Toh 664The Practice of the Dhāraṇī of Vasudhārā

An Exposition of the Scripture: The Practice of the Dhāraṇī of Vasudhārā

Background

This scripture belongs to the Tantra section of the Buddhist Kangyur in the Vajrayāna esoteric tradition. Vasudhārā is a female bodhisattva widely venerated in Northern Buddhist traditions, particularly Tibetan Vajrayāna. Her name means “Bearer of Wealth” or “Keeper of Treasures,” symbolizing the inexhaustible abundance of the Buddha’s teachings.

In Vajrayāna, female bodhisattvas such as Vasudhārā are not merely deities to whom supplications are addressed, but spiritual friends (mitra)—friends of wisdom who help sentient beings overcome suffering. This scripture was translated into Tibetan around the eighth or ninth century, when Vajrayāna flourished under the patronage of the Tibetan kings.

Main Content

This scripture centers on the mantra, or dhāraṇī, of Vasudhārā. In Vajrayāna, mantras are not ordinary words but powerful sounds believed capable of containing the complete wisdom of the buddhas and bodhisattvas. The mantra of Vasudhārā is recited for three purposes: first, to eliminate material and spiritual poverty; second, to accumulate merit and blessings; and third, to support the practice of the Vajrayāna paths.

The practice of this dhāraṇī generally includes preparing the mind through visualization, reciting the mantra a prescribed number of times, and cultivating the proper motivation. In Vajrayāna, there is no division between the real and the illusory or between mind and matter; therefore, reciting the mantra is a process that directly transforms consciousness, not an appeal to something external.

In this scripture, Vasudhārā is described not only in terms of material wealth, but also as the embodiment of stability (sthitita) and accumulation (uccaya)—spiritual qualities from which liberation arises. The scripture emphasizes that improvement in material and spiritual life proceeds in harmony and is not contradictory.