Robin Beck

Da Bei Zhou

Great Compassion Dharani in Mandarin Chinese
On Chanting Meditation
Karuna Cultivation
Brahma Vihara

Da Bei Zhou is the Mandarin name for the Great Compassion Dharani. The mantra/dharani is from the Great Compassion Dharani Sutra. You may link a translation of the sutra here: Great Compassion Dharani Sutra , or E-sangha Buddhist Forum, or ksyart .

According to the Great Compassion Dharani Sutra: "Aeons ago, the "Thousand Lights King Peace Buddha" taught the Great Compassion Mantra to Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. Instantly, Avalokiteshvara advanced from first to ninth level Bodhisattva (ten levels total). Delighted, the Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva vowed: 'So I can assist all beings to achieve enlightenment in the future, endow me with Thousand Eyes and Thousand Hands.' Then, the Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva became Thousand eyes and Thousand arms Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva aka Sahasrabhuja Sahasranetra Avalokitesvara ."

The romanized Mandarin Chinese transliteration of the long version of the Mantra consists of 84 verses. It also known as "The Great Compassionate Heart Mantra", and "The Action Dharma of One-Thousand-Hand and One-Thousand-Eye Great Compassionate Heart Mantra."

One may approach this any way one wishes. I suggest the chant as a method to cultivate one's own compasssion, rather than asking for compassion for ourselves, from the "goddess." In terms of the three fold training, this is a samatha-karuna meditation practice and treats the emotions. For me, it is like being stewed in healing compassion, and I tend to "get drippy" from it, so I strongly suggest balancing it with Insight Meditations.

The Dharma of Repentance of the Great Compassion, authored by Fa-Chu of the Sung Dynasty, is a formalized practice. It is also known as "The Images of the Dharma of Repentance of the Great Compassion". This Dharma of Repentance was included in the Buddhist Canon of Da-Cheng, Book 46.

Whereas the short sanskrit version is often bouncy and energizing, this long Chinese Version is usually smooth, melodious, and soothing.

Slow Chant Play time is 9:39 ---------------------------------- Slow Chant Play time 2:00.
2344 KB real player presentation. ---------------------------- 944 kb mp3 file.
www.buda.idv.tw or ksyartmembersonly-------------------- ksyartmembersonly

With drum Play time is 2:01. ---------------------------------- Fast chant with drum. Play time is 1:34.
1897 KB MP3 audio file. ---------------------------------------- 243 KB Real Audio/Real Video (.rm).
ksyartmembersonly or www.buda.idv.tw ------------------- ksyartmembersonly or chant

Fast chant with drum 1718K mp3www.buda.idv.tw ..........More: www.buda.idv.tw

Dharma_Study_Group · Dharma Study Group Members only: 4841 KB mp3 D001.mp3 ... 3324 KB .mp3 D001a.mp3

Instructions on how to practice the [Water Blessing]
By Vajra Regent DongShan Wu-Tsen

1. Light incense and place beside shrine;

2. Prostrate 3 times to Kwan Yin;

3. Offer one (or more) glass (es) of water which Kwan Yin will bless;

4. Invite Kwan Yin to come to you and appear;

5. Bring the palms of your hands together in the prayer-mudra;

6. Invite all the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to come and be present.

7. Recite the following chant:

Lu Shian dza zo,
Fa Je Mung Shin,
Dzu Fo Haj Whey Shi Yao Wen,
Swey Tsu Dje Shang Yun,
Tsong Yi Fong Yin,
Dzu Fo Shien Chuan Song.
Na Mo Shian Yun Gai Pu Sa Mo Ko Sa. (3 times)

8. Recite the following lines to purify your speech and apologize for the pronunciation errors made by you during this practice:

An Sho Li Sho Lie, Mo Ho Sho Li, Sho Sho Li, Sa Po Ho (So Ha).

9. Recite the Kwan Yin Great Compassion Mantra 3, 5, 7, 21, 49 or 108 times.

10. Recite the short mantra 10 times:

Seven Syllable Kuan Yin Mantra

11. Finally, drink the water blessed by Kwan Yin. This water now has healing powers.

12. Dedicate this practice of the Kwan Yin Great compassion Mantra to the benefit and enlightenment of all beings.
The Great Compassion Bodhisattva

Here are some links to nice videos. You would have to download and play them from your hard drive.

This one will download faster and is an .mpg video: DBZ05.mpg 30 MB 03:02

These two are real big video files. Both require Real Player and, I think, a live on line connection. DBZ09.rm 66 MB 100:17 ... DBZ08.rm 112 MB 31:04.

These are SWF format flash animations that Playback on Macromedia Shockwave Player. I can usually click and play them. 3525 KB. .swf ksyartmembersonly or www.buda.idv.tw. Also DBZ20.swf 1468 KB. This one is a Windows Media Video: DBZ14.wmv 7364 KB

Posted by rbeck at March 4, 2006 07:12 PM