The Sutra of the Vast, Great, Perfect, Full Unimpeded Great Compassion Heart Dharani: 3 of 7

After the Buddha had finished speaking, the Bodhisattva Who Regards the Sounds of the World then arose from his seat, arranged his robes, inclined his joined hands towards the Buddha and said, “World Honored One, I have a Great Compassion Dharani-Mantra which I now wish to speak so that all living beings might obtain peace and delight, be rid of every sickness, and attain long life; so that they might obtain prosperity, wipe away the evil Karma of heavy offenses, separate themselves from obstacles and hardships, grow in all the pure Dharmas and in every kind of merit and virtue; so that they might create only good roots, become separate from fear, and quickly fulfill all their longings. World Honored One, please be merciful and allow it to be heard.”

The Buddha said, “Good Man, your great compassion put living beings at ease. You wish to speak the spiritual mantra; now is the proper time. It is right and fitting that you speak it without delay. The World Honored One and all the Buddhas approve”.

The Bodhisattva Who Regards the World’s Sounds again addressed the Buddha, saying “World Honored One, I recall that in the past, uncountable millions of aeons ago, a Buddha named Thousand Ray King Who Dwells In Stillness Thus Come One appeared in the world. Out of pity for me and all living beings, that Buddha, the World Honored One, spoke this Vast, Great, Perfect, Full, Unimpeded, Great Compassion Heart Dharani. With his golden-colored hand he rubbed the crown of my head and spoke thus:

“Good man, you should now hold this heart mantra for the sake of all living beings in the evil times of the future, for it will cause them great benefit and delight.”

“I was then dwelling as a beginner at the First Ground, but upon once hearing this mantra, I ascended to the Eight Ground. At that time, because of the great joy in my heart, I made this vow:

“If, in the future, I am able to benefit living beings and make them happy, then may my body right now be complete with a thousand hands and a thousand eyes.”

“After making this vow, my body immediately was fully complete with a thousand hands and a thousand eyes. In the ten directions, the great earth tremble in six ways. A thousand Buddhas in the ten directions each emitted bright light which illuminated my body and the boundless worlds of the ten directions. From that time onwards, all beings in the places of the countless Buddhas and in limitless assemblies were able to hear, personally accept, and maintain this Dharani. There was happiness and dancing for joy without end as they transcended countless millions of aeons of subtle birth and death. From that time onwards, the mantra has been constantly recited and never forgotten.”

“Because one holds this mantra, one is always born in the presence of the Buddhas, one is born by transformation from a lotus, and is never born from a womb.”