The Divine Mantra
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by Ajaan
Lee Dhammadharo (Phra Suddhidhammaransi Gambhiramedhacariya)
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IntroductionI have written this book, The Divine Mantra, as a means of drawing to purity those who practice the Dhamma, because the chant given here brings benefits to those who memorize and recite it, inasmuch as it deals directly with matters that exist in each of us. Normally, once we are born, we all dwell in the six elements. These elements are brought together by our own actions, both good and evil. This being the case, these elements can give a great deal of trouble to those who dwell in them, like a child who can be a constant nuisance to its parents. Repeating this chant, then, is like nourishing and training a child to be healthy and mature; when the child is healthy and mature, its parents can rest and relax. Repeating this chant is like feeding a child and lulling it to sleep with a beautiful song: the Buddhaguna, the recitation of the Buddha's virtues. The power of the Buddhaguna can exert influence on the elements in each individual, purifying them and investing them with power (kaya-siddhi), just as all material elements exert gravitational pull on one another every second. Or you might make a comparison with an electric wire: This chant is like an electric current, extending to wherever you direct it. It can even improve the environment, because it also includes the chant of the Kapila hermit, whose story runs as follows:
When all of this was related to me while I was in India, I couldn't help thinking of the Buddha, who was pure by virtue of the peerless quality of his heart to the point where he was able to invest the elements in his body with power, making them more pure than any other elements in the world. His relics, for example, have appeared to those devoted to him and, I have heard, come and go on their own, which is very strange indeed. All of these things are accomplished through the power of a pure heart. When the heart is pure, the elements also become pure as a result. When these elements exist in the world, they can have a refreshing influence on the environment — because all elements are interrelated. If we Buddhists set our minds on training ourselves in this direction, we can be a powerful influence to the good in proportion to our numbers. But if we don't train ourselves and instead run about filling ourselves with evil, our hearts are bound to become hot and disturbed. The flames in our hearts are bound to set the elements in our bodies on fire, and the heat from these inner fires is certain to spread in all directions throughout the world. As this heat gathers and becomes greater, it will raise temperatures in the atmosphere around the world. The heat from the sun will become fiercer. Weather will become abnormal. The seasons, for example, will deviate from their normal course. And when this happens, human life will become more and more of a hardship. The ultimate stage of this evil will be the destruction of the world by the fires at the end of the aeon, which will consume the earth. All this from our own thoughtlessness, letting nature by and large go ahead and follow this course — which shows that we're not very rational, because everything has a reason, everything comes from a cause. The world we live in has the heart as its cause. If the heart is good, the world is sure to be good. If the heart is corrupt, the world is sure to be corrupt. Thus, in this book I have written down the way to train the heart so as to lead to our happiness and well-being in the coming future. Part I: WorshipTo pay respect to, and ask forgiveness of, the Buddha's relics, relics of the Noble Disciples, Buddha images, stupas, the Bodhi tree — all of which are objects that all Buddhists should respect, both inwardly and outwardly: Araha.m sammaa-sambuddho bhagavaa. The Blessed One is Worthy & Rightly Self-awakened. Buddha.m bhagavanta.m abhivaademi. I bow down before the Awakened, Blessed One. (BOW DOWN) Svaakkhaato bhagavataa dhammo. The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One. Dhamma.m namassaami. I pay homage to the Dhamma. (BOW DOWN) Supa.tipanno bhagavato saavaka-sa"ngho. The Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples has practiced well. Sa"ngha.m namaami. I pay respect to the Sangha. (BOW DOWN) Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammaa-sambuddhassa. (Three times.) Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Rightly Self-awakened One. Ukaasa, dvaara-tayena kata.m, sabba.m apaaradha.m khamatu no (me) bhante. We (I) ask your leave. We (I) ask you to forgive us (me) for whatever wrong we (I) have done with the three doors (of body, speech, & mind). Vandaami bhante cetiya.m, sabba.m sabbattha .thaane, supati.t.thita.m saariira"nka-dhaatu.m, mahaa-bodhi.m buddha-ruupa.m, sakkaarattha.m. I revere every stupa established in every place, every Relic of the Buddha's body, every Great Bodhi tree, every Buddha image that is an object of veneration. Aha.m vandaami dhaatuyo, aha.m vandaami sabbaso, icceta.m ratana-taya.m, aha.m vandaami sabbadaa. I revere the relics. I revere them everywhere. I always revere the Triple Gem. Buddha-puujaa mahaa-tejavanto, Dhamma-puujaa mahappańńo, Sa"ngha-puujaa mahaa-bhogaavaho. Homage to the Buddha brings great glory. Homage to the Dhamma, great discernment. Homage to the Sa"ngha, great wealth. Buddha.m Dhamma.m Sa"ngha.m, jiivita.m yaava-nibbaana.m sara.na.m gacchaami. I go to the Buddha, Dhamma, & Sa"ngha as my life & refuge until reaching Liberation. Parisuddho aha.m bhante, parisuddhoti ma.m, Buddho Dhammo Sa"ngho dhaaretu. I am morally pure. May the Buddha, Dhamma, & Sa"ngha recognize me as morally pure. Sabbe sattaa sadaa hontu, averaa sukha-jiivino. May all living beings always live happily, free from enmity. Kata.m puńńa-phala.m mayha.m, sabbe bhaagii bhavantu te. May all share in the blessings springing from the good I have done. (BOW DOWN THREE TIMES) Part II: ChantingInvesting the six elements with the Buddhagu.naNamo tassa bhagavato arahato sammaa-sambuddhassa. (Three times.) Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Rightly Self-awakened One. Buddha.m aayu-va.d.dhana.m jiivita.m yaava-nibbaana.m sara.na.m gacchaami. I go to the Buddha as my life, vitality, & refuge until reaching Liberation. Dhamma.m aayu-va.d.dhana.m jiivita.m yaava-nibbaana.m sara.na.m gacchaami. I go to the Dhamma as my life, vitality, & refuge until reaching Liberation. Sa"ngha.m aayu-va.d.dhana.m jiivita.m yaava-nibbaana.m sara.na.m gacchaami. I go to the Sangha as my life, vitality, & refuge until reaching Liberation. Dutiyampi buddha.m aayu-va.d.dhana.m jiivita.m yaava-nibbaana.m sara.na.m gacchaami. A second time, I go to the Buddha as my life, vitality, & refuge until reaching Liberation. Dutiyampi dhamma.m aayu-va.d.dhana.m jiivita.m yaava-nibbaana.m sara.na.m gacchaami. A second time, I go to the Dhamma as my life, vitality, & refuge until reaching Liberation. Dutiyampi sa"ngha.m aayu-va.d.dhana.m jiivita.m yaava-nibbaana.m sara.na.m gacchaami. A second time, I go to the Sangha as my life, vitality, & refuge until reaching Liberation. Tatiyampi buddha.m aayu-va.d.dhana.m jiivita.m yaava-nibbaana.m sara.na.m gacchaami. A third time, I go to the Buddha as my life, vitality, & refuge until reaching Liberation. Tatiyampi dhamma.m aayu-va.d.dhana.m jiivita.m yaava-nibbaana.m sara.na.m gacchaami. A third time, I go to the Dhamma as my life, vitality, & refuge until reaching Liberation. Tatiyampi sa"ngha.m aayu-va.d.dhana.m jiivita.m yaava-nibbaana.m sara.na.m gacchaami. A third time, I go to the Sangha as my life, vitality, & refuge until reaching Liberation. 1. Wind element:Vaayo ca buddha-gu.na.m araha.m buddho itipi so bhagavaa namaami'ha.m. Wind has the virtue of the Buddha. The Awakened One is worthy & so he is Blessed: I pay him homage. Araha.m sammaa-sambuddho, Worthy is the Rightly Self-awakened One, Vijjaa-cara.na-sampanno sugato lokaviduu, consummate in knowledge & conduct, one who has gone the good way, knower of the cosmos, Anuttaro purisa-damma-saarathi satthaa deva-manussaana.m buddho bhagavaati. unexcelled trainer of those who can be taught, teacher of human & divine beings; awakened; blessed. (Think of the Buddha & his purity) Vaayo ca dhammeta.m araha.m buddho itipi so bhagavaa namaami'ha.m. Wind is that quality. The Awakened One is worthy & so he is Blessed: I pay him homage. Svaakkhaato bhagavataa dhammo, The Dhamma is well-expounded by the Blessed One, Sandi.t.thiko akaaliko ehipassiko, to be seen here & now, timeless, inviting all to come & see, Opanayiko paccatta.m veditabbo vińńuuhiiti. pertinent, to be seen by the wise for themselves. (Think of Ven. Sariputta & his wisdom) Vaayo ca sa"nghaana.m araha.m buddho itipi so bhagavaa namaami'ha.m. Wind is given over to the Sanghas. The Awakened One is worthy & so he is Blessed: I pay him homage. Supa.tipanno bhagavato saavaka-sa"ngho, The Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples who have practiced well, Uju-pa.tipanno bhagavato saavaka-sa"ngho, the Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples who have practiced straightforwardly, Ńaaya-pa.tipanno bhagavato saavaka-sa"ngho, the Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples who have practiced methodically, Saamiici-pa.tipanno bhagavato saavaka-sa"ngho, the Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples who have practiced masterfully, Yadida.m cattaari purisa-yugaani a.t.tha purisa-puggalaa: i.e., the four pairs — the eight types — of Noble Ones: Esa bhagavato saavaka-sa"ngho — That is the Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples — AAhuneyyo paahuneyyo dakkhi.neyyo ańjali-kara.niiyo, worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of respect, Anuttara.m puńńakkhetta.m lokassaati. the incomparable field of merit for the world. (Think of Ven. Moggallana, his supernormal powers & his compassion.) Dhaatu-parisuddhaanubhaavena, sabba-dukkhaa sabba-bhayaa sabba-rogaa vimuccanti. Through the power of the purity of the element, they are released from all pain, all danger, all disease. Iti uddham-adho tiriya.m sabbadhi sabbattataaya sabbaavanta.m loka.m, mettaa karu.naa muditaa upekkhaa sahagatena cetasaa, catuddisa.m pharitvaa viharati, When one dwells spreading an awareness imbued with good will, compassion, appreciation, & equanimity in this way to the four directions, above, below, around, in every way throughout the entire cosmos, Sukha.m supati sukha.m pa.tibujjhati, na paapaka.m supina.m passati, one sleeps with ease, wakes with ease, dreams no evil dreams. Manussaana.m piyo hoti, amanussaana.m piyo hoti, devataa rakkhanti, Naassa aggi vaa visa.m vaa sattha.m vaa kamati, One is dear to human beings, dear to non-human beings, guarded by divine beings, and untouched by fire, poison, or weapons. Tuva.ta.m citta.m samaadhiyati, mukha-va.n.no vippasiidati, One's mind is quickly concentrated & one's complexion bright. Asammu.lho kaala.m karoti, Uttari.m appa.tivijjhanto brahma-lokuupago hoti. One dies unconfused and — if penetrating no higher — is reborn in the Brahma worlds. Iti uddham-adho tiriya.m avera.m averaa sukha-jiivino. Thus feeling no enmity above, below, & all around, free from enmity, one lives happily. Kata.m puńńa-phala.m mayha.m sabbe bhaagii bhavantu te. May all share in the blessings springing from the good I have done. Bhavantu sabba-ma"ngala.m rakkhantu sabba-devataa. May there be every blessing, may divine beings keep guard. Sabba-buddhaanubhaavena sabba-dhammaanubhaavena sabba-sa"nghaanubhaavena sotthi hontu nirantara.m, Through the power of all the Buddhas, Dhammas, & Sanghas may there be well-being without end. Araha.m buddho itipi so bhagavaa namaami'ha.m. The Awakened One is worthy & so he is Blessed: I pay him homage. The chant for each of the remaining elements is identical with the chant for the wind element, i.e., (1) the passage on the Buddha's virtues, (2) the passage on the Dhamma's virtues, (3) the passage on the Sangha's virtues, followed by the passage beginning, 'Dhaatu-parisuddhaanubhaavena....' Only the name of the element is changed: 2. Fire element:Tejo ca buddha-gu.na.m... Tejo ca dhammeta.m... Tejo ca sa"nghaana.m... 3. Water element:AApo ca buddha-gu.na.m... AApo ca dhammeta.m... AApo ca sa"nghaana.m... 4. Earth element:Pa.thavii ca buddha-gu.na.m... Pa.thavii ca dhammeta.m... Pa.thavii ca sa"nghaana.m... 5. Space element:AAkaasaa ca buddha-gu.na.m... AAkaasaa ca dhammeta.m... AAkaasaa ca sa"nghaana.m... 6. Consciousness element:Vińńaa.nańca buddha-gu.na.m... Vińńaa.nańca dhammeta.m... Vińńaa.nańca sa"nghaana.m... Once you have memorized Section 1, the remaining sections will be no problem, because they are virtually the same, differing only in the name of the element. These six elements exist within each of us, so when you repeat the chant you should also think about the element you are chanting about: Wind — feelings of movement, such as the in-and-out breath; Fire — feelings of warmth; Water — liquid or cool feelings; Earth — feelings of heaviness or solidity; Space — feelings of emptiness; Consciousness — awareness of objects. If you think about these elements while you chant, the chant will be very beneficial. The same chant can be used for the five aggregates, the twelve sense media, and the 32 parts of the body. The method of chanting is the same as with the six elements, simply substituting the names of the various aggregates, sense media, and parts of the body, as follows: The Five Aggregates1. Ruupańca — form, sense data 2. Vedanaa ca feelings of pleasure, pain, and indifference 3. Sańńaa ca names, labels, acts of perceiving and identifying 4. Sa"nkhaaraa ca — mental forces and processes 5. Vińńaa.nańca — consciousness of the six senses The Twelve Sense Media1. Cakkhu ca — eyes 2. Sotańca — ears 3. Ghaanańca — nose 4. Jivhaa ca — tongue 5. Kaayo ca — body 6. Mano ca — mind 7. Ruupańca — forms 8. Saddo ca — sounds 9. Gandho ca — smells 10. Raso ca — flavors 11. Po.t.thabbaa ca — tactile sensations 12. Dhammaaramma.nańca — ideas The 32 Parts of the Body1. Kesaa ca — Hair of the head 2. Lomaa ca — Hair of the body 3. Nakhaa ca — Nails 4. Dantaa ca — Teeth 5. Taco ca — Skin 6. Ma.msańca — Flesh 7. Nhaaruu ca — Tendons 8. A.t.thii ca — Bones 9. A.t.thimińjańca — Bone marrow 10. Vakkańca — Spleen 11. Hadayańca — Heart 12. Yakanańca — Liver 13. Kilomakańca — Membranes 14. Pihakańca — Kidneys 15. Papphaasańca — Lungs 16. Antańca — Large intestines 17. Antagu.nańca — Small intestines 18. Udariyańca — Gorge 19. Kariisańca — Feces 20. Matthalu"ngańca — Brain 21. Pittańca — Gall 22. Semhańca — Phlegm 23. Pubbo ca — Lymph 24. Lohitańca — Blood 25. Sedo ca — Sweat 26. Medo ca — Fat 27. Assu ca — Tears 28. Vasaa ca — Oil 29. Khe.lo ca — Saliva 30. Si"nghaa.nikaa ca — Mucus 31. Lasikaa ca — Oil in the joints 32. Muttańca — Urine Part III: MeditationThere are seven basic steps:
To summarize: (a) for the sake of improving the energy already existing in every part of your body, so that you can contend with such things as disease and pain; and (b) for the sake of clarifying the knowledge already within you, so that it can become a basis for the skills leading to release and purity of heart — you should always bear these seven steps in mind, because they are absolutely basic to every aspect of breath meditation. Worship, chanting, and meditation have to go hand-in-hand before they can truly purify the mind, in line with the basic principles of the Buddha's teachings: Sabba-paapassa akara.na.m
Don't let anything corrupt or second-rate Kusalassuupasampadaa Develop skill in all of your actions. What this means is that in worship we have acted skillfully with our deeds, in chanting we have acted skillfully with our words, and in meditation we have acted skillfully with our thoughts. Once this is the case, we will be able to reach the heart of the Buddha's teachings: Sacitta-pariyodapana.m Attain purity of heart. Everything in the world comes about solely through the power of the heart. A corrupt heart will abuse this power. A well-trained heart can use this power to uplift others and to gain blessings beyond price.
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Provenance: ©2006 Metta Forest Monastery. Transcribed from a file provided by the translator. This Access to Insight edition is ©2006–2010 John T. Bullitt. Terms of use: You may copy, reformat, reprint, republish, and redistribute this work in any medium whatsoever, provided that: (1) you only make such copies, etc. available free of charge; (2) you clearly indicate that any derivatives of this work (including translations) are derived from this source document; and (3) you include the full text of this license in any copies or derivatives of this work. Otherwise, all rights reserved. For additional information about this license, see the FAQ. How to cite this document (one suggested style): "The Divine Mantra", by Ajaan Lee Dhammadharo, translated from the Thai by Thanissaro Bhikkhu. Access to Insight, June 7, 2009, http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/thai/lee/divinemantra.html.
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