Sutra on the Eleven-Faced Heart of Dharanis (十一面神呪心經)

Eleven-Faced Divine Mantra Heart Sutra

Translator: Xuanzang, Tripitaka Master of the Great Tang, by Imperial Decree

Thus have I heard:

Once, the Blessed One was staying at the Bamboo Grove Monastery near Shravasti, together with a great assembly of twelve hundred and fifty monks. Countless bodhisattvas and great beings were also present, with the Venerable Maitreya at their head. In addition, there were countless monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen, and beings of various kinds—such as devas, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, kumbhandas, pishachas, humans, and non-humans—all gathered around, offering homage, reverence, and praise, as the Blessed One taught the Dharma.

At that time, Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva Mahāsattva, surrounded by countless hundreds of thousands of mantra-holding immortals, came before the Buddha. Upon arrival, he prostrated himself at the Buddha's feet, circumambulated him three times to the right, and sat down to one side. He then addressed the Buddha, saying:

"World-Honored One, I possess a sacred mantra called the Eleven-Faced Mantra, which possesses great power and was taught by eleven koṭis of Buddhas. I now wish to proclaim it, out of a desire to benefit and bring happiness to all beings—to cure all illnesses, to eliminate all evils, to avert all inauspicious occurrences, to dispel all evil dreams, to prevent untimely death, to pacify and purify those with malicious minds, to bring peace to those afflicted with sorrow, to reconcile those with enmity, to eliminate all obstacles posed by demons and evil spirits, and to fulfill all heartfelt aspirations.

World-Honored One, I see no being—whether celestial, demonic, Brahmā, ascetic, or Brahmin—who, having protected themselves with this sacred mantra, reciting, upholding, reading, writing, or propagating it, could be harmed by any calamity, demonic obstacle, weapon, poison, sorcery, or curse. Nor do I see any place, near or far, where this mantra has been used to establish a boundary, that any being could cross to cause disturbance—except for those whose fixed negative karma is destined to ripen.

World-Honored One, this matter should be recognized as true. It should be accepted with faith, not subjected to doubt or analysis. In this way, all calamities will be kept far away and will not be able to approach. This sacred mantra has been praised and endorsed by all Buddhas, and upheld and protected by all Tathāgatas.

World-Honored One, I recall that in a past age, more than countless eons ago—more than the sands of the Ganges River—a Buddha appeared in the world named the Tathāgata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, Hundred Lotus Eyes Unobstructed Crown Blazing Merit Light King. At that time, I was a great sage and received this mantra from that World-Honored One. Upon receiving it, I saw the Buddhas of the ten directions and immediately attained the patient endurance of the non-arising of all phenomena. You should know that this mantra possesses great power.

Therefore, if any faithful man or woman of pure faith wishes to uphold, recite, and practice this sacred mantra, they should do so with reverence and single-minded focus. Each morning, having purified themselves according to the proper method, they should recite this mantra one hundred and eight times. If they do so, they will obtain ten benefits in this very life. What are these ten?

First, the body will always be free from illness. Second, they will always be embraced by the Buddhas of the ten directions. Third, their wealth, treasures, clothing, and food will be inexhaustible. Fourth, they will be able to subdue enemies and remain fearless. Fifth, noble and honored beings will respectfully greet them first. Sixth, poisons, sorcery, and evil spirits will not be able to harm them. Seventh, no weapon or staff will be able to injure them. Eighth, water will not drown them. Ninth, fire will not burn them. Tenth, they will never die an untimely death.

They will also obtain four further meritorious benefits: First, at the moment of death, they will see the Buddhas. Second, they will never fall into the lower realms of existence. Third, they will not die due to dangers or disasters. Fourth, they will be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

World-Honored One, I also recall that in a past age, more than ten eons ago—measured by the sands of the Ganges, and even beyond that—a Buddha appeared in the world named the Tathāgata, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Enlightened One, Fragrant Melodious Sound. At that time, I was a great householder and received this mantra from that Buddha. Upon receiving it, I immediately transcended forty thousand eons of birth and death through reciting and upholding this mantra. I also obtained the great compassion and wisdom treasury of all Buddhas, as well as the liberation teachings of all Bodhisattvas.

Through the power of this mantra, I am able to rescue beings from all kinds of suffering—imprisonment in jails, fetters, handcuffs, and shackles, impending execution, dangers from water, fire, wind, thieves, poisons, sorcery, curses, and harm from humans and non-humans alike. Because of this, I am able to serve as a refuge, protector, comforter, island, and shelter for all beings. Through the power of this mantra, I am able to tame all fierce yakṣas and rākṣasas, first causing them to develop kind and compassionate hearts, and then establishing them on the path to unsurpassed, perfect enlightenment.

World-Honored One, this sacred mantra possesses great power. Reciting it just once can eliminate the four grave offenses and the five heinous crimes without exception—how much more so for those who actually practice it as taught. Only those who have planted wholesome roots in the presence of countless Buddhas—hundreds of thousands of koṭis of them—will be able to hear this mantra in this lifetime, let alone uphold and practice it as taught.

For those who can recite, uphold, and practice this sacred mantra day and night, I will ensure that all their wishes are fulfilled. If anyone can observe the precepts and maintain purity on a half-monthly basis, or on the fourteenth or fifteenth day of the month, and focus their mind on me while reciting this sacred mantra, they will transcend forty thousand eons of birth and death.

World-Honored One, through this mantra, my name has become noble and rare to hear. If someone were to recite the names of hundreds of thousands of koṭis of Buddhas, and another were to sincerely recite my name even once, the merit of the two would be completely equal. Those who recite my name will all attain the stage of non-retrogression, be free from all illnesses, released from all obstacles and fears, and be able to purify themselves of all evil deeds of body, speech, and mind. How much more so for those who uphold, recite, and practice the sacred mantra I have taught. You should know that such a person has grasped unsurpassed enlightenment as if holding it in the palm of their hand."

Then the World-Honored One praised Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva, saying: "Excellent, excellent! Good man! You have been able to arouse such great compassion and loving-kindness toward all beings, and wish to reveal this great sacred mantra. Good man! Through this skillful means, you can liberate all beings from all illnesses, suffering, obstacles, fears, and evil deeds of body, speech, and mind, and even establish all beings on the path to Supreme Perfect Enlightenment. Good man! I also rejoice and accept your sacred mantra. You should now proclaim it." At that time, Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva Mahāsattva rose from his seat, bared one shoulder, knelt on his right knee, and said to the Buddha: "Those who recite this mantra should speak thus:"

Homage to the Three Jewels. Homage to the Thus-Come One, the King of Radiant Adornment, whose wisdom is as vast as the ocean, illuminating all. Homage to all Thus-Come Ones, Worthy of Offerings, and Perfectly Enlightened Ones. Homage to Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva-Mahāsattva, the embodiment of great compassion.