Toh 626The Dhāraṇī for Assuaging Smallpox

An Exposition of the Scripture for Dispelling Smallpox

Background

The “Scripture for Dispelling Smallpox” (Toh 626) belongs to the Tantra section of the Tibetan Kangyur and represents a method of practice within the Vajrayāna tradition. In medieval Tibet, smallpox was a grave epidemic threat that caused mass mortality and left terrible lasting effects. These esoteric scriptures were composed to provide Buddhist means of practice for protecting communities from illness.

The scripture belongs to the Vajrayāna tradition, in which all phenomena are understood as manifestations of awakening. Illness is not an independent force but a result of causes and conditions; it can therefore be transformed through correct contemplation and the spiritual power of the tathāgatas and bodhisattvas.

Main Content

This scripture focuses on a dhāraṇī—a treasury-like formula of truth—regarded as the spiritual essence of a Buddha or bodhisattva capable of dispelling suffering and illness. In the esoteric tradition, a dhāraṇī is not merely a collection of mysterious words but a linguistic manifestation of the Buddha-mind, replete with transformative power (siddhi).

The practice of this dhāraṇī includes continuous recitation, the establishment of a profoundly compassionate intention, and the clear visualization of the sacred form of the relevant Buddha or bodhisattva. Practitioners do not merely repeat sounds; they must sustain the direct wisdom that all phenomena are empty (śūnyatā) and intrinsically lack self-nature (niḥsvabhāvatā).

Within the esoteric framework, smallpox is regarded as a manifestation of accumulated negative karma. Through the power of the dhāraṇī and pure contemplation, however, this negative karma can be purified, or at least its outbreak can be mitigated. Those who recite with single-pointed attention and limitless compassion directed toward all sentient beings can become instruments for conveying the blessings of the Buddhadharma to the community.