Thousand-armed and Thousand-eyed Avalokitesvara - 大悲咒

The Great Compassion Mantra - Short version in Sanskrit

Nammo Ratna Trayaya, Nammo Arya Jnana Sagara,

Vairochana, Byuharatchaya, Tathagataya,

Arahate, Samyaksam Buddhaya,

Nammo Sarwa Tathagate Bhyay,

Arahata Bhyah, Samyaksam Buddhe Bhyah,

Nammo Arya Avalokite Shoraya Bodhisattvaya,

Maha Sattvaya, Maha Karunikaya,

Tadyata, Om Dara Dara,

Diri Diri, Duru Duru, Itte We, Itte Chale Chale,

Prachale Prachale, Kusume Kusuma Wa Re, 

Ili Mili, Chiti Jvalam, Apanave Soha.

Live with compassion

Work with compassion 

Die with compassion 

Meditate with compassion 

Enjoy with compassion 

When problems come, 

Experience them with compassion.

A praise of compassion by H.E Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Compassion is wanting sentient beings to be free from suffering. So compassion is the definition of the highest scope of motivation.It is said that to generate genuine compassion, one needs to realise that oneself is suffering, that an end to suffering is possible, and that other beings similarly want to be free from suffering.

The Nilakantha Dharani also known as Maha Karuna Dharani. Popularly known as the Great Compassion Mantra in English,  大悲咒 in Chinese. It was spoken by the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara before an assembly of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Devas and Kings, Nagas according to the Mahakarunikacitta Sutra. It is often used for protection or purification.

The Great Compassion Mantra is from Mahakaruna Dharani Sutra of the Thousand-armed and Thousand-eyed Avalokitesvaraya. It is an important mantra of this almighty Bodhisattva. It is believed that recitation of the Great Compassion Mantra can purify our bad karma and help us reach the Pure Land. With constant recitation of this mantra, one can reap ten great benefits and harvest fifteen kinds of good birth, while staying away from the fifteen kinds of bad deaths. Moreover, this mantra has the unbelievable power to fulfill every wish and cure 840,000 diseases.

Thousand-armed and Thousand eyed form of Avalokitesvara, which is an important esoteric Buddhism form of Avalokitesvara. The legend of how he received a thousand arms and eyes even represents his compassion for others.  Vowing to help those in need whenever he hears their cries and sees their sorrows, because of this he is sometimes depicted with over a thousand arms and eyes. 

The Great Compassion Mantra is an extremely powerful spell because it contains not only the sacred name of Avalokiteshvara, but also the various embodiments, wisdom, capacities and merits of this Bodhisattva and other enlightened beings. When this mantra is recited, you are connected to Buddhahood through your voice. You do not have to understand the content of this mantra; reciting the Sanskrit version alone will create remarkable merit.

Before recitation, we must possess the determination to follow the example of Avalokiteshvara of One Thousand Arms and One Thousand Eyes. "Thousand" has the connotation of boundlessness; keeping Avalokiteshvara's boundless compassion in mind, we must make a wish to see the suffering of all sentient beings with his one thousand eyes, and to release them from their pain with his one thousand hands.

If we fully dedicate ourselves to Avalokiteshvara's path by cultivating altruistic aspirations, practicing equanimity, and vowing to become enlightened for the benefit of all beings, His twenty-eight Dharma Protectors will safeguard us in our spiritual journey; together with other Bodhisattvas and deities, they will shield us from any harm and peril with their magic powers. 

Recite the mantra with great faith as many as possible, when we are lonely or in the darkest moments of our life , let not give up our hopes and faiths and may the astonishing light of the Great Compassion Mantra and the blessing and wisdom of the enlightened Buddhas and Bodhisattvas be with us whenever and wherever we are. 

You can download the Dharani mantra free app from apple itune here:-

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Aspiration For Bodhichitta

For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

May it arise and not decrease

But increase further and further.

Nagarjuna's Dedication of Merit

By this merit may we obtain omniscience then.

Having defeated the enemies wrong-doings.

May we liberate migrators from the ocean of existence.

With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness and death.

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