Mahā Karuṇā Dhāraṇī (Great Compassion Mantra)

Historical context

In the palace of the Buddha surrounded by countless devas, nagas, and bodhisattvas, Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva placed her palms together and revealed that in a past aeon, King of Thousand Lights Tathāgata transmitted this Great Compassion Dhāraṇī to her. Upon hearing it once, she leaped from the first stage of Bodhisattvahood to the eighth stage (Acala-bhūmi) and vowed to grow a thousand hands and eyes to aid all living beings across the worlds.

Refuge in the Triple Gem & Great Compassion · 歸依大悲三寶

T20n1060_p0107b25–b27

Canonical text: 南無喝囉怛那哆囉夜耶。南無阿唎耶，婆盧羯帝爍鉢囉耶，菩提薩埵婆耶，摩訶薩埵婆耶，摩訶迦盧尼迦耶。

中文: 南無喝囉怛那哆囉夜耶。南無阿唎耶，婆盧羯帝爍鉢囉耶，菩提薩埵婆耶，摩訶薩埵婆耶，摩訶迦盧尼迦耶。

Light of Dharma translation: Homage to the Three Jewels. Homage to the Noble Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva-Mahāsattva, the Great Compassionate One.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Refuge in Infinite Compassion: Taking refuge in the Triple Gem and the Bodhisattva aligns our consciousness with the boundless energy of universal love, dissolving self-centered anxiety into open trust.

The Blue-Necked Savior · 青頸光明救護

T20n1060_p0107b27–c01

Canonical text: 唵，薩皤囉罰曳，數怛那怛寫。南無悉吉㗚埵伊蒙阿唎耶，婆盧吉帝室佛囉楞馱婆。

中文: 唵，薩皤囉罰曳，數怛那怛寫。南無悉吉㗚埵伊蒙阿唎耶，婆盧吉帝室佛囉楞馱婆。

Light of Dharma translation: Oṃ! Having paid homage to the Protector who dispels all fears, I proclaim this heart-mantra of the Noble Blue-Necked Avalokiteśvara.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: The Blue-Necked Savior (Nīlakaṇṭha): Symbolizing the Bodhisattva who fearlessly drinks the poison of worldly suffering to transmute it into the sweet nectar of healing and liberation.

Accomplishing Wholesome Aspirations · 成辦一切善願

T20n1060_p0107c01–c04

Canonical text: 南無那囉謹墀，醯利摩訶皤哆沙咩。薩婆阿他豆輸朋，阿逝孕，薩婆薩哆那摩婆薩哆，那摩婆伽。

中文: 南無那囉謹墀，醯利摩訶皤哆沙咩。薩婆阿他豆輸朋，阿逝孕，薩婆薩哆那摩婆薩哆，那摩婆伽。

Light of Dharma translation: I utter the pure heart-dhāraṇī that accomplishes all wholesome aims, invincible for all living beings, thoroughly purifying the pathways of cyclic transmigration.

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Accomplishing Wholesome Aspirations: Sincere recitation clears away subconscious karmic debris, preparing the fertile ground of mind for wisdom, harmlessness, and spiritual flourishing.

Awakening the Luminous Mind · 顯發自性光明

T20n1060_p0107c04–c07

Canonical text: 摩罰特豆。怛姪他：唵，阿婆盧醯，盧迦帝，迦羅帝，夷醯唎，摩訶菩提薩埵。薩婆薩婆，摩囉摩囉，摩醯摩醯唎馱孕。

中文: 摩罰特豆。怛姪他：唵，阿婆盧醯，盧迦帝，迦羅帝，夷醯唎，摩訶菩提薩埵。薩婆薩婆，摩囉摩囉，摩醯摩醯唎馱孕。

Light of Dharma translation: Thus: Oṃ! Luminous Mind, Transcender of the World! Come, come, O Great Bodhisattva! Remember, remember your sacred heart-vow!

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Awakening the Luminous Mind: Calling upon the primal luminous nature of awareness to awaken from spiritual slumber and remember our innate commitment to alleviate suffering.

Dynamic Spiritual Empowerment · 勇猛精進作務

T20n1060_p0107c07–c10

Canonical text: 俱盧俱盧羯蒙，度盧度盧罰闍耶帝，摩訶罰闍耶帝。陀囉陀囉，地唎尼，室佛囉耶，遮囉遮囉，摩麼罰摩囉，穆帝隸。

中文: 俱盧俱盧羯蒙，度盧度盧罰闍耶帝，摩訶罰闍耶帝。陀囉陀囉，地唎尼，室佛囉耶，遮囉遮囉，摩麼罰摩囉，穆帝隸。

Light of Dharma translation: Act, act! Uphold, uphold the great victory! Maintain, maintain the King of Dhāraṇīs! Move, move, O stainless embodiment of truth!

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Dynamic Spiritual Empowerment: Sonic resonance energizes the heart, transforming passive good intentions into courageous, practical service for sentient beings.

Transmuting Poisons into Nectar · 滌除熱惱客塵

T20n1060_p0107c10–c14

Canonical text: 伊醯伊醯，室那室那，阿囉參佛囉舍利，罰沙罰參，佛囉舍耶。呼嚧呼嚧摩囉，呼嚧呼嚧醯利，娑囉娑囉，悉唎悉唎，蘇嚧蘇嚧。

中文: 伊醯伊醯，室那室那，阿囉參佛囉舍利，罰沙罰參，佛囉舍耶。呼嚧呼嚧摩囉，呼嚧呼嚧醯利，娑囉娑囉，悉唎悉唎，蘇嚧蘇嚧。

Light of Dharma translation: Come, come! Auspicious presence, awaken! Pacify the poison of delusion! Overcome mental afflictions; flow forth like pure stream water, gentle and sovereign!

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Transmuting the Poisons of Mind: The sacred syllables act like clear mountain water pouring over feverish craving and anger, dissolving toxic mental reactivity into serene clarity.

The Dawn of Awakening · 正覺菩提之光

T20n1060_p0107c14–c16

Canonical text: 菩提夜菩提夜，菩馱夜菩馱夜，彌帝唎夜，那囉謹墀，地利瑟尼那，波夜摩那，娑婆訶。

中文: 菩提夜菩提夜，菩馱夜菩馱夜，彌帝唎夜，那囉謹墀，地利瑟尼那，波夜摩那，娑婆訶。

Light of Dharma translation: Awaken, awaken! Enlighten, enlighten! O Compassionate Blue-Necked One, fearless and radiant, svāhā!

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: The Dawn of Direct Awakening: Awakening is not an intellectual theory; it is the immediate dawn of clarity in the heart, rooted in loving-kindness (Maitrī) and fearless presence.

Yoga of Non-Dual Mastery · 自在瑜伽成就

T20n1060_p0107c16–c18

Canonical text: 悉陀夜，娑婆訶。摩訶悉陀夜，娑婆訶。悉陀喻藝，室皤囉耶，娑婆訶。那囉謹墀，娑婆訶。

中文: 悉陀夜，娑婆訶。摩訶悉陀夜，娑婆訶。悉陀喻藝，室皤囉耶，娑婆訶。那囉謹墀，娑婆訶。

Light of Dharma translation: Hail to the Accomplished One! Hail to the Great Accomplished One! Hail to the Lord of Yoga Masters! Hail to the Blue-Necked One, svāhā!

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: Yoga of Non-Dual Harmony: True mastery is not magical power, but the seamless union of wisdom and compassion, staying centered in harmony amidst life's shifting tides.

The Lion-Headed Fearlessness · 師子吼無畏心

T20n1060_p0107c18–c20

Canonical text: 摩囉那囉，娑婆訶。悉囉僧阿穆佉耶，娑婆訶。娑婆摩訶阿悉陀夜，娑婆訶。者吉囉阿悉陀夜，娑婆訶。

中文: 摩囉那囉，娑婆訶。悉囉僧阿穆佉耶，娑婆訶。娑婆摩訶阿悉陀夜，娑婆訶。者吉囉阿悉陀夜，娑婆訶。

Light of Dharma translation: Hail to the Lion-Faced One! Hail to the Victorious Lord of all Siddhis! Hail to the Master of the Dharma Wheel, svāhā!

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: The Lion's Roar of Fearlessness: When wisdom dispels the shadows of ignorance, the heart roars with the confidence of a lion, utterly unshakeable before the illusions of doubt.

The Pure Lotus-Bearer · 妙華持印吉祥

T20n1060_p0107c20–c22

Canonical text: 波陀摩羯悉陀夜，娑婆訶。那囉謹墀皤伽囉耶，娑婆訶。摩婆利勝羯囉夜，娑婆訶。

中文: 波陀摩羯悉陀夜，娑婆訶。那囉謹墀皤伽囉耶，娑婆訶。摩婆利勝羯囉夜，娑婆訶。

Light of Dharma translation: Hail to the Lotus-Handed One! Hail to the Auspicious Blue-Necked Lord! Hail to the Beneficent Mighty Sovereign, svāhā!

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: The Lotus in Full Bloom: Like a pure lotus blooming unsoiled from dark water, the awakened heart remains tender, pure, and generous, unstained by worldly afflictions.

Universal Dedication and Accomplishment · 圓滿迴向圓成

T20n1060_p0107c22–c25

Canonical text: 南無喝囉怛那哆囉夜耶，南無阿唎耶，婆嚧吉帝，爍皤囉夜，娑婆訶。唵，悉殿都，漫多囉，跋陀耶，娑婆訶。

中文: 南無喝囉怛那哆囉夜耶，南無阿唎耶，婆嚧吉帝，爍皤囉夜，娑婆訶。唵，悉殿都，漫多囉，跋陀耶，娑婆訶。

Light of Dharma translation: Homage to the Three Jewels! Homage to the Noble Avalokiteśvara, svāhā! Oṃ! May all words of this sacred mantra be perfectly accomplished, svāhā!

Contemplative Insight · 经义心要: The Seal of Universal Dedication: Freely dedicating all merits of prayer and meditation for the pacification of conflict, the easing of suffering, and the enlightenment of all beings.