Toh 655The Dhāraṇī which Removes Hindrances

An Exposition of the Vighnavināyakadhāraṇī Sutra

The Dhāraṇī for Removing Hindrances

Context

The Vighnavināyakadhāraṇī Sutra (The Dhāraṇī for Removing Hindrances) belongs to the Kangyur—the Tantras of the esoteric Vajrayana tradition. It is a specialized Dharma method recorded among the esoteric texts of the Tibetan Buddhist treasury.

In the esoteric context, the concept of a “hindrance” (vighna) refers not only to material obstacles, but to all adverse conditions—both internal and external—that impede progress along the path of practice. These include psychological defeatism, adverse surroundings, illness, the malice of others, and especially mental distraction (vikṣipta-citta). This sutra was taught as a Dharma instrument for overcoming such obstacles through the power of the Buddha’s speech (śāstra-śabda).

The traditional esoteric approach emphasizes that a dhāraṇī is not merely a sequence of sounds, but a manifestation of perfected wisdom (prajñāpāramitā) condensed into individual syllables. Each syllable contains the entirety of the Buddha’s teaching.

Main Content

The structure of the Vighnavināyakadhāraṇī, according to the esoteric method, generally includes: (1) preparation of the mind through refuge (śaraṇa) and the aspiration for awakening (bodhicitta); (2) the invocation and visualization of protective deities, Buddhas, or bodhisattvas associated with the removal of hindrances; (3) recitation of the essential dhāraṇī while observing the correct rhythm and sounds; and (4) a conclusion with prayers of dedication.

In the Vajrayana tradition, Vighnavinayana, the deity who removes hindrances, is commonly visualized in a powerful form, often with a neat-featured face, wearing close-fitting garments and bearing symbols of the Dharma’s power. Reciting this dhāraṇī is not a passive supplication, but an activation of the practitioner’s own innate power through identification with the Buddha’s sacred mystery.