Shurangama Mantra with Verses and Commentary

by Venerable Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua

546. A NA LỆ

阿那隸

 

 

Thụ cùng tam tế diệu cao thiên

Tuấn cực vô thượng quảng vô biên

Nan diệt thuận giáo phú hữu nghĩa

Phật Pháp Tăng bảo thí lệnh quyền.

 

豎窮三際妙高天

峻極無上廣無邊

難滅順教富有義

佛法僧寶施令權

 

English Translated by the International Translation Institute

Revised by Bhikshu Heng Shun

 

546. E Na Li

 

Verse:

 

In the three periods of time, it extends vertically upward to wondrously high heaven.

Reaching unsurpassed heights and having a breadth that is without bounds.

Conforming to the teachings that are full of meaning and cannot be extinguished.

The Jewels of the Buddhas, Dharma, and Sangha have the authority to issue these orders.

 

Commentary:

 

“E Na Li” is the very first line of the Heart of the Mantra. This line means extending vertically upwards as well as closing all gateways. The next line of the Mantra, “Pi She Ti,” means its width or breadth (horizontally) pervades everywhere as well as closing all gateways. These two lines together mean guarding and protecting heaven and earth, so that no evil demons or weird ghosts can escape. No matter how high they go, they cannot escape the power of the Mantra. And they also cannot go beyond the range of the Mantra, whose breadth pervades everywhere. This Mantra has such great awe-inspiring spiritual power.

 

In the three periods of time, it extends vertically upward to wondrously high heaven.

 

The three periods of time are the past, the present and the future. “Wondrously high heaven” is a way of describing how high heaven is. Which heaven in particular is called the “wondrously high heaven?” There isn’t any. Again, wondrously high heaven is just an expression of how high heaven is. Nothing is higher than heaven.

 

Reaching unsurpassed heights and having a breadth that is without bounds.

 

Does “reaching unsurpassed heights” indicate that is like a string that extends all the way to heaven? No. It means there is no place higher than this. It also encompasses everything. There is nothing that is as high. “Spread out without bounds.” How thick is it? The next line of the Mantra says that its width or breadth pervades everywhere.

 

Although this line of the Mantra says that it extends vertically upward, it also means that its width or breadth (horizontally) pervades everywhere. The next line also carries both meanings of height and breadth. When we put both lines together, in means that all evil demons and weird ghosts have no way to escape. For all the gateways (by which they could escape) between heaven and earth are closed. Therefore, we say it has a “breadth that is without bounds.”

 

Conforming to the teachings that are full of meaning and cannot be extinguished.

 

These principles and truths cannot be extinguished. All evil demons and weird ghosts, as well as all beings on improper and heterodox paths must conform to and uphold the teachings. They must accept and conform to the proper teachings. If you do not conform to the teachings, you will be punished. Not conforming to the teachings is impermissible. This is truly having great authority.

 

The Jewels of the Buddhas, Dharma, and Sangha have the authority to issue these orders.

 

Who has this kind of tremendous authority? The Jewels of the Buddhas, Dharma, and Sangha have this great awe-inspiring spiritual power. They can control all celestial demons, those on heterodox paths, cow-ghosts, snake-spirits, as well as all Chih Mei ghosts, and Wang Liang ghosts. Therefore, when you recite the Shurangama Mantra, all of them are well-behaved.

 

If you can recite the Shurangama Mantra every day, at the very minimum for your next seven lives you will be a wealthy person or elder and you will have plentiful food and clothes. Absolutely everything will be available for you. If you wish to go towards the fruits of the enlightened sages, reciting the Shurangama Mantra will enable you to bring forth the unsurpassed Great Bodhi Mind and the supreme, unsurpassed Heart of Great Compassion. If you bring forth the Great Bodhi Mind, you will become a Buddha for sure.

 

Therefore, the Venerable Ananda said, “I needn’t endure countless kalpas to attain the Dharma-body.” I don’t have to pass through three asamkhyeya great kalpas to attain the Dharma-body.

 

The Venerable Ananda also said, “The wonderfully deep Dharani, the Unmoving Honored One. The foremost Shurangama King is seldom found in the world.”

 

From what Venerable Ananda said, we know that no matter how much money we earn it is not as valuable as reciting Shurangama Mantra. Although you might be poor right now, by reciting the mantra, you will have already built a good foundation for the future. If you recite the Shurangama Mantra every day, for your next seven lives you will be a wealthy elder with great awe-inspiring virtue and authority. You can summon people who will support you and listen to you. These are the great benefits you will have from reciting the Shurangama Mantra.

 

Therefore, in the Buddhist Book Distribution Society in Taiwan, there are some illiterate people who learned to recite the Shurangama Mantra, and some have even memorized it. But I tell you, don't owe people money. If you owe people money, they might become wealthy people in the future, and you will become their laborer. Therefore, don't make mistakes in the law of cause and effect. No one can borrow money for no reason without paying back. Otherwise, in future you may become a horse or an ox to pay back your debts.

 

You can’t say, “I am a monastic now, so I can accept others’ offerings.” You cannot receive offerings when don’t have virtuous conduct. As it is said, “At the entrance to the hells, there are many Sanghans and Taoists.” If you don’t cultivate, you will certainly fall into the hells. The hells are waiting for you. Once you get there, those in the hells will say, “Amitabha Buddha! You have come back!”