Toh 608The Dhāraṇī that Purifies All Hindrances

An Exposition of the Sarvāntarāyikaviśodhanī Dhāraṇī

Vajrayāna Tantra

Background

The Sarvāntarāyikaviśodhanī Dhāraṇī (The Dhāraṇī that Purifies All Hindrances) belongs to the Tantra section of the Kangyur and represents the Vajrayāna tradition that flourished in India from the eighth century onward. This scripture is not an abstract philosophical theory but an essential method of practice intended to eliminate all hindrances (antarāya) on the path to liberation.

In tantra, a dhāraṇī is not merely a prayer or chant. Dhāraṇīs are formulas of energy (mantra-dharma) filled with the power to transform consciousness, transmitted from the Buddhas and bodhisattvas through lineage masters to practitioners. A dhāraṇī is regarded as a manifestation of the Buddha’s immeasurable wisdom and compassion condensed into sacred sounds. The use of a dhāraṇī requires an appropriate empowerment from an experienced teacher.

Main Content

The scripture’s title itself clearly states its purpose: to purify all hindrances. In tantric language, “hindrances” (antarāya) are not limited to material difficulties or prolonged illness. They include deep mental impediments: greed, hatred, delusion, pride, doubt, and negative influences arising from past karma. In particular, tantra recognizes that these hindrances do not exist solely within an individual’s mind but are also produced by external energies called “obstacle makers” (vighnakara)—indeterminate forces believed to obstruct diligent practice.

The principal practice in this scripture is the recitation of the dhāraṇī with a profound understanding of the empty nature (śūnyatā) of all phenomena.