Special Topics
Upholding the Buddha's name: "Namo Guan Shi Yin Pusa"
When Buddhists experience fear, they always chant scriptures or the Buddha's name. Even in the face of critical situations, they subconsciously recite the sacred name of Guanyin Bodhisattva, like a drowning person who automatically reaches for a rescue boat. Reciting the sacred name of Guanyin Bodhisattva is the easiest and most convenient method of all Guanyin Bodhisattva's practice methods. Even if one doesn't have any understanding of the Buddhist doctrine, one can still attai...
Recitation of Dharanis and Mantras: Six-syllable Mantra, White-robed Guanyin Mantra, Ten-Phrase Avalokitesvara Sutra for Prolonging Life, Great Compassion Dharani, and Dharani of Eleven-Faced Avalokitesvara
There are many dharanis and mantras associated with Guanyin Bodhisattva (Avalokitesvara). In the Chinese-speaking world, the most popular and best known of these must be the Great Compassion Dharani. The Six-syllable Mantra and the Dharani of Eleven-Faced Avalokitesvara, mantras commonly practiced in Esoteric Buddhism, were introduced into the Chinese region by esoteric Buddhist monks from Tibet and Mongolia. Often recited by Chinese Buddhists, the White-robed Guanyin Mantra is believed to be...
Repentance: Great Compassion Repentance and performing Guanyin repentance method
Great Compassion Repentance Both the Great Compassion Mantra and the Great Compassion Repentance have their origins in the Great Compassion Dharani Sutra (大悲心陀羅尼經). The Great Compassion Repentance is a ritual manual developed, compiled, and formulated by Master Zhili (知禮大師) during the Song dynasty, using the "Great Compassion Dharani Sutra" as its principal body. The Chinese version currently in circulation is a simplified version of the Qing dynasty Vinaya Master Du T...
Reading Scriptures: Universal Gate Chapter and Heart Sutra
Universal Gate Chapter The Universal Gate Chapter is the twenty-fifth chapter of the Lotus Sutra, in which Buddha Shakyamuni expounds the origin of the name of Guanyin Bodhisattva and how Guanyin Bodhisattva wanders in the Saha world to preach the Dharma to sentient beings. Buddha explains that, in order to save all sentient beings from suffering, Guanyin Bodhisattva manifests in thirty-three different forms, including Buddha, humans, non-human beings, or any other form as needed. This cha...
Perceiving the five aggregates (skandhas) as empty in nature and the method of perfect penetration through the ear faculty
The Heart Sutra and its teaching of perceiving the five aggregates (skandhas) as empty in nature The Heart Sutra begins by stating that "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, when practicing in the deep prajna-paramita, perceived that all the five aggregates are empty in nature (ārya-avalokiteśvaro bodhisattvo gambhīrāṃ prajñāpāramitā caryāṃ caramāṇo vyavalokayati sma: panca-skandhās tāṃś ca svābhavaśūnyān paśyati sma)." This indicates that the method of "perceiving the five ag...