Mantra of Great Compassion
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.
Great Compassion Sutra
Namo Ratnatrayaya Namo Aryavalokitesvaraya Bodhisattvaya Mahasattvaya
Mahakarunikaya Om Sarva Abhayah Sunadhasya Namo Sukrtvemama
Aryavalokiteshvaragarbha Namo Nilakantha Siri Mahabhadrashrame
Sarvathasubham Ajeyam Sarvasattvanamavarge Mahadhatu Tadyatha Om
Avalokelokite Kalate Hari Mahabodhisattva Sarva Sarva Mala Mala Masi
Mahahrdayam Kuru Kuru Karmam Kuru Kuru Vijayati Mahavijayati Dharadhara
Dharin Suraya Chala Chala Mama Bhramara Muktir Ehi Ehi Chinda China
Harsham Prachali Basha Basham Presaya Hulu Hulu Mala Hulu Hulu Hilo
Sara Sara Siri Siri Suru Suru Bodhiya Bodhiya Bodhaya Bodhaya Maitreya
Nilakantha Dharshinina Payamama Svaha Siddhaya Svaha Maha Siddhaya
Svaha Siddhayogeshvaraya Svaha Nilakantha Svaha Varahananaya Svaha
Simhashiramukhaya Svaha Sarvamahasiddhaya Svaha Chakrasiddhaya Svaha
Padmahastya Svaha Nilakanthavikaraya Svaha Mahasishankaraya Svaha Namo
Ratnatrayaya Namo Aryavalokitesvaraya Svaha Om Siddhyantu Mantrapadaya Svaha
There is a story behind this sacred mantra.
One day, the Buddha Shakyamuni was giving his teaching for an assembly of Bodhisattvas, Arhats, devas and nagas in Avalokiteshvara's palace on Puto Mountain.
With her magic powers, Avalokiteshvara illuminated the entire palace with pure rays of holy light.
At this moment, Avalokiteshvara told the crowd about the first transmission of the great [[Compassion] Mantra]].
In her sweet memory, Avalokiteshvara said that in one of her previous lives a long, long time ago, an enlightened being called the Buddha of Tranquil Light appeared after she took the solemn vow of completely giving herself to the welfare of all sentient beings.
Out of compassion for Avalokiteshvara and all sentient beings, the Buddha transmitted the Great Compassion Mantra to her.
With his hands on her head, he said, you should remember and practice this holy mantra for the well-being of all sentient beings in the future.
Hearing these words, Avalokiteshvara immediately made a vow to attain full enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings.
"If my wish to benefit all sentient beings will come true one day, let me have one thousand mighty arms and one thousand mighty eyes NOW!" she whispered.
After her vow was made, one thousand arms and one thousand eyes started to grow out of her body, shaking the earth in ten directions.
At the same time, her body began to glow from head to toe as innumerous Buddhas shed their dazzling light on her. When Avalokiteshvara finished the story, she told the crowd, from then on, this mantra has never left her mind.
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 her one thousand eyes, and to release them from their pain with her 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, her 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.
Of course, Avalokiteshvara herself will attend to our needs with her one thousand hands and look after us with her one thousand eyes. Her servants, including indras and Dragon God, will also stay with us, protecting her spiritual practitioners.
