sanghawalks: March 2014

English Surangama Mantra: Heroes Spell

This mantra is the Surangama Mantra, it my translation. I am Dharma Master Hong Yang, Bhikshuni in the Chinese Buddhist tradition of Buddhism. I have published the Heroes Spell on Amazon.com that explains each word and gives the Sanskrit and its definition and variations of word choice for each word. Sangha cherish this mantra never knowing its meaning because it supports our training, we support ourselves by reciting this mantra. Lots of commentaries have been written regarding this mantra but nothing in English, and only smidgens of truth have come out on its content. This mantra can be revised for individual cultivation because it engages the mind in body, voice, and action when done daily it is a healthy practice. The history of this mantra can be found in the Surangama Sutra translated into English by the Sagely City of 10,000 Buddhas and available to everyone online through their bookstore, www.cttbusa.org see their online bookstore.

Maudgalyayana (Buddha’s actual relative) recited this mantra at Buddha’s request to recall Ananda who was arrogant and prideful over his attainments in his cultivation decided to go to collect alms at the house of a prostitute, he just felt he knew he would not succumb to her charms and break his serious defeat precept of no sex. Well, he was wrong, apparently in the content of this mantra he had a problem and was about to lose his status as a monk due to his sexual excitement over this woman who got him inside and on her bed. Also it appears he had repeatedly done so in risky behavior because there is a point later in the mantra where the woman who repented and became a Bhikshuni and attained the status of arhanta from Buddha.

So how to apply this to your life, if you are truly Sangha and celibate in body or have no thoughts arising of sensual or sexual nature? You apply it as a lesson learned for Ananda was Buddha’s cousin and personal attendant, with recognized status by Buddha and his peers in the Sangha with attainments in his own right, if he could nearly fall and risk a parajika once committed then he would have been expelled immediately from the Sangha and had to resume lay life then we must remember his fault, even today. Don’t be coy, don’t be shy. This way we uphold our Vinaya precepts, if you are laity you uphold your lay precepts. The manner of the wording and context is the Buddha demanding Ananda return or be at risk of being expelled if he commits sexual intercourse, and he is mad. He has harsh words to say to Ananda, very direct, explicit to the actions he has been seen doing by the community. As a Vinaya precept holder myself I understand the style and harshness, it’s necessary at such risk for an expulsion and the harm is great to the young community around Buddha himself. If you want to reprint this you must contact me, it’s copyrighted and I will enforce it. I’ve worked long and hard at this and this is only poste for you to study not to reprint. Sangha monastics who intend to study this may contact me as I plan to form a Sangha only study group on this in the hopes you can be inspired to translate yourselves. For my published books click on this on amazon.com list. Dharma Master Hong Yang

Great Buddha Crown Heroes Spirit Spell

I bow to Heroes Assembly Main Buddhas & all Awakened! (x3)

Brilliant serene always support firmly these elders!

Heroic rulers in a lifetime rarely exist.

Cease my many harmful confused thoughts

Not all Sangha gain a dharma body

Wishing for a good result, to be a treasure ruler

Return as many people as there are rivers and sands.

Will this deep intent, giving, courtesy, intuitive virtue.

Is then called repaying Buddha’s kindness

Prostrating please World Honored certify me

This Five Peck evil world I vow first to enter

If one being not yet becomes a Buddha

End not in this to choose Nirvana

Great Might, Great Power, Great Compassion

Hope to study more to remove small tiny doubts

I swear to early gain Perfect Enlightenment

In the 10 directions boundary sit in a Buddha hall.

Emptiness in fact cancels death

This wheel mind will not turn.

I bow to Resident Ten Directions Buddhas!

I bow to Resident Ten Directions Dharmas!
I bow to Resident Ten Directions Sanghas!

I bow to Sakyamuni Buddha!

I bow to Buddha’s Crown Heroes Realm!

I bow to Hears the Worlds Sounds Awakened! Avalokitasvara
I bow to Earth Store Awakened! Ksitigarbha

At that time the World Honored, from his crown, surged a 100 Jeweled lights. The lights within these surged outward.

Precious 1000 petal lotuses, in each one transformed Buddhas.

Sitting on these precious flowers, their crowns releasing the 10 Paths.

100 precious lights, each one radiant, all of them now revealed.

As many as there are grains of sands. Buddha’s inner disciples are lifting thunderbolts and staffs on their mountains, all over to the edges of space. The Great Assembly their faces raised observed, in awe and admiration, they asked Buddha to pity them and to help. Eager to listen to Buddha. An invisible crown appears on his head called Sending a Light Arrived. Who proclaimed and spoke this spirit spell:

Heroes Spell, Section One lines 1-137

I bow in praise - places the mind in proper support.

I bow to sitting eloquent worthy peace perfect enlightenment sitting Buddha lotus crown!

I bow to Me a Buddha Bodhi sitting going gone!

I bow in praise to sitting and a lotus!

I bow in praise of perfect enlightenment!

I bow in praise oceans of respect to Sangha!

I bow in praise to World worthy!

I bow in praise to Stream enterer!

I bow in praise to acting unified in desire!

I bow in praise to free, equality gone!

I bow in praise of Equality and Bowl, Lamp, and Dana!

I bow in praise to Lamp hermit!

I bow in praise to Sakyamuni knowledge & hermit’s air!

I bow in praise of mighty bliss muttering is stopped!

I bow to Sending forth Treasure!

I bow to mighty deeds!

Venerable section.

I bow to Venerable vast power of good friend’s paths & the virtuous!

I bow to Venerable mortal leader open to folly sealed!

I bow to Piety!

I bow to Venerable the net of illusion fleeting three breaths. The alms bowl & healthy drink now for you are too gone astray, create a desire for robes and seal clan!

I bow to, piety!

Dwelling sub-section.

I bow in dwelling to Venerable Buddha!

I bow in dwelling to the Lotus sitting!

I bow in dwelling to the Resolute!

I bow in dwelling to the Jewels!

I bow in dwelling to the Warrior!

I bow to Venerable, a triple purity Sage while having a master this wild behavior is not safe; to Buddha!

I bow to Venerable!

Arrived, Worthy, to perfect enlightenment section.

I bow to Immortality, worthy Arrived, to perfect enlightenment!

I bow to Venerable Unshakable, worthy Arrived, to perfect enlightenment!

I bow to Venerable Medicine Teacher, wishes matured be thunder wisdom Arrived!

I bow to Venerable Revering, known following play ends worthy Arrived, to perfect enlightenment!

I bow to Venerable Sage to Sakya, worthy Arrived, to perfect enlightenment!

I bow to Venerable Jewel royal song, worthy Arrived perfect enlightenment divine!

Venerable Ananda must return and restrain section.

I bow to forever present venerable sitting; light crown sitting and bowl!

I bow to Unconquerable return course maker!

Ananda’s problem & consequences section.

Hearing in town the past seizing you is restraining the waking to non-existence in the next life this knowledge destroys the origin wiping it away to counter the current!

Streaming; binding; liberation!

Streaming; guilt; defiling; desire!

Praise and Guarding section.

Praise resisting wheel successful, seizing this world a solid defense in ruining rebellion!

Praise having ability won, guarding fortifies the body!

Praise rebirth peace frees sorrow, guarding great grasping, guarding agitation within nature delaying is cowardly air wicked ruin forgetting a speedy ghost!

Praising attainment in great elements, great mental power, great path, a treasury to a great next life!

Lover crossed pious wishing Lotus living victory!

Resolute section.

Resolute, death!

Resolute, passing a Lotus sitting!

Resolute, digging a great living in next life’s song! Resolute, might!

Resolute, power like an enemy honored after a stable great path a pious crossing closer to a great next life!

Resolute, vast living!

Resolute, a daughter shattering a noble lineage!

Resolute, handed knowledge who is the initiator? Right path is Origin Buddha awareness a crown bump hero gifted flowers and beauty!

Resolute, like a jeweler!

Resolute, guarding a gold light!

Resolute, quick charming teachings shines worry less!

Sealing the section spell protection.

So thus seals community! My living protection! Now have an undivided desire for liberation!

(Recite now call disciples {name(s)} to accept and maintain their faith) [private in home practice, never used in temple unless special request]]

Heroes Spell, Section Two lines 138-178

Scolding section.

Joyously lively in community with a mighty will you wicked-minded gone away from Sangha; amusing at best!

Sounds, amusing at best!

Will and perception, amusing at best!

Devoted to your friends & towns; amusing at best!

Personal speedy ghosts, body’s evil spirits, seizing, evil spirits you have agitation within; amusing at best!

Guiding success praised so seizing the worldly sage praised agitation is human; amusing at best!

Return to the Path command.

Guarding Venerable you are wicked-minded! You formed a crown bump you return immediately! Great at defying and driving me away! Sir, you are defying and driving me away by your bad luck! Lotus, we were sitting together, we three here are eager for your return! Warrior try to attain!

Encouragement and call to act.

Great resolute smashing the three worlds! Lucky and pleased with your sitting, Venerable the “I” is now whole so keep the desire for liberation!

(Now here its usual is to call names of lay people & disciples {name(s)})

Heroes Spell, Section Three lines 179-272

Fear Section.

Guarding fear; Poison fear; Fire fear; Water fear; Venom fear; Accident crossing fear; Next, life fear; Disfiguring fear; Thunderbolt fear; Beginning right path fear; Bearing into earth; Venerable fear; Snake enclosure fear; Guarding will fear; Town fear; Knowledge passing fear; Saving fear!

Seizing Section.

Speedy Ghost seizing; Evil spirits seizing; Departed soul seizing; Beggar seizing; Eerie being seizing; Betel-nut tree seizing; Demon seizing; Lotus demon seizing; Sense of “I” seizing; Memory lost seizing; Prey crushing seizing; Shadow seizing; River seizing!

Robbing section.

Birth robbing; Life robbing; Fierce robbing; Will robbing; Prize robbing; Liberty robbing; Race robbing; Rich robbing; Desire robbing; Intelligence robbing; Free from sorrow robbing; Mind robbing!

Knowing lessens separation of rule swift observance section.

Mind a good seat; my grasping!