The Great Compassion Dharani (大悲咒, Dàbēi Zhòu in Chinese; Nilakantha Dharani in Sanskrit) is one of the most important and widely recited dharanis in East Asian Buddhism, particularly in Chinese, Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese traditions.

Origin

This dharani was taught by Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin/Kannon) and is associated with the thousand-armed, thousand-eyed form of the bodhisattva. According to the sutra, Avalokiteshvara first heard this dharani from a previous Buddha and immediately advanced from the first to the eighth bhumi (stage of enlightenment).

Structure

The dharani begins with:

• Homage to the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma, Sangha)
• Homage to all Tathagatas
• Homage to Avalokiteshvara, the Great Compassionate One
• The dharani proper with sacred syllables

Practice

Traditionally recited:

• 7 times for daily protection
• 21 times for serious obstacles
• 49 times for major illness
• 108 times in formal practice

Benefits

According to the sutra, this dharani:

• Fulfills all wishes
• Protects from disasters and illness
• Ensures rebirth in a pure land
• Grants the power to help all beings
• Cures 84,000 kinds of illness

Note

This is the short form. The full version contains 84 phrases with mudras (hand gestures) for each.