Toh 694The Dhāraṇī, The Essence of the Spell of Eleven-Faced Avalokiteśvara
Pāli / Sanskrit:Mukhaikādaśavidyāmantrahṛdayadhāraṇī
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Explanation of the Sūtra of the Dhāraṇī, the Essence of the Spell of Eleven-Faced Avalokiteśvara
Background
The Sūtra of the Dhāraṇī, the Essence of the Spell of Eleven-Faced Avalokiteśvara (Mukhaikādaśavidyāmantrahṛdayadhāraṇī) is an important text in the Vajrayāna esoteric tradition, recorded in the Kangyur—the collection of precious scriptures translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan. This work focuses on the practice of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva in his eleven-faced form—a special manifestation of this bodhisattva’s infinite compassion.
In esoteric Buddhism, a dhāraṇī—an incantation that contains merit—is not an ordinary prayer but a definitive sacred linguistic formula that helps the practitioner’s body, speech, and mind accord with the qualities of the honored deity. This scripture belongs to the category of essence dhāraṇīs (hṛdaya), meaning the most concise and concentrated incantations, which contain the entire essence of that sacred presence.
Main Content
The scripture focuses on transmitting a protective and liberating mantra associated with Eleven-Faced Avalokiteśvara. This eleven-faced form represents eleven manifestations of Avalokiteśvara’s compassion: compassionate sympathy, joyful compassion, fearless compassion, diligent compassion, and other faces symbolizing skillful instruction adapted to the differing dispositions of human beings.
The mantra in this scripture—regarded as the “essence,” or innermost core, of Avalokiteśvara’s power—is intended to awaken the profound compassionate spirit within the practitioner. Through single-minded recitation of this mantra, practitioners connect directly with Avalokiteśvara in order to eliminate afflictions, the suffering of illness, and obstacles upon the path to awakening. The scripture teaches that the heart of this spell is the very heart of Avalokiteśvara—pure, open, and without boundaries.
Significance for Practice
In esoteric practice, this scripture instructs practitioners in purifying the mind through visualization and recitation.
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