Toh 539[The Dhāraṇī for] Homage
Pāli / Sanskrit:[no Sanskrit title]
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An Exposition of the Dhāraṇī for Homage (Toh 539)
Background
The Scripture of the Dhāraṇī for Homage is principally a method of practice belonging to the Buddhist Kangyur, within the esoteric Vajrayāna section. It falls within the category of dhāraṇī—sacred formulas possessing the power to transform mind and cosmos, taught by buddhas and bodhisattvas to protect and liberate sentient beings.
In the esoteric Vajrayāna tradition, homage is not merely a conventional outward act but a sacred means—an action integrating mind, speech, and body to dissolve the boundary between the practitioner and the buddhas and bodhisattvas. When practitioners recite dhāraṇīs of homage, they perform a profound spiritual operation intended to awaken the buddha-nature within themselves.
Main Content
This scripture centers on specialized dhāraṇīs—sequences of sacred sounds and esoteric characters—used to practice homage with profound motivation. It is not merely an expression of respect but a method of cultivation intended to establish a direct connection between practitioners and the buddhas and bodhisattvas, particularly the awakened beings of esoteric realms of practice.
In Vajrayāna, the act of homage is understood in terms of the “Three Refuges” combined with the “three gates”—body, speech, and mind. When practicing according to this scripture, practitioners do not merely bow physically; they also contemplate that the recited words are intrinsically the voice of the mind of reality (dharmadhātu), and that their own ultimate nature is itself Buddha.
The dhāraṇīs in the scripture are “esoteric utterances” (mantras) or “true words” (vidyā) capable of activating elevated spiritual states, enabling the minds of sentient beings to make contact with successive levels of buddhas and bodhisattvas. Every syllable and every consonant is regarded as a form of the light of wisdom (jñāna-āloka), a manifestation of the infinite expanse of mind (dharmadhātu).
Significance for Practice
For monastics of the esoteric Vajrayāna tradition, the Scripture of the Dhāraṇī for Homage is a precious means of Dharma practice.
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