Great Compassion Dhaｒaｎi - 大悲咒

1)1st video: This one is for beginner to learn the Dharani.






２）2nd video: Slow recitation of the Dharani.




３）3rd video: Personal practice prayer with the Dharani.

You must dedicate the merits gained from the practice to the Enlightenment of all sentient beings and etc. & etc.....

Karmapa being interviewed

"What is this mind?"

When we are free, our mind behaves like monkey.
It runs into the past thro’ the memories.
It also jumps into future fantasies.
Our mind wonders to and fro.
It hardly rests.
We wonder,
“What is this mind?”
“Does it have a shape, a color?”
How many of us have seen the mind?
All of us somehow are experiencing the mind.
How many of us have really understood our own mind?
Many people have been searching for this mind.
Many a thing has been said about this mind.
But very few really understood the mind.
Since we don’t understand our mind,
We shall not be able to control our mind.
Thus our emotions will be controlling our mind.
Then our actions become emotional instead of reason.
Such kind of actions usually bring undesirable results
As the result, we suffer much for our bad actions.
Therefore we must take control of our mind.
How to do it?
We wonder,
Day & night………..

Songs on Heart Sutra

There are many different Heart Sutra songs in many languages. I have chosen a Japanese and English song on Heart Sutra from YouTube. I hope you will enjoy listening them.

Heart Sutra Song - Japanese (Beethoven Symphony No.9 Melody)

Heart Sutra Song - English

Heart Sutra Translated from Chinese Version

般若波罗蜜多心经
(唐三藏法师玄奘译)
HEART SUTRA
(Prajnaparamitta)
观自在菩萨 行深般若波罗蜜多时
Kuan Yin Bodhisattva while practicing deep Prajnaparamitta,
照见五蕴皆空
Perceived that the Five Skandhas (aggregates) are Empty (of self- nature).
度一切苦厄
Transcending distress and suffering.

舍利子
Oh, Shariputra,
色不异空 空不异色
Form does not defer from Emptiness. Emptiness does not defer from Form.
色即是空 空即是色
Form is Emptiness. Emptiness is Form.
受想行识 亦复如是
So is feeling, thinking, behavior (volition), and consciousness.

舍利子
Oh, Shariputra,
是诸法空相 不生不灭
All Dharmas (and their characteristics) are fundamentally Empty ; No arising, no cessation.
不垢不净 不增不减
Neither impure, nor pure, nor increasing, nor decreasing.
是故空中无色 无受想行识
Thus, in Emptiness, there is no form, feeling, thinking, behavior (volition), and consciousness.
无眼耳鼻舌身意
Neither is there eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, nor thinking.
无色声香味触法
Neither is there form, sound, smell, sensation, nor Dharma.
无眼界 乃至无意识界
There is no eye dhatu, up to no mind- consciousness dhatu.
无无明 亦无无明尽
No ignorance, and also no cessation of ignorance.
乃至无老死 亦无老死尽
Up to no old age and death, and also no cessation of old age and death;
无苦集灭道
No suffering, no origin of suffering, no cessation of suffering, no path.
无智亦无得
No wisdom, and no attainment (no nonattainment).
以无所得故
Since the Bodhisattvas have nothing to be attained,

菩提萨陲 依般若波罗蜜多故
Bodhisattvas abide by means of Prajnaparamitta.
心無罣碍
Mind has no obscuration.
無罣碍故 无有恐怖
Since there is no obscuration in the mind, there is no fear.
远离颠倒梦想 究竟涅盘
They are free from delusory thoughts, and finally reach Nirvana.
三世诸佛
All the Buddhas of three times (past, present and future),
依般若波罗蜜多故
By means of Prajnaparamita, (Perfection of Transcendental Wisdom)
得阿耨多罗三藐三菩提
Fully awaken to Anuttara Samyaksambodhi (Perfect Enlightenment).

故知般若波罗蜜多
For this reason, knowing that the great Mantra of Prajnaparamita is…
是大神咒 是大明咒
The Great Spiritual Mantra, the Great Wisdom Mantra,
是无上咒 是无等等咒
The Unsurpassed Mantra, the Unequalled Mantra.
能除一切苦 真实不虚
It extinguishes all suffering,
真实不虚
And is true and real and it is not false.
故说般若波罗蜜多咒
Thus proclaim the Mantra of the Prajnaparamita.
即说咒曰
By saying:
揭谛揭谛 波罗揭谛 波罗僧揭谛 菩提娑婆诃(Tayata Om)“GATE GATE, PARA GATE, PARASAN GATE, BODHI SVAHA”

般若波罗密多心经
(Prajnaparamitta)

Heart Sutra (Sanskrit) - Translation and Songs from YouTube

Namah sarvajnaaya

Adoration to the Omniscience!

Aaryaavalokiteshvara-bodhisattvo gambhiiraayaam prajnaapaaramitaayaam caryaam caramaano vyavalokayati sma: panca skandhaah; taamshca svabhaava-shuunyaan pashyati sma
When Holy Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva was practicing deep meditation to gain the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Transcendental Wisdom), he realized that the five skandhas or aggregates to be empty of nature.

Iha Shaariputra ruupam shuunyataa shuunyataiva ruupam, ruupaan na prithak shuunyataa, shuunyataayaa na prithag ruupam, yad ruupam saa shuunyataa, yaa shuunyataa tad ruupam
Oh, Sariputra, Form is Emptiness and Emptiness is Form; Emptiness is no other than Form, and Form is no other than Emptiness ; that which is Form is Emptiness, and that which is Emptiness is Form
Evem eva vedanaa-samjnaa-samskaara-vijnaanaani.
So likewise, it is the same for feeling, conception (thoughts), mental construction (behavior) and consciousness.
Iha Shaariputra sarva-dharmaah shuunyataa-lakshanaa, anutpannaa, aniruddhaa, amalaa, na vimalaa, nonaa, na paripuurnaah.

Oh, Sariputra, all Dharma is fundamentally Emptiness; they are neither born nor death; they are neither impure nor pure, neither increase nor decrease.

Tasmaac Chaariputra shuunyaayaam na ruupam na vedanaa na samjnaa na samskaaraa na vijnaanaani.

Therefore, in the Emptiness, there is no form, no feeling, no conception, no mental construction, no consciousness.
Na cakshuh-shrotra-ghraana-jihvaa-kaaya-manaamsi.
Neither is there eye, ear, nose, tongue, body nor thought.
Na ruupa-shabda-gandha-rasa-sprashtavya-dharmaah
There is no form, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch and no dharma.
Na cakshurdhaatur yaavan na mano-vijnaana-dhaatuh.
There is no sight, until we come to no mind-consciousness,
Na vidyaa, naavidyaa, na vidyaa-kshayo, naavidyaa-kshayo, yaavan na jaraa-maranam na jaraamarana-kshayo, na duhkha-samudaya-nirodha-maargaa, na jnaanam, na praaptir apraaptitvena
no wisdom, no ignorance, no cessation of wisdom, no cessation of ignorance, (beyond of wisdom and ignorance) until we come to no old age and death and no end to old age and death, (beyond old age and death) no suffering, no origin of suffering, no cessation of suffering, (beyond of suffering) , no path, no wisdom and no attainment. Indeed there is nothing to be attained (beyond attainment and no attainment).
Bodhisattvasya prajnaapaaramitaam aashritya viharaty acittaavaranah. Cittaavarana-naastitvaad atrasto, viparyaasaatikraanto nishtha-nirvaanah.
Since the bodhisattvas have no attainment (beyond of attainment), by depending on the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Transcendental Wisdom), the bodhisattvas dwell without any mental obscurations. Because of the absence of mental obscurations, they have no fear; free from delusory thoughts, they transcend falsity and attain complete nirvana.
Tryadhva-vyavasthitaah sarvabuddhaah prajnaapaaramitaam aashrityaanuttaraam samyaksambodhim abhisambuddhaah.
All the buddhas of the three times (past, present and future) by means of prajnaparamita, fully awaken to anuttara samyaksambodhi—perfect enlightenment.
Tasmaaj jnaatavyo prajnaapaaramitaa-mahaamantro mahaavidyaa-mantro 'nuttara-mantro 'samasama-mantrah, sarvadukha-prashamanah, satyam amithyatvaat, prajnaapaaramitaayaam ukto mantrah
For this reason, knowing that the Great Mantra of the Perfection of Transcendental Wisdom is the Great Wisdom Mantra, the Unsurpassed Mantra, and the Unequaled Mantra. It extinguishes all suffering, and is true and real because it is not false. It is the Mantra proclaimed in the Perfection of Transcendental Wisdom.
"Tad yathaa gate gate paaragate paarasamgate bodhi svaaha"
Namely, "Gone, gone, gone to the other shore; Gone beyond to the other shore. Svaha."
Iti prajnaapaaramitaa-hridayam samaaptam.
Thus ends the Essence of the Transcendental Wisdom Sutra.

Note: I have done some editing to the translation.
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We found this Sanskrit Heart Sutra Song in the You Tube. Hope you will enjoy it. I shall explain in my next article: "Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form". The wisdom you can gain from these two statements from Heart Sutra will help you to increase your happiness and the possibility for you to get a wonderful good life.

Meditation using Om Mani Pad Me Hung

Om Mani Padme Hung is the heart mantra of Avalokitesvara (Sanskrit), or Chenrezig (Tibetan) or Kuan Shi Yin / Kuan Yin (观世音/观音-Chinese) is most commonly chanted by the Tibetans or those practicing Tibetan Buddhism. For those Mahayanist Chinese Buddhists, they chant the name of Kuan Yin in this way: Namo Kuan Shi Yin Pu Satt.

Chenrezig/ Kuan Yin is the embodiment of the compassion of all the Buddhas and Bodhisatvas. When we chant aloud or silently with our heart, we can invoke the blessings from Chenrezig/Kuan Yin.

When we visit Tibetan settlements around Dharamasala, in Northern India or around the Himalayan Regions, we shall see many Tibetans spinning the Mani Wheel (as shown in the picture). Tibetans believe in spinning the written form of the mantras around in a Mani wheel (or Prayer Wheel) have similar benefits as chanting them. In these Mani wheels, being small or big, contain thousands and thousands of the mantras written in papers. The papers are carefully joined and then rolled to take a round shape. They are inserted into the Mani Wheel. When the wheel is spinning in clockwise directions, it is called turning the Mani Wheel. There are also people doing chanting aloud or in silent while spinning the Mani wheels. The merits gained through these actions are then dedicated to the Enlightenment of all sentient beings and etc.

We can do this simple meditation by using these 6 syllables Mantra of Kuan Yin - OM MANI PAD ME HUNG ( 观音菩萨的心咒 – 六字真言 ) to develop our loving kindness and compassion based on a abbreviated translation of Metta Sutra given by the Buddha as follow;

First, with folded palms, you recite the following sutra silently or aloud.

Namo Buddha-ya, Namo Dharma-ya, Namo Sangha-ya ( 3X)

“This is what should be done by those who aspire to be skilled in goodness,
and those who know the way to peace and tranquility:

1.1)May they be upright, straightforward and gentle in speech;
Humble and not be conceited.

1.2)Let no one deceive another or despise any being in any state,
Let none by anger nor hatred wishing harm to others,

1.3)Hatred cannot be overcome by hatred,
HATRED can only be overcome by LOVE.

1.4)May all beings be well and happy.

1.5)May they always be Calm and Peaceful, Wise and Skillful.

2.1)May they be easily satisfied, contented,
Not burdened by many things and duties in their livelihood.

2.2)May they neither be proud nor arrogant nor demanding,
May they never have desires and cravings.

2.3)May they never do anything that the Wise will reprove them later.

May they always feel grateful towards their mothers and fathers,teachers and masters.

2.4)May all beings be Well and Happy.

2.5)May all beings live in safety, free from fear, and be joyful.

3.1)May all beings far or near, seen or unseen, born or to be born,
Whether they are air born, water born, egg born or womb born,
Whether they are long or short, tall or short or small, weak or strong,
May all beings, without exception, be Well and Happy.

3.2)Like a mother who will go all out to save her own child
Even at the risk of her own life,
Even so, may all beings practice this Loving Kindness and Compassion.

3.3)So having a boundless Heart of Loving Kindness and Compassion,
One should Cherish all beings by radiating Kindness over all the World Systems.

3.4)While one is standing or sitting, walking or lying down, during all one's Waking Hours, May one remain mindful of this Heart and this Way of Living.
Thus it is said to be the “Most Noble Way 0f Living”.

3.5)Unattached to speculations, views and free from all cravings and sense desires,
These Pure Hearted ones, with clear mind, will never take Rebirth in Samsara again.”

Om Mani Padme Hung, Om Mani Padme Hung, Om Mani Padme Hung………….

At this point you begin to recite “Om Mani Pad Me Hung” silently or aloud. You can recite it as many times as you can. If you wish to do the following visualization while reciting the mantra, you may do so.
First, you visualize 6 colored lights (white, green, yellow, blue, red, dark blue) issue from your heart as you are chanting the mantra silently, or in whispering tone. The lights together with the mantras radiate out far and wide into the space in ten directions into ten thousands world systems. You think that all beings seen or unseen, far or near are blessed by the mantra.
When you have finished, you dedicate sincerely all the merits (福) gained for the Enlightenment of all sentient beings. Dedication is important because it makes our merits (福) gained to be limitless. And always remember the following words of the Buddha:

“So with a boundless Heart of loving kindness and compassion,
One should Cherish all beings by radiating kindness over all the world systems.

While one is standing or sitting, walking or lying down, during all one's waking hours, May one remain Mindful of this Heart and this Way of Living,
And thus it is said to be the ‘‘Most Noble Way of Living.”

I hope, each and every one of us shall take the advice of the Buddha and practice this Loving Kindness and Compassion. This is what our world needed most in order for it to have a ever lasting peace. The destiny of our world lies in the hands of everyone of us. So you can do a small part to make our world a better place to live by spreading this Metta Sutra to your loves ones, friends, neighbors, office, schools, colleges, universities etc. In the words of the Buddha, “The Gift of Dharma excels all other Gifts” Tashi Delek! 吉祥如意！