Lục Tự Thần Chú Kinh

Oṃ, ba kế đà na mạc

OṂ_ VĀKEDA NAMAḤ

(The Tibetan Esoteric tradition records this mantra as

OṂ_ VĀKYEDA NAMAḤ)

Now I wish to speak of the efficacy of the Six-Syllable Mantra of Manjushri. If someone who upholds this mantra wishes to attain accomplishment, whether eating milk porridge, or eating vegetables, or eating fruits, or drinking milk... one should partake of these foods. Three times each day one should bathe separately: after the fifth watch is the first time, after noon is the second time, and from after dusk to the beginning of night is the third time. At each of these three times one bathes once, and each time wears separate clean clothing; therefore one must have three clean garments prepared. Recite the mantra in full 100,000 times. This is the very first vehicle of service and offering to Manjushri.

Again, if one wishes to receive, uphold, and accomplish it, one should first paint an image of Manjushri. The method of painting the image is as follows: take a piece of fine white silk, not allowing any hair to be present, and do not cut the woven threads. Do not use glue boiled from animal hide; rather, use fragrant liquid extract to mix the colors for painting.

The image of Manjushri is seated in the lotus posture upon a lotus flower, the right hand forming the gesture of teaching the Dharma, the left palm turned upward and placed against the center of the chest. The body of the image is in the form of a youth, the color of pure gold; a white celestial garment covers below the navel, leaving the remaining parts of the body exposed. On the head is a celestial crown, and he wears jeweled ornaments. Armlets adorn the upper arms, and in every respect he is majestic.

In a small section on the left, paint the image of Avalokiteshvara, the body silver-white in color, with jeweled ornaments and garments adorned as usual, seated in the lotus posture upon a lotus flower, the left hand holding a white fly-whisk.

In a small section on the right, paint the image of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, the body golden in color, adorned with jeweled ornaments as usual, also seated upon a lotus throne, the right hand holding a white fly-whisk.

Above the image of Manjushri, on both sides in space, make one Suddhavasa deva on each side, holding a garland, with only half the body showing amid the clouds in the sky, the hands lowering the garland.

Below the image of Manjushri, on the right side, paint the person who receives and upholds the mantra, kneeling with the right knee on the ground, the hands holding an incense burner.

All around beneath the lotus upon which Manjushri sits, paint a pond of water. On both sides of the bodhisattva images, paint pointed mountains.

From the time the painter begins to paint until the painting is finished, each day he must receive the eight precepts, must not drink alcohol, and must wear clean clothing while painting.

If there is a stupa containing sharira relics, then place the image of Manjushri on the western side of the stupa, with the face of the image directed toward the west. If there is no stupa containing sharira relics, then place the image of Manjushri before oneself, with the face of the image directed toward the west. With all kinds of flowers, all foods and drinks, fruits, and so forth, make offerings three times a day.

Within the place of practice, use butter to light the lamps. That place of practice should be established in a quiet and secluded place, and only one person should provide what is needed. If, while in the place of practice, one is reciting the mantra, then for whatever incense, flowers, and other items are needed, one should only signal by snapping the fingers to ask for them, and should not speak aloud. Cut agarwood into pieces two finger-widths long, use turushka fragrant oil (storax incense), and smokeless charcoal from the khadira tree. If this is unavailable, use red sandalwood as a substitute.

Then take the agarwood and dip it into the oil mentioned above. Before the image, burn khadira charcoal in the fire throughout the night until the sign of dawn appears; then one will see Manjushri. All prayers will be completely fulfilled, except matters of sexual desire; apart from that, outwardly, nothing will run contrary to what is sought.

Again, there is a method. Before the image, cut sandalwood into pieces two finger-widths long, and burn them day and night as an offering. At that time Manjushri will immediately manifest his body and will speak the Dharma for that person. All illnesses in the body will be entirely removed, and one will attain mastery in the bodhisattva bhumi.

Again, there is a method. Before the image, use gomaya to smear and purify the ground, and scatter all kinds of famous flowers. The practitioner sits on one side within the place of practice that has been smeared and purified, and recites the mantra fully 108 times. After one month, one will gain intelligence and be able to retain all sutras and treatises.

Again, there is a method. Day by day, according to one’s mind, continually recite and do not forget; this will also cause the karmic retribution that one is definitely bound to receive to be extinguished.

Again, there is a method. If each day one can separately recite it 108 times, then at the time of death one will see Manjushri, and according to one’s heart’s aspiration one will be reborn.

Manjushri, for the benefit of sentient beings, has therefore briefly spoken a little of these efficacies.

SIX-SYLLABLE MANTRA SUTRA End