VII. The Quintessence of Secret Buddhism: The five essentials Dharanis

The Dharani: Um Lam (or just Lam).

If one thinks of or recites this word Lam of the pure dharma realm, it will purify all karmas, root out all sins and accomplish all actions. Whether in the country or in the home, all things will be peaceful. Dirty clothing and body are purified. Using water to clean will not achieve such purity. The word Lam of the dharma realm is to purify, and that’s why Lam is called a vase of purification. It is compared to a magic pill. It changes iron to gold. One word of Dharani can change pollution into purity. Consider this verse:
RA has the color of pure white
Above RA is a solemn circle

The Sanskrit word RA with circle above it changes it into the word LAM)

Similar to a pearl on the crown
The Dharani goes with the dharma
Innumerable sins are eliminated.

This word should be used when in contact with filthy materials. The Lotus Dharma says. “When in contact with filthy things, visualize the word of Dharma realm on the crown emitting a red light. That is the world Lam.
(If the conditions for bathing and changing into new clothes are missing due to lack of water and clothing, use Lam to create a pure environment. However, if the conditions are proper and one does not wash and change into clean clothing, using the word Lam in the purification rituals is laziness and shows disrespect. How can blessings be given, sins eliminated and wishes fulfilled for such behavior? If ones follows the Dharma instruction, first wash and put on clean clothes, then use the Dharani to further purify the environment, so that cleanliness is from inside and outside, then all his wishes will soon be fulfilled.)

Mansjuri’s one word Dharani: Um Xi-Lam.
The Sanskrit: Um Xi-Lam

Xi-Lam can be written with two, three or four syllables. According to Yi Jing it has four syllables. These four words join together to make one Sanskrit word. Because the Sanskrit language is not yet understood, it is difficult to reach its mystery, and its true effectiveness. One word of this king Dharani has unimaginable power. In The Dharma of One Word Dharani of Manjuri, Buddha told the Devas,” you must know that this Dharani is the great king among all the Dharanis; it has great supernatural power. If a faithful son or daughter recites it often, Manjuri Bodhisattva will come to help them. They will see Manjuri Bodhisattva and other good signs either awake or in their dreams. The Dharani can invite even the Bodhisattva Manjuri to come over let alone inviting the sages and saints in this world or out of this world. This Dharani effectively eliminates all the sins in the group of the five heinous acts, the ones in the four- degradation group and the ones in the Ten Cruel Acts. This Dharani is the winner among other Dharanis in and out of this world. This Dharani is the heart of Buddhas that fulfill all wishes.
Without having to complete all rituals, the Dharani grants all wishes. If the person vows to attain superior enlightenment, one recitation will bring about self-protection. Two will protect his companion. Three will protect the members of the family. Four will protect of the people in the city. Five will protect the people in the country. Six will protect the people in the world and seven will protect the people in the four worlds. Recite this Dharani once when washing the face every morning will make others happy upon seeing the practitioner.
It is also said that: To help a person possessed by Headless Demon, rub the patient’s face with one’s hand and recite Dharani 108 times. Make an angry face to frighten the demon; then use the ‘Original Birth’ Mudra with the left hand (thumb bent in the palm, other four fingers holding the thumb, (similar to the ‘destroy heaven ghost Mudra), and yell with eyes closed; Continue reciting the Dharani and rubbing the patient. This will cure him. To cure sickness caused by all kinds of Demons, recite the Dharani focusing on the right hand, burn benjamin scent, form the Original Birth Mudra with the left hand, then rub the head of the patient with the right hand.
To cross those areas populated with lions, tigers, poisonous snakes or pirates, one must be pure in body and heart; one must not eat food having the five spices, liquor and meat. One must extend compassion toward all living beings, and recite heartily the Dharani forty nine times. All demonic appearances will vanish, and even when one encounters any, it will be a joyful event. It is hard for people in one lifetime or in many lifetimes to hear about the name of the Dharani, so much harder to see and practice it diligently.
This Dharani protects people in this lifetime and in future lifetimes. It makes them the relatives of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Therefore, this Dharani must be treated with respect and absolute faith, knowing that it is not easy to know about it. Only some of the great power of the Dharani is mentioned in the sutras. It is impossible to include all in this book.

Six Letters Dharani of Great Wisdom:
Om Ma Ni Pad Me Hum

Sanskrit writing of the Dharani:

From Precious Solemn King Sutra: When Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara spoke about this Great Dharani, the four continents and the heavenly palaces trembled; waves raised high in the ocean; maleficent ghosts ran away in fear. Buddha told Obstacle Elimination Bodhisattva that the six letters of this great Dharani are very hard to obtain. It prevents all defilements such as greed, anger and stupidity. If carried in the body it prevents illnesses from three kinds of contagious diseases. This Dharani has countless favorable responses. It is difficult for the Buddhas themselves to know about it, let alone the Bodhisattvas. This is the fine and wonderful heart of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. When someone recites this Great Dharani, innumerable Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Deities and heaven Dragons of the eightfold division gather around him. He and his seven generations will be liberated. Even the worms in his belly will achieve the rank of Bodhisattva. If carried on the body, or on the crown, he will appear as the Diamond Body Buddha to others. If recited as instructed by the Dharma, he will have great eloquence. He practiced the six perfections daily and his merits are thus full. If his breath touches anyone, that person will be liberated and will soon achieve unmatched awakening. If he touches someone with his hand or looks at any beings or non-beings, they will soon achieve Bodhisattva rank. Such a person will forever escape the miseries of birth, aging, sickness, and death. The Buddha also said: “I could count the existing dust particles and I even know how much water there is in the great seas. However if a person recites this Great Wisdom Six Letters Dharani once, I could not count his merits. By reciting the Dharani once, his merits are exactly the same as all the merits of men and women in the four great continents that are certified to the seventh position of a Bodhisattva. If one writes or copies this Great Wisdom Dharani, it is equivalent to the writing and copying of eighty four thousand scriptures. The merits and virtues acquired are unimaginable. Even if a person uses the precious needle from heaven to build countless Buddha’s statues his merits are still not equal to copying one word of the Dharani once. The reward from such merits is unthinkable. That person will receive one hundred and eight samadhis happiness. If a person recites the Dharani just once, all the Buddhas will offer him clothing, food, medicine, furniture and everything else for his comfort. This wonderful dharma has a supreme position in the Great Vehicle system. Upon hearing the Dharani, all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas pay homage to it.
At the time when this Six Letters Dharani was spoken there were seven hundred billion Buddhas reciting the Chun Ti Sapta Koti Dharani. Therefore, it must be understood that the Six Letters Dharani are the same as the Chun Ti Dharani. One can recite either or both Dharanis to get the above-mentioned merits. The complete instructions on the rituals of Dharani recitations and altar rituals are not fully presented in this book.
Vajrabodhi said: to have liberation from the cycle of birth and death, cultivate yoga meditation on wisdom and virtue. Recite countless Dharanis. Picture the mind as a well-defined round moon that is bright and serene.

Picture the word Om in the center of the rotating moon. Picture the word Zheli, Zhuli, Zhunti Suo Po Ou
in front and rotating to the right in an endless circle. Contemplate the meaning of each word and keep focusing on it without error.
Display of Sanskrits Letters

In the Chi’ Ming’ book of rites: Letter Om belongs to Vairocana.

Thoughts on the meaning of the root-word.
These nine holy Sanskrit letters create all other words. Therefore, they are called the mother of words. It is called the seed syllables because it gives rise to a meaning and upholds it. The first letter is the seed syllable, the rest belongs to imagination leading back to the first letter. If the mysterious gate of the letter Om is understood, all the endless Buddhas doctrine will also be realized. One will understand that all the doctrines are not born, that one doctrine covers all as one letter contains all the meanings. From the realization that doctrines are not created comes the realization that all doctrines are Non-Existent. As the doctrine became reality, it has no beginning and no ending. Once all the doctrines are realized, there will be no more speeches, and no more lectures. The Dharma’s nature is impartial like the rain falling down equally on everything. Each letter has to be thoroughly analyzed before all virtues and vows can be completed.
Om represents the Three Bodies and implies that all dharmas are not created. From Vajrabodhi translation: The gate of OM is a stream that has no beginning nor ending and that is the ultimate meaning of all dharmas.
Zhe means all doctrines are not created or destroyed. From Vajrabodhi translation: Zhe means that all dharmas have no action. Li means no achieving of any Dharma. Zhu means no birth, nor death of all doctrines. From Vajrabodhi translation: The word Zhu means all dharmas have no beginning.
Li means that all dharmas have no pollution
Zhun means that all dharmas have no ranking
Ti means that all dharmas have no holding.
Suo Po means the unspoken concept of equality.
Ou means that all doctrines have no cause.
All dharmas are without cause and without attachments to Nirvana. Because all the dharmas are not created, they are permanent and that is why they cannot be thoroughly understood. Having not been created or destroyed, the dharmas have no pollution, no ranking and no attachments. Without attachments, all doctrines are equal and no words can be used to explain them and thus they have no causes or effects. As such they correspond to perfection. Those are the means to achieve the true realization of the eternal truth in the Dharma realm. This is the samadhi recitation.

Explanation: From knowing that all doctrines are without birth, equal and undifferentiated, one develops the undifferentiated mind and the mind of non-achievement that leads to perfection of virtues. This mind is used to understand the supreme state of Nirvana that is compared to a sea of eternal truths. This state cannot be explained with mere words. It is the realm of wisdom, the experiences of reality and the self-enlightening state of the Buddhas that a regular mind of duality cannot penetrate.

The Dharani in one syllable – The Buddha’s Crown Dharani.

Bu Lin is pronounced as one word and the sound is vibrated. From Amoghavajra translation: Om Bu Lin– three sounds in one. The sound comes from the pharynx and vibrates like the sound of the drum. The Bu Lin sound as written in the old scripture was slightly inaccurate. Thus, the sound and pitch are very difficult to achieve, only the Sanskrit expert can accomplish it.
The basic rites and rituals Sutra says: This Dharani can continue the deeds of Buddhism even at the end stage of the Dharma. It supports all Buddha’s Sutras. After Buddha went to nirvana, and during the end stage of the Dharma, this One Word of Great Intelligence can help the practitioner be extremely successful. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas also practiced this Dharani because the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas before them have preached it.
If one sincerely recites this Dharani of Great Intelligence all the bad stars from a distance of five yohanas dare not come close, all Atulas run away and all cruel beings dare not harm him. Even the Immortals and the Saints do not come close to him. Reciting the Dharani purifies all bad karmas. One can become invisible to go anywhere; there will never be any obstacles; nothing in or out of this world can harm the person. This Dharani can break all the malefic spells in the world. This Dharani is the crown of all the Buddhas; it is the heart of Manjuri Bodhisattva who grants fearlessness, safety and happiness to living beings. The Dharani will fulfill the wishes of the practitioner. It is compared to the precious pearl of Mani that grants everything. If other Dharanis failed to be effective, one should recite this Dharani together with the other ones and success is guaranteed. If this Dharani is not effective the heads of all Deities of this Dharani will be broken into seven pieces. It should be known that this Dharani helps one practice successfully all other Dharanis in a short period of time.