觀自在菩薩大悲智印周遍法界利益眾生薰真如法

Relying upon the Sacred Decree of Vairocana Buddha, I shall speak of the Dharma of the Mahā Jñāna (Great Wisdom) Mudrā (Seal) of Avalokiteśvara. If a practitioner of Yoga wishes to be reborn in the World of Ultimate Bliss (Sukhāvatī) in the West in order to bring benefit to sentient beings, he should follow an Ācārya endowed with the Heat of Wisdom (the warmth of Wisdom), receive the ritual method of the Lotus Vajra, extensively set forth offerings, and perform the practice of recitation. Within the Maṇḍala Altar, place an incense brazier; that incense brazier wholly encompasses the all-pervading characteristic of the Dharma Realm of Avalokiteśvara.

What is used as the Characteristic? That is, this Incense Seal should be made into the letter HRĪḤ (猭), which signifies the Principle that "the Activity of Wisdom cannot be attained," gathering in the four kinds of meanings—HA (成), RA (先), I (珂), AḤ (珆)—combined together into one letter, which is the Sanskrit letter HRĪḤ (猭).

The letter HA (成) means that all dharmas as CAUSE cannot be attained.

The letter LA (先) means pure, without defilement.

The letter I (珂) means that Sovereign Mastery cannot be attained.

The letter AḤ (珆) means that originally there is neither arising nor cessation.

Originally there is neither arising nor cessation; sovereign mastery cannot be attained; pure, without defilement; all dharmas as CAUSE cannot be attained. This is the reverse meaning. The forward and reverse mutually correspond, revealing the text of the Incense Seal. Now I draw this diagram in order to signify it.

( Top: the Cause of all Buddhas cannot be attained, pure without defilement, sovereign mastery cannot be attained, sovereign mastery cannot be attained, originally neither arising nor ceasing, originally neither arising nor ceasing, sovereign mastery cannot be attained, pure without defilement, sovereign mastery cannot be attained, pure without defilement, pure without defilement, the Buddhas cannot be attained: bottom ).

This Wondrous Incense Seal is named the Great Compassion that Removes Suffering. Why is this so? Because, following the proper sequence, it is burned in order to reveal the TRUE Principle.

When the moment of complete burning is reached, it signifies that whether forward or reverse, all return to the Dharma of EMPTINESS. Therefore, what is to be contemplated is: From the single letter HRĪḤ (猭HRĪḤ) are born the five letters OṂ VAJRA DHARMA (湡向忝叻廕 OMÏ VAJRA DHARMA). Within each single letter are born immeasurable Gateways of Letters.

Each single Gateway of Letters transforms into all the bodies of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Each single Transformation Body pervades the entire Dharma Realm, bringing benefit to sentient beings. Precisely for this reason, the Practitioner attains immeasurable merit, perfectly fulfills the Siddhi, and, relying upon the empowerment of the Buddhas, in this very life the Practitioner attains peace and security without any obstacles—like the wondrous Lotus Flower, which all who behold it cherish and delight in.

Upon transforming this body, he is immediately reborn within the Lotus Flower of the Highest Grade in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, and possesses keen faculties, Wisdom, and Skillful Means. In this very life he meets the Buddha and attains the Dhāraṇī Name (the Name of Total Retention), undefiled by the realm of the world. In whatever place he is born, his body emits a subtle and wondrous fragrance that fills throughout the lands of the ten directions, and the sentient beings who are perfumed by it all realize NON-RETROGRESSION.

Such Merit cannot be fully described.

Upon the canopy above that incense brazier, one may engrave the letters VAJRA DHARMA (向忝叻廕); at the beginning add the letter OṂ (湡), making five letters (which may be arranged in the forward direction). In the very center of that canopy, one should set upright the form of the SAMAYA. Upon the single-pronged vajra, place an eight-petaled lotus flower beginning to bloom, with the five letters above encircling this Samaya.

The Samaya is the Form of the Original Vow. If one beholds this form and pays homage, single-mindedly reciting, one immediately realizes the LOTUS NATURE; therefore one who is born in the Land of Ultimate Bliss is not defiled by the realm of the world. Even should he come and go in the worldly realm to deliver sentient beings, he is like the Lotus Flower, undefiled by any impurities—all of this being due to the power of the ORIGINAL VOW made in past lives, by which he realizes this Fruit of the Realm.

Precisely for this reason, the Practitioner who establishes this Samaya form should single-mindedly recite and form the contemplation: "The incense smoke of that letter HRĪḤ (猭) forms this Samaya form. This form then becomes the bodily form of the Chief Deity (Bhagavān), signifying the Original Vow of the TIME OF CAUSE, and likewise becomes the form and color of the TIME OF FRUIT, which is the meaning of the Samaya. At the time of burning the incense, form the SEAL OF THE CHIEF DEITY and recite that Original Mantra and Seal—then accomplishment is attained."

The diagram of that canopy is like this image:

Having entered this Wheel (Cakra), all the way up to Unsurpassed Bodhi, if one wishes it to be unbroken, then constantly recite the Mantra.

However, for one who has not yet been able to abandon the Mind that grasps at conditions (clinging to Causes and Conditions), who has doubts and is indolent—he need only rely upon this Wondrous Seal, burning the incense of the group: Sandalwood (Candana), Wondrous Lotus, and so forth. Doing thus, each day performing the Dharma of BURNING INCENSE, it is accomplished, and one should ever constantly recite and uphold the Vajra Dharma Vidyā (the Vidyā Mantra of the Vajra Dharma). Why is this so? Because the meaning of the letters of the Mantra as above can all be revealed in this Incense Seal.

The ROOT SEAL is: with both hands form the Vajra Bond (Vajra-bandha), join the tips of the two index fingers like lotus petals, and press the two thumbs firmly together—this is complete. The Mantra is:

湡 向忝叻廕 猭

OṂ VAJRA DHARMA HRĪḤ

If a person upholds this single-syllable Mantra, then he is able to remove all calamities, disasters, and illnesses, and after the end of his life he will be born into the Highest Grade of the Land of Ultimate Bliss. Moreover, all that he seeks regarding Great Vows, both Worldly and World-transcending, will, as he upholds it, surely be accomplished—how much more so for one who practices according to this Teaching, who before long will perfectly fulfill all Siddhis.

THE WONDROUS INCENSE SEAL OF AVALOKITEŚVARA

( One Fascicle — End )