The Shurangama Dharani

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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

What commentary are you referring to?

I am just guessing, but often mantra letters are visualized while chanting, sometimes the letters are in motion, in a circle.

Sorry to be of no real help.
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remm
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by remm »

If he's talking about Master Hua's commentary, then he is referring to the english translation of commentaries to the Shurangama Mantra. There is a small post about this online which I can find if I dig it up, otherwise this is a secret text that doesn't circulate outside of the circle of monastics and few laypeople who know this esoteric practice of the shurangama mantra.

And the visualization for this is picturing the letters beneath a white canopy adorned with jewels. I have the picture, if you want it, please PM me.
Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

The first in a series of five parts on the mantra, published in Oct. 2007, in Vajra Bodhi Sea:

http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 49p028.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

The second in a series of five parts on the mantra, published in Nov. 2007, in Vajra Bodhi Sea:

http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 50p027.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Much, but not all, of Master Hua's verses on & commentary on the mantra are found online at the Vajra Bodhi Sea site. Here is the earliest article I could find. It will be followed by every other one that is online. Each article, excepting some introductory ones, will focus on one line of the Shurangama Mantra. If anyone has the missing issues of VBS and can fill in the gaps from the online versions, please add them in this thread.

http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/101_132/vbs131/131_4.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Then issue 132 has:

http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/101_132/vbs132/132_6.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

After four missing issues, #137 (Oct. 1981) has:

http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 7p017e.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Issue 138 touches on the benefits of the Heart of the mantra:

http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 8p017e.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

The first line and Master Hua's verse on it, with more commentary on both; from Vajra Bodhi Sea Dec. 1981, #139.

http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 9p017e.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Line two: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 0p014e.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line three: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 016e-1.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line four: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 015e-1.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line five: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 017e-1.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Lhasa
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Lhasa »

Do we need transmission to use this mantra?
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Lhasa wrote:Do we need transmission to use this mantra?
Nope.
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Lhasa
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Lhasa »

:thanks:
Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Earlier in this thread I suggested this book about experiences with the mantra. BTTS, the publisher, changed their website, so that old link is dead. Try looking for this book in Chinese/English -- Cosmic Magic Syllables Save the World

The current link has Chinese characters mixed in the URL, so it does not work.
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Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Line six: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 4p015e.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line seven: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 016e-1.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line eight: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 018e-1.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line nine: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 7p009e.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Will wrote:The second in a series of five parts on the mantra, published in Nov. 2007, in Vajra Bodhi Sea:

http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 50p027.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Here is part 3 by Wang Qingnan PhD, from January 2008 issue, #452:

http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 52p032.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Now part 4: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 53p035.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Part 5, section one: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 54p033.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Part 5, final part - go to bottom page, 37: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 54p035.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Line 10: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 8p010e.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line 11: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 9p007e.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line 12: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 007e-1.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line 13: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 1p006e.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line 14: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 2p010e.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

To memorize this huge mantra of over 500 lines, Master Hua says to get one line memorized perfectly, and only then move on to the next line. Do not think of the size and sigh 'it is too vast'.
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Line 15: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 007e-1.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line 16: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 4p014e.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line 17: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 5p012e.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line 18: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 6p004e.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Line 19: http://www.drbachinese.org/vbs/publish/ ... 014e-1.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
May all seek, find & follow the Path of Buddhas.
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Kaji
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Kaji »

Quick fact that I have recently come across (sorry if this has been mentioned in one of the links): practising the Shurangama Dharani is best done if you are a vegetarian who does not eat or take:
- Meat, obviously
- Eggs - even better if you are vegan
- Alcohol
- Intoxicating substances
- Parivyaya, which includes garlic, garlic chives, onion, spring onion, shallot
Namas triya-dhvikānāṃ sarva tathāgatānām!
Nicholas Weeks
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Nicholas Weeks »

Kaji wrote:Quick fact that I have recently come across (sorry if this has been mentioned in one of the links): practising the Shurangama Dharani is best done if you are a vegetarian who does not eat or take:
- Meat, obviously
- Eggs - even better if you are vegan
- Alcohol
- Intoxicating substances
- Parivyaya, which includes garlic, garlic chives, onion, spring onion, shallot
Diet is helpful, but like practicing Dharma in general, precept-based virtue is far more important.

Here is a book giving some lay folks experience with the Dharani:

http://www.bttsonline.org/chinese-and-english-books-" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;中英文書籍/cosmic-magic-syllables-save-the-world-天地靈文救世界-english/chinese-中英雙語/
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Kaji
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Re: The Shurangama Dharani

Post by Kaji »

Will wrote:Diet is helpful, but like practicing Dharma in general, precept-based virtue is far more important.

Here is a book giving some lay folks experience with the Dharani:

http://www.bttsonline.org/chinese-and-english-books-" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;中英文書籍/cosmic-magic-syllables-save-the-world-天地靈文救世界-english/chinese-中英雙語/
I agree - precept-based virtue is extremely important. Eating vegetarian while continuing to kill lives wouldn't get one very far.

Interesting, the Cundi mantra is explicitly stated to be suitable even for people who continue to eat meat, drink alcohol and have a sexual partner. It is taught that it is a skillful means by the Bodhisattva to cater for people who are in a transitional state to become even better.
Namas triya-dhvikānāṃ sarva tathāgatānām!
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