The gong’an exercise of Buddha recitation uses the invocation of Amituofo as a huatou. At the very moment the name is uttered, it must be the focal point in respect to which all doubts and delusions are laid aside. At the same time you ask “Who is this person reciting Amitābha’s name?”
Category: zen
Great Dharani Resources
Here is a collection of resources that will hopefully be helpful to anyone who wants to know more about “The Great Dharani”. Lokesh Chandra • Lokesh Chandra’s book-length study of the Great Dharani: “Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara”: https://www.namsebangdzo.com/Thousand-Armed-Avalokitesvara-p/12549.htm • Lokesh Chandra’s paper: “Origin of Avalokitesvara of Potala”: http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/kailash/pdf/kailash_07_01_01.pdf • Another Lokesh Chandra paper: “Origin of Avalokita-svara/Avalokite-svara”: http://www.asiainstitutetorino.it/Indologica/volumes/vol13/vol13_art13_CHANDRA.pdf […]
Kwan Seum Bosal Chanting Part Five: “Misfortune is derived from the mind and is extinguished by the mind”
Introduction Up to this point we have (1) taken refuge in the Triple Gem, (2) called upon the name of Kwan Seum Bosal, (3) recited Kwan Seum Bosal’s mantra for eliminating “karmic obstructions”, and (4) recited the mantra for achieving our “great aspiration” as Bodhisattvas. It’s a hard act to follow! The fifth part of […]
True Words (眞言)
虛空可量風可繫
허공가량풍가계
heo-gong ga yang pung ga gye
sky able measure wind able bind
無能盡說佛功德
무능진설불공덕
mu-neung jin-seol bul gong-deok
powerless explain buddha’s virtue-merit
Mantra of the Correct Origins of Gwanseeum (正本 觀自在菩薩 如意輪呪)
Mantra of the Correct Origins of Gwanseeum 正本 觀自在菩薩 如意輪呪 Namu motdaya namu dalmaya namu seunggaya namu ariya barogije saraya mojisadaya maha sadaya sagara mahagaro nigaya haridaya mandara danyata gagana barojijinda mani mahamudarye ruroruro jitta haridaye bisaye om budana budani yadeung 정본 관자재보살 여의륜주 나무 못다야 나무 달마야 나무 승가야 나무 아리야 바로기제 사다야 모지사다야 […]
Sublime Dhāraṇī of Gwanseeum Issuing from the Most Profound Heart of the Buddha 佛頂心 觀世音菩薩 陀羅尼
Sublime Dhāraṇī of Gwanseeum Issuing from the Most Profound Heart of the Buddha 佛頂心 觀世音菩薩 陀羅尼 Namora danadara yaya namak ariya barogidye sabaraya moji sadabaya mahasadabaya mahagaronigaya danyata abada abada baribadye inhyehye danyata salbadarani mandaraya inhyehye barimasuda motdaya om salbajaksugaya darani injiriya danyata barogije saebaraya salbadotta ohayami sabaha 나모라 다나 다라 야야 나막 아리야 바로기제 […]
A koan is always about something
When the Ancients let down a hook, it was never an empty manoeuvre; they invariably had some truth to benefit people. Commentary on “Ts’ui Yen’s Eyebrows”, Hekiganroku https://terebess.hu/zen/Blue-Cliff.pdf
Kwan Seum Bosal Chanting Part Three: Eliminating Karmic Obstacles
Introduction So, let’s talk about bad karma. Bodhidharma (the founding teacher of Zen in China) taught that When those who search for the Path encounter adversity, they should think to themselves, “In countless ages gone by, I’ve turned from the essential to the trivial and wandered through all manner of existence, often angry without cause […]
Kwan Seum Bosal Chanting Part Two: Reciting the Name of the Bodhisattva
Introduction As the name implies, the core of “Kwan Seum Bosal Chanting” is the actual chanting of the name of the Bodhisattva of Compassion (Kwan Seum Bosal) over and over again. As a general rule, “Kwan Seum Bosal” should be repeated at least 108 times. The practice of reciting the names of various Buddhas and […]