Great Compassion Mantra

One of the most widely used and most efficacious of all Buddhist mantras, the Great compassion mantra is a Dharma taught by the Bodhisattva Who Regards the World's Sounds (see Avalokitesvara (Bodhisattva)). The teachings on the Great Compassion Mantra are found in the Dharani Sutra (see entry).

The text of the mantra can be found in the Dharani Sutra, pp. 40-43, and in the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas Recitation Handbook, pp. 30-33.

The Bodhisattva Who Regards the World's Sounds again addressed the Buddha, saying, 'World-Honored One, if Humans and Gods recite and hold the phrases of the Great Compassion Mantra, then when they approach the end of life, all the Buddhas of the ten directions will come to take them by the hand to rebirth in whatever Buddhaland they wish according to their desire.'

He further said to the Buddha, 'World-Honored One, should any living being who recites and holds the

 

Wood-block of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara, according to the teaching of the Great Compassion Mantra

spiritual mantra of great compassion fall into the three evil paths, I vow not to realize the right enlightenment. Should any living being who recites and holds the Spiritual Mantra of Great Compassion not be reborn in any Buddhaland, I vow not to realize the right enlightenment. Should any living being who recites and holds the Spiritual Mantra of Great Compassion not obtain unlimited samadhis and eloquence, I vow not to realize the right enlightenment. Should any living being who recites and holds the Spiritual Mantra of Great Compassion not obtain the fruits of whatever is sought in this very life, then he cannot have been making proper use of the Dharani of the Great Compassion Heart.' (DS 30-31)

(Source: Epstein, 2003: pp. 108 - 109)

1) Chinese Mandarin: da bei jou , 2) Sanskrit: Maha Karuna Dharani - Mantra

See also: Dharani Sutra, dharani, mantra, Great Compassion Mantra, Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva), Five School of Buddhism - Esoteric, Bodhisattva, One Thousand Hands and Eyes, Tyan-tai School, Jr-yi (Venerable), Three Vehicles, Universal Door Chapter of Guanyin (Avalokiteshvara)

Buddhist Text Translation Society (http://www.BTTSonline.org) References: TT 133; DS 30-39, 40-43, 60-66.

 

Great Compassion Mantra

Maha Karuna Mantra
A line-by-line, word-for-word comparison of the ancient Siddham and the modern Sanskrit with some vocabulary explained.

 

1.) Na Mwo He La Da Nwo Dwo La Ye Ye

Namo Ratna Trayaya (Homage to the
Triple Jewel – Buddha-Dharma-Sangha)

2) Na Mwo E Li Ye

Namo Arya  (Worthy, Honorable[i])

3) Pwo Lu Jye Di Shau Bwo La Ye

valo kitesh varaya    (B, P, V)

4) Pu Ti Sa Two Pe Ye

Bodhi sattwa ya  (Enlightened being or “enlightenment purity”)

5) Mwo He Sa Two Pe Ye

Maha sattwa ya
(Great Purity à Great Enlightenment)

6) Mwo He Jya Lu Ni Jya Ye

Maha Karu ni Kaya  
(Great Compassion Body)

7) Nan

Aum

8) Sa Pan La Fa Ye

Sarva abhaya (Everywhere Fearlessness)

9) Swo Da Nwo Da Sye

Suna dhasya

10) Na Mwo Syi Ji Li Two Yi Meng E Li Ye

Namo sukrit vé mama

Arya

11) Pe Lu Ji Di Shr Fwo La Leng Two Pe

valo kitesh vara Garbha  (“Vessel” or “Store” or “Treasury” “Fetus” or “Matrix”)

12) Na Mwo Nwo La Jin Chr

Namo Nila kantha (Hail the Blue Necked One)

13) Syi Li Mwo He Pan Dwo Sa Mye

Siri Maha bhadras ramé

14) Sa Pe E Two Dou Shu Peng

Sarv artha subham

15) E Shr Yun

Ajéyam

16) Sa Pe Sa Dwo Na Mwo Pe Sa Dwo

Sarva sattwa   (all “Enlightened Ones”)

17) Na Mwo Pe Chye

Nama varga

18) Mwo Fa Te Dou

Maha dhatu  (the great tissue or substance)

19) Da Jr Two

Tadyata   (the Ultimate Realization of…)

20) Nan

Aum

21) E Pe Lu Syi

Ava loké

22) Lu Jya Di

Lokité

23) Jya La Di

Kalaté

24) Yi Syi Li

Hari

25) Mwo He Pu Ti Sa Two

Maha bodhi sattwa

26) Sa Pe Sa Pe

Sarva sarva

27) Mwo La Mwo La

Mala mala

28) Mwo Syi Mwo Syi Li Two Yun

Mashi Maha hrydayam
           (Great  Heart)

29) Jyu Lu Jyu Lu Jye Meng

Kuru Kuru karmam

30) Du Lu Du Lu Fa She Ye Di

kuru kuru vijayati

31) Mwo He Fa She Ye Di

Maha vijayati
 (Great Victor)

32) Two La Two La

Dhara dhara
(Hold on, Hold on)

33) Di Li Ni

Dharin
(I hold on)

34) Shr Fwo La Ye

Suraya
(The Sun, the Creator, Indra, Shakra)

35) Je La Je La

Chala chala
 (Move, move)

36) Mwo Mwo Fa Mwo La

Ma ma bhra ma ra

37) Mu Di Li

Muktir

38) Yi Syi Yi Syi

Ehi Ehi
(Come, come)

39) Shr Nwo Shr Nwo

Chinda chinda
(Listen, listen)

40) E La Shen Fwo La She Li

Harsam Pra Cha Li

41) Fa Sha Fa Shen

Basa Basam

42) Fwo La She Ye

Pré saya

43) Hu Lu Hu Lu Mwo La

Hulu hulu mala   (Bija or seed sounds)

44) Hu Lu Hu Lu Syi Li

Hulu hulu hilo

45) Swo La Swo La

Sara sara

46) Syi Li Syi Li

Siri siri

47) Su Lu Su Lu

Suru suru

48) Pu Ti Ye Pu Ti Ye

Bodhiya bodhiya  (Be enlightened!  Be enlightened!)

49) Pu Two Ye Pu Two Ye

Bodhaya bodhaya  (Enlightenment!  Enlightenment!)

50) Mi Di Li Ye
(Dang Lai Sya Sheng Mi Lei Dzum Fwo)

Maitréya     (“Maitri” = Friendly-one)
(Friendliness “Happy Buddha”)

51) Nwo La Jin Chr

Nila kantha  (Blue-necked one)

52) Di Li Shai Ni Nwo

Dharsinina

53) Pe Ye Mwo Nwo

Paya mana

54) Swo Pe He

Svaha    (Auspiciousness, So Be It, Blessed Be)

55) Syi Two Ye

Siddhaya    
(Attainment of great memory and wisdom)

56) Swo Pe He
Svaha (Auspiciousness, So Be It, Blessed Be)

57) Mwo He Syi Two Ye
58)  Swo Pe He

Maha Siddhaya 
(Great attainment of spiritual penetrations)

59) Syi Two Yu Yi

Siddha Yoge     (Mastery in the the Discipline)

60) Shr Pan La Ye

Shvaraya  

61) Swo Pe He
Svaha (Auspiciousness, So Be It, Blessed Be)

62) Nwo La Jin Chr

Nila kantha (Blue neck)

63) Swo Pe He
Svaha (Auspiciousness, So Be It, Blessed Be)

64) Mwo La Nwo La

Vara hanan aya

65) Swo Pe He

Svaha (Auspiciousness, So Be It, Blessed Be)

66) Syi Lu Seng E Mu Chywe Ye

Sim hasira mukhaya (face)

67) Swo Pe He

Svaha (Auspiciousness, So Be It, Blessed Be)

68) Swo Pe Mwo He E Syi Two Ye

Sarva maha Siddhaya

69) Swo Pe He
Svaha (Auspiciousness, So Be It, Blessed Be)

70) Je Ji La E Syi Two Ye

Chakra siddhaya  (Wheel)

71) Swo Pe He

Svaha (Auspiciousness, So Be It, Blessed Be)

72) Bwo Two Mwo Jye Syi Two Ye

Padma hastaya   (Lotus in the hand)

73) Swo Pe He
Svaha (Auspiciousness, So Be It, Blessed Be)

74) Nwo La Jin Chr Pan Chye La Ye

Nila kantha vikaraya (Blue necked One)

75) Swo Pe He
Svaha (Auspiciousness, So Be It, Blessed Be)

76) Mwo Pe Li Sheng Jye La Ye

Maha rsis ank araya (Shiva)

77) Swo Pe He
Svaha (Auspiciousness, So Be It, Blessed Be)

78) Na Mwo He La Da Nwo Dwo La Ye Ye

Namo Ratna Trayaya 
(Homage to the Triple Jewel)

79) Na Mwo E Li Ye
Namo Arya  (Homage to the Worthy)

80) Pwo Lu Jye Di

valo kitesh

81) Shau Pan La Ye

Varaya

82) Swo Pe He
Svaha (Auspiciousness, So Be It, Blessed Be)

83) Nan
Om

84) Syi Dyan Du
Siddhyantu

85) Man Dwo La
Mantra   (Dharani, prayer, nama japa)

86) Ba Two Ye
Padaye

87) Swo Pe He
Svaha    (May these prayers be successful)

 


 

[i]   Sir Monier Monier-Williams,  Oxford Professor of Sanskrit, A Sanskrit English Dictionary, Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, 1963-199, (1899 Oxford University Press):  p. 152.  ISBN 81-208-0065-6

 


 

 

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These Good and Wise Advisors (Kaliyanamitra) Dharma Master teachers include Arya Venerables Nagarjuna, Ashvaghosha, Aryasura,  Kumarajiva, Shantideva, Chandrakirti, Chandragomin, Vasubandhu, Asanga, Hui Neng, Atisha, Kamalashila, Dharmarakshita, Tsong Khapa, Thogme Zangpo, Patanjali, Sushruta, Charaka, Vagbhata, Nichiren, Hsu Yun, Hsuan Hua, Shen Kai, Tenzin Gyatso, Kyabje Zopa, Ajahn Chah, Vasant Lad, and other modern day masters.  We consider them to be in accord with Master Hsuan Hua’s "Seven Guidelines for Recognizing Genuine Teachers"

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Compilation Sources for the Above Material on the Teachings of the Buddha:

Primary Compilation Source: Epstein, Ronald B., Ph.D, compiler, Buddhist Text Translation Society's Buddhism A to Z, Burlingame, California: Buddhist Text Translation Society, 2003. ISBN: 0881393533  Paperback: 284 pages.  www.BTTSOnline.org     www.Amazon.com  
http://www.bttsonline.org/product.aspx?pid=118     http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0881393533/ref=ase_medicinebuddh-20

Secondary Compilation Source: The Seeker’s Glossary of Buddhism, 2nd ed., San Francisco, California: Sutra Translation Committee of the United States and Canada, 1998: www.budaedu.org.tw     

Secondary Compilation Source: Muller, Charles, editor, Digital Dictionary of Buddhism [DDB], Toyo Gakuen University, Japan, 2007:  Username is "guest", with no password.
http://buddhism-dict.net/ddb - Based in large part on the Dictionary of Chinese Buddhist Terms with Sanskrit and English Equivalents (by Soothill and Hodous) Delhi, India: Motilal Banarsidass, 1997.

Secondary Compilation Source: Ehrhard, Diener, Fischer, et al, The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen, Boston, Massachusetts: Shambhala Publications, 1991.  296 pages.  ISBN 978-0-87773-520-5  www.Shambhala.com,   http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0877735204/ref=ase_medicinebuddh-20,
http://www.shambhala.com/html/catalog/items/isbn/978-0-87773-520-5.cfm

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To the far reaches of space in the ten directions,
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Updated May 10, 2008