Thập Nhứt Diện Thần Chú Tâm Kinh

Thus have I heard. At one time, the Bhagavat was dwelling at the Bamboo-Mind Bodhimanda in Sravasti, together with a great assembly of 2,500 bhiksus and an immeasurable number of bodhisattva mahasattvas, with Bodhisattva Maitreya as their foremost. There were also immeasurable numbers of bhiksus, bhiksunis, upasakas, upasikas, devas, nagas, yaksas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, kumbhandas, pisacas, humans, nonhumans, and others. The great assembly surrounded him, reverently honoring and praising him, whereupon he taught the Dharma.

At that time, Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara, surrounded before and behind by immeasurable hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of vidyadhara rsis, went to the place where the Buddha was dwelling. Upon arriving, he bowed his head at the feet of the Blessed One, circumambulated him clockwise three times, withdrew to one side, sat down, and addressed the Buddha: “Blessed One! I possess a heart dharani called the Eleven-Faced Dharani.

It is endowed with great power and has been spoken by eleven kotis of Buddhas. I now wish to proclaim it for the benefit and happiness of all sentient beings: to cure every illness, extinguish every evil, halt every inauspicious event, dispel every evil dream, prevent every untimely death, cause those harboring evil intentions to become gentle and serene, bring peace and happiness to those afflicted by sorrow, reconcile those who bear enmity, eliminate every obstruction caused by maras and spirits, and fulfill every aspiration of the heart.

“Blessed One! I do not see any being in the world—whether a deva, Mara, Brahma, sramana, or brahmin—who, after using this dharani to protect his body and receiving, retaining, reading, reciting, writing, or circulating it, could be harmed by any calamity, demonic obstruction, blade, staff, poison, sorcery, spell, or magical art. Nor do I see that, after this dharani has been used to establish a boundary around any dwelling place, whether far or near, anyone could cross it and inflict harm, except where evil karma has definitively reached maturation.

Blessed One! From this one may know that this matter is indeed so. One should simply accept it with faith and should not engage in discriminative thought.

In this way, all calamities will certainly remain far away and be unable to approach. This heart dharani is praised and rejoiced in by all Buddhas, and remembered, preserved, and protected by all Tathagatas.

“Blessed One! I recall that, Ganges-sands of kalpas ago, a Buddha appeared in the world named Tathagata King of the Blazing Light of Merit, Whose Crown and Hundred-Lotus Eyes Are Unobstructed. At that time I was a great rsi, and I received this dharani from that Blessed One.

Upon receiving it, I beheld the Buddhas of the ten directions and immediately attained the forbearance of the non-arising of dharmas. One should therefore know that this dharani possesses great majestic power. Thus, if a good man or faithful good woman wishes to receive, retain, read, and recite this dharani, that person must be reverent, sincere, and mentally collected.

Every morning, that person should purify himself or herself according to the Dharma and recite this dharani 108 times. If one can do so, one will obtain ten supreme benefits in this life. What are the ten?

1 ) One’s body will always be free from illness.

2 ) One will always be embraced and accepted by the Buddhas of the ten directions.

3 ) One will have inexhaustible wealth, clothing, food, and necessities.

4 ) One will skillfully subdue enemies and be without fear.

5 ) One will cause venerable and noble persons to address one respectfully before one speaks.

6 ) Gu poison and malevolent spirits will be unable to harm one.

7 ) No blade or staff will be able to harm one.

8 ) Water will be unable to sweep one away and drown one.

9 ) Fire will be unable to burn one.

10 ) One will never suffer sudden death throughout one’s life.

_ One will also obtain four supreme meritorious benefits:

1 ) At the end of one’s life, one will behold the Buddhas.

2 ) At death, one will not fall into the evil destinies.

3 ) One will not die through peril or calamity.

4 ) One will be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

“Blessed One! I recall that ten Ganges-sands of kalpas ago, and even further beyond, a Buddha appeared in the world named Tathagata Wondrous Sound and Fragrance, Worthy One, Perfectly Enlightened One. At that time, I was a great householder, and I received this dharani from that Buddha. Upon receiving it, I transcended forty thousand kalpas of birth and death. By reciting and retaining this dharani, I also attained the Dharma gateway of liberation called the Great Compassionate Wisdom Treasury of the Buddhas and All Bodhisattvas. Through its power, I am able to rescue beings from every kind of suffering and calamity involving prisons, bonds, cangues, fetters, death sentences, fire, water, wind, robbers, Gu poison, sorcery, humans, and nonhumans.

“For this reason, I can serve all sentient beings as a refuge, protector, comfort, island, dwelling, and home. Through the power of this dharani, I gather in those burdened by evil karma accumulated throughout all kalpas, first causing raksasas and others to arouse loving-kindness and compassion, and afterward establishing them in anuttara-samyaksambodhi, unsurpassed perfect enlightenment.

“Blessed One! This dharani of mine possesses great power. If recited once, it can immediately extinguish the four root offenses and the five acts of immediate retribution without remainder, how much more so when one practices according to the teaching.

“Only one who has planted roots of virtue in the presence of hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of Buddhas can hear this dharani today, how much more so one who can receive and retain it and practice according to the teaching.

“If one can read, recite, receive, and retain this dharani by day and night, I shall cause all that person’s aspirations to be fulfilled according to his or her wishes.

“If, on each half-month observance, either on the fourteenth or fifteenth day, one observes the fasting precepts, purifies oneself according to the Dharma, fixes one’s mind upon me, and recites this dharani, one will transcend forty thousand kalpas of birth and death.

“Blessed One! Through this dharani, I possess a noble name that is difficult to hear. Suppose one person invokes the names of hundreds of thousands of kotis of nayutas of Buddhas, while another, for only a brief time, sincerely invokes my name: the merit of these two persons is equal. All who invoke my name will attain the stage of non-retrogression, leave behind every illness, be liberated from every obstruction and fear, and eliminate the evils of body, speech, and mind. How much more so one who can receive, retain, read, and recite the dharani I have taught and practice according to the Dharma. Know that this person will certainly obtain unsurpassed enlightenment as though receiving it in the palm of the hand.”

The Blessed One then praised Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, saying: “Excellent! Excellent, good man! For all sentient beings, you have aroused such great compassion and wish to reveal this great dharani.

“Good man! Through this skillful means, you can rescue all sentient beings from every illness, suffering, obstruction, calamity, fear, and evil of body, speech, and mind, and can even establish all sentient beings in anuttara-samyaksambodhi.

“Good man! I too rejoice in and accept your dharani. You may now proclaim it.”

Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara then rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt with his right knee upon the ground, and addressed the Buddha: “One who recites this dharani should say:

Homage to the Three Jewels.

Homage to the Tathagata King of Adornment, the Noble Ocean of Wisdom, Universally Illuminating Vairocana.

Homage to all Tathagatas, Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones.

Homage to the Greatly Compassionate Noble Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara.

Dat Diet Tha: Aun, dat la dat la, dia ly dia ly, do lo do lo, e tai phat tai, chiet le chiet le, bat la chiet le, bat la chiet le, cau to me, cau to ma phat le. E ly, nhi ly, chi ly, chi vi tri ly, xa la ma ba nai gia, thu da tat doa, mac ha ca lo ni ca, sa ha.

NAMO RATNATRAYÀYA

NAMAHÏ ÀRYA JNÕÀNA SÀGARA VAIROCANA VÝHA RÀJÀYA TATHÀGATÀYA ARHATE SAMYAKSAMÏBUDDHÀYA

NAMAHÏ SARVA TATHÀGATEBHYU ARHATEBHYAHÏ SAMYAKSAMÏBUDDHEBHYAHÏ

NAMAHÏ ÀRYA AVALOKITE’SVARÀYA BODHISATVÀYA MAHÀSATVÀYA MAHÀ KÀRUNÏIKÀYA

TADYATHÀ : OMÏ DHARA DHARA DHIRI DHIRI DHURU DHURU ITI VATI, CALE CALE, PRACALE PRACALE, KUSUME KUSUMA VALE IRI MIRI CIRI CITI JVALAM ÀPANÀYA ‘SUDDHASATVA MAHÀ KÀRUNÏIKA _ SVÀHÀ

“Blessed One! This is the Root Dharani. Anyone who recites it will obtain the supreme meritorious benefits described above.

Homage to the Three Jewels.

Homage to the Tathagata King of Adornment, the Noble Ocean of Wisdom, Universally Illuminating Vairocana.

Homage to all Tathagatas, Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones.

Homage to the Greatly Compassionate Noble Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara.

Dat diet tha: Ha Ha Ha Ha, E le, nhi le, chi le, ty le, khi le, tu le, sa ha.

(Recite the homage as in the preceding dharani.)

TADYATHÀ : HA HA HA HA IRI MIRI CIRI VIRI KIRI HIRI SVÀHÀ

“Blessed One! This is the Water-and-Robe Dharani, a dharani for empowering water and clothing. If one wishes to enter the bodhimanda, one should first bathe. Then recite this dharani over water 7 times and sprinkle it upon the body for purification. Also recite this dharani over one’s robe 7 times and then put it on.

Homage to the Three Jewels.

Homage to the Tathagata King of Adornment, the Noble Ocean of Wisdom, Universally Illuminating Vairocana.

Homage to all Tathagatas, Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones.

Homage to the Greatly Compassionate Noble Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara.

Dat diet tha: Tru lo, tru lo, ha ha ha ha, sa ha.

(The homage is as before.)

TADYATHÀ : SÙRU SÙRU HA HA HA HA SVÀHÀ

“Blessed One! This is the Incense-and-Lamp Dharani, a dharani for empowering incense and lamps. If one enters the bodhimanda and wishes to burn incense as an offering, one should first recite this dharani over the incense 7 times and then burn it. When one wishes to light a lamp, one should first recite this dharani over the oil 7 times and then light the lamp.

Homage to the Three Jewels.

Homage to the Tathagata King of Adornment, the Noble Ocean of Wisdom, Universally Illuminating Vairocana.

Homage to all Tathagatas, Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones.

Homage to the Greatly Compassionate Noble Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara.

Dat diet tha: Tu ly tu ly, dia ly dia ly, tu ly, dia ly, sa ha.

(The homage is as before.)

TADYATHÀ : SIRI SIRI DHIRI DHIRI SIRI DHIRI _ SVÀHÀ

“Blessed One! This is the Incense, Flower, and Garland Dharani. If one enters the bodhimanda to offer flowers, fragrance, and garlands, one should first recite the dharani over the flowers 7 times and then scatter them upon the honored image. Also recite this dharani over fragrant oil 7 times and use it to anoint the honored image. Also recite this dharani over a garland 7 times and use it to adorn the honored image.

Homage to the Three Jewels.

Homage to the Tathagata King of Adornment, the Noble Ocean of Wisdom, Universally Illuminating Vairocana.

Homage to all Tathagatas, Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones.

Homage to the Greatly Compassionate Noble Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara.

Dat Diet tha: Sa de sa de, tu dia tu dia, to tru to tru, sa ha.

(The homage is as before.)

TADYATHÀ : SATÌ SATÌ SITI SITI SUSÏU SUSÏU _ SVÀHÀ

“Blessed One! This is the Dharani for Presenting Offerings to the Buddha. If one wishes to offer food, drink, fruit, and so forth to the Buddha, one should first recite this dharani over them 21 times and then present them.

Homage to the Three Jewels.

Homage to the Tathagata King of Adornment, the Noble Ocean of Wisdom, Universally Illuminating Vairocana.

Homage to all Tathagatas, Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones.

Homage to the Greatly Compassionate Noble Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara.

Dat diet tha: Mat tu, dat tu, chiet ly chiet ly, ho lo ho lo, chu lo chu lo, to lo to lo, mau lo mau lo, sa ha.

(The homage is as before.)

TADYATHÀ : MASI DHASI CIRI CIRI HURU HURU CURU CURU SURU SURU MURU MURU SVÀHÀ

“Blessed One! This is the Firewood Dharani, a dharani for empowering firewood to be burned. If one wishes to employ the Root Dharani given above for any particular rite, one should first recite this dharani once over a piece of Xa De Hoa wood and use it to kindle the fire. Separately cut Xa De Hoa wood into 31 pieces, each one inch long. Soak them in curds, ghee, and honey and leave them overnight. Take up each piece in turn, recite the dharani once over it, and cast it into the fire until all have been burned. Afterward, perform whatever rite is required.

Homage to the Three Jewels.

Homage to the Tathagata King of Adornment, the Noble Ocean of Wisdom, Universally Illuminating Vairocana.

Homage to all Tathagatas, Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones.

Homage to the Greatly Compassionate Noble Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara.

Dat diet tha: E ly, nhi ly, ty ly, de ly, chi ly, tu ly, sa ha.

(The homage is as before.)

TADYATHÀ : IRI MIRI VIRI DHIRI KIRI HIRI _ SVÀHÀ

“Blessed One! This is the Boundary-Establishing Dharani. When one wishes to establish a boundary, one should first recite this dharani over water 7 times and sprinkle it in the four directions. Alternatively, recite it 7 times over mustard seeds or clean ashes and scatter them throughout the four directions. According to however far or near one mentally intends, a protected boundary will immediately be formed.

Homage to the Three Jewels.

Homage to the Tathagata King of Adornment, the Noble Ocean of Wisdom, Universally Illuminating Vairocana.

Homage to all Tathagatas, Worthy Ones, Perfectly Enlightened Ones.

Homage to the Greatly Compassionate Noble Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara.

Dat diet tha: Ty de ty de, de de de de, chi de chi de, phi de phi de, yet xa yet xa, bac gia pham, a loi gia ba lo chi de thap phat la, tap phoc ba phoc nam, sa ha.

(The homage is as before.)

TADYATHÀ : VITÏI VITÏI DHITÏI DHITÏI KITÏI KITÏI PÌTÏI PÌTÏI GACCHA GACCHA BHAGAVAN ÀRYA AVALOKITE’SVARA SVABHÀVANÀMÏ _ SVÀHÀ

“Blessed One! This is the Dharani for Inviting Me to Return to My Own Palace, a dharani used to invite Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara to return to his palace. When the rite has been completed and one wishes to invite me to return to my original palace, one should recite this dharani over water 7 times and sprinkle it in the four directions; I will then return.

“Blessed One! Although such dharanis require no prior establishment, they can nevertheless accomplish every kind of undertaking. If recited with utmost sincerity, there is nothing one wishes for that will not be obtained.

_ If one suffers from malaria, whether the fever occurs once a day or once every 2, 3, or 4 days; if one suffers an illness caused by spirits, bhutas, dakinis, pisacas, kataputanas, insanity-causing spirits, epilepsy-causing spirits, and so forth—all such illnesses can be cured by reciting this dharani over the patient 108 times.

_ If a person bears heavy obstructions, use a five-colored thread and tie a knot with each recitation of the dharani. After making 108 knots, tie it around the patient’s neck or arm. The person’s karmic offenses and obstructions will then be extinguished, and the illness will immediately be cured.

_ If one suffers from boils, swellings, limp and immobile sinews and flesh, pustules, abscesses, malignant tumors, leprosy, ringworm, or any kind of severe disease; if one has been wounded by a blade, arrow, spear, or long halberd; or if one has been bitten or stung by a snake, centipede, scorpion, or venomous bee—recite this dharani over the affected person 7 times, and the affliction will immediately be removed.

_ If a person bears severe obstructions, recite the dharani over yellow clay 7 times and apply it to the afflicted place; all suffering will then be removed.

_ If one suffers from warm-wind disease, hemiplegia, generalized wind disease, or a wind disorder causing deafness or nasal congestion, one should sincerely recite this dharani over the patient 108 times; the illness will then be cured.

_ If a person bears severe obstructions, boil oil or ghee with flowering-tree bark and costus root. Recite the dharani over it 7 times on each occasion, and then rub it upon the body, place drops in the ears or nostrils, or have the patient drink it; the illness will immediately be cured.

_ For every other kind of illness, one should sincerely use this dharani, either reciting it oneself or reciting it over another, and the illness will be removed.

“Blessed One! If one wishes to establish this dharani, one must use hard, fine white sandalwood without cracks to carve an image of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara half a cubit high. The left hands hold a red lotus and a kundika.

The raised right arms hold prayer beads and form the fearlessness-granting gesture. Thus, there are four hands. Fashion the image with eleven faces.

The three front faces should bear compassionate expressions; the three faces on the left should be wrathful; the three faces on the right should show white fangs protruding upward; the single face directly behind should bear a ferocious, great-laughing expression; and the face at the crown should be the face of a Buddha. In each crown upon the heads, fashion the body of a Buddha. The entire body of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara should be furnished with necklaces and every kind of adornment.

“After making this image, one who wishes to pray for fulfillment should put on new, clean robes and observe the fasting precepts. From the first through the eighth day of the waxing moon, recite this dharani 108 times or immeasurable times during each of the three periods of every day. Thereafter, in a quiet place, spread a clean seat and install the completed image of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara facing west.

According to one’s ability, arrange and present various foods and drinks. Burn only agarwood incense and storax incense. The practitioner should consume barley and milk.

Continue reciting as before until the thirteenth day. Thereafter, arrange twice as many offerings as before. The practitioner should consume the three white foods: milk, curds, and porridge.

Kindle a fire of bodhi-tree wood before the image. Cut more of this wood into 1,008 pieces, each one inch long, and soak them in Do Lo Sac Ca oil. Take up each piece in turn, recite the dharani once, and cast it into the fire until all have been burned.

At that time, the great earth will sway and quake, and the body of the image will also begin to move. From the mouth of the highest face, a voice will praise the practitioner, saying: ‘Excellent! Excellent, good man!

You have undergone such diligent hardship in making your prayer. I shall cause your aspiration to be fulfilled. I shall enable you to rise from here and travel through the sky, or enable you to roam without obstruction, or make you a king among the vidyadhara rsis, or enable you, like me, to exercise mastery without obstruction.’

“Furthermore, on the fifteenth day of the waxing moon, the practitioner may place this image of Eleven-Faced Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Eka da’sa Mukhe Avalokite’svara bodhisatva) within a caitya containing Buddha-dhatu, put on new, clean robes, observe the fasting precepts, and abstain from food and drink for one day and one night. Take 1,008 sumana flowers. One by one, recite the dharani once over each flower and cast it upon the image until all have been offered.

At that time, from the mouth of the face directly in front will come a sound like the roar of thunder, causing the great earth to quake. The practitioner should then steady his mind and not become afraid. He should recite the dharani and request his aspiration, saying: ‘Homage to the Greatly Compassionate Noble Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara.

When shall I be able to become a great refuge for all sentient beings and fulfill the heartfelt aspirations of all sentient beings?’

“Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara will then grant that aspiration. At the very moment it is granted, devas and nagas will be unable to create obstructions.

_ Furthermore, during a lunar eclipse, the practitioner should take one liang of ghee, fill a silver vessel with it, and place it before this image. Recite this dharani until the moon is fully restored to its former state, and then consume the ghee. There will be no illness in the body that is not cured.

_ Furthermore, the practitioner should take equal quantities of orpiment and realgar, place them before this image, and recite this dharani 1,008 times. Mix them with water and mark the point between the eyebrows; the three accomplishments previously described will be attained. If they are mixed with warm water and used to bathe the body, every obstruction, evil dream, and illness will be removed.

_ Furthermore, if enemy invaders from another region intend to attack, take a piece of rouge, recite this dharani over it 108 times, and apply it as adornment to this image. Turn the wrathful left face directly toward the enemy, and the enemy army will be unable to advance.

_ Furthermore, if humans and livestock within a country are afflicted by an epidemic, kindle a fire of neem wood before this image. Separately cut more of that wood into 1,008 pieces, each one inch long. Take each piece in turn, coat it with mustard oil, recite the dharani over it once, and cast it into the fire until all have been burned. Then take a bright-red thread and make 7 dharani knots, tying one knot with each recitation, and suspend it from the crown of the uppermost Buddha face. This will cause the epidemic to be entirely eliminated. After the epidemic has been eliminated, remove the empowered thread.

_ Furthermore, if a person is made ill by dakinis, bhutas, or malevolent spirits, take a white thread and make 21 dharani knots, tying one knot with each recitation. Suspend it from the crown of the compassionate face directly in front. After one night, remove it and place it around the patient’s neck; the illness will immediately be cured. If, because of heavy karmic obstruction, the illness is not removed, recite the dharani over this thread 108 times, suspend it overnight from the same place upon the crown of the image, then remove it and place it around the patient’s neck. The illness will certainly be cured.

_ Furthermore, if a person suffers from a prolonged illness and cannot recover, or if an evil spirit has entered a house, place 108 pellets of frankincense before this image. Recite the dharani once over each pellet and cast it into the fire until all have been burned. Then take a white thread and make 21 dharani knots, tying one knot with each recitation, and fasten it to the crown of the compassionate face directly in front. After one night, remove it and place it around the patient’s neck. The illness will immediately be cured, and the evil spirit will withdraw and disperse.

_ Furthermore, if an enemy seeks an opportunity to quarrel, performs sorcery, or attempts to bring about one’s ruin, offer every kind of incense, flower, and offering to this image. Kindle a fire of Ba Thuoc Ca wood before the image. Take 108 Van Dai Tu seeds, recite the dharani once over each, and cast them into the fire. Then take a white thread, make 108 knots in it, and fasten it to the crown of the wrathful face on the image’s left side. After one night, remove the thread, speak the enemy’s name, and cut each knot apart, casting each one in a different place. Speak the name once with every cut until all the knots are gone. This will cause all the enemy’s undertakings to fail, and the enemy will naturally submit.

_ Furthermore, if a person wishes to seek auspicious undertakings, use five-colored thread to make a dharani cord with 108 knots, tying one knot with each recitation. Before the image, recite the dharani over it 7 more times and fasten it to the crown of the compassionate face directly in front. After one night, remove it and tie it upon one’s own body; whatever one seeks will be fulfilled according to one’s wishes.

_ Furthermore, if one knows that one’s body is beset by obstructions and calamities, if most auspicious undertakings one seeks fail to accord with one’s wishes, and if decline and misfortune continually arise without cause, bathe this image with fragrant water. Then take that water, recite the dharani over it 108 times, and use it to bathe an image of Vinayaka. Again take that water, recite the dharani over it 108 times, and pour it upon one’s own body. Every obstruction and calamity will naturally disappear, and everything one seeks will accord with one’s wishes.

When Bodhisattva Mahasattva Avalokitesvara had finished speaking this sutra, the entire great assembly praised him in unison: “Excellent! Excellent, Great Being! Wishing to bring benefit and happiness to all sentient beings, you have proclaimed this dharani. We rejoice accordingly and also vow to receive and retain it.”

The great assembly then rejoiced exultantly, circumambulated the Buddha three times, paid homage, and withdrew.

THE HEART SUTRA OF THE ELEVEN-FACED DHARANI

(End)