this Dharma of healing treatment to rescue the suffering of sentient beings, you should know that this is none other than a manifestation-body of Me, who with the Mind of Great Compassion rescues sentient beings; I shall come to that place and perform the various rites so that there is superior efficacy. That person upholds the Great Compassionate Mind, the Wondrous and Sovereign Dhāraṇī Chapter-Phrases that follow the mind freely, and can rescue the suffering of the world. That person is the same as I, no different from My own self.

"If there is a man or woman of pure faith who can uphold this Dhāraṇī Mantra for Rescuing Suffering, keeping the protective Dharma that shields the world—though they treat the various illnesses, because they use a mind of loving-kindness, they should single-mindedly answer with the mantra 108 times. By the power of Avalokiteśvara, they will not be tainted or attached.

"If there are sentient beings who can uphold My Dharma, then at the very moment of that person's death, I will swiftly come to receive and welcome them, with boundless music, riding upon a precious cloud-carriage, swiftly causing them to be reborn in the World of Peace and Bliss, born by transformation within a lotus flower, and before long they will become a Buddha."

At that time Śākyamuni Buddha praised Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, saying: "Excellent! Excellent, Great Being! Thus it is! Thus it is! It is as you have said. If there is a practicing good man or good woman who bestows even one portion of medicine in charity upon a person afflicted with illness, then in the present they will gain blessings and extinguish offenses; in future lives they will receive blessed recompense without end, life after life, kalpa after kalpa, receiving a body free of illness, enjoying every comfort and bliss. Among humans and in the heavens, they will receive every superior benefit. Among humans and in the heavens, they will be granted immeasurable lifespan, and before long they will attain the Way."

At that time the great assembly within the gathering—the host of Bodhisattva Mahāsattvas, Brahmā, Śakra, the Four Heavenly Kings, devas, nāgas, yakṣas, the various spirits, ghost-kings, humans, and non-humans—hearing what the Buddha had spoken, all greatly rejoiced, believed and accepted it, bowed their heads in reverence, dedicated the merit, and reverently practiced it.

THE THOUSAND-HAND THOUSAND-EYE AVALOKITEŚVARA BODHISATTVA

SUTRA ON TREATING ILLNESS AND COMPOUNDING MEDICINE (End)