Day 30 covers all of Chapter 26, Dhāraṇīs

Having last month heard the dharani spells of World-Holding Heavenly-King, we come to the rākṣasas and the Mother of Devils.

There are rākṣasas called 1. Lambā, 2. Vilambā, 3. Crooked-Teeth, 4. Flower-Teeth, 5. Black-Teeth, 6. Many-Hairs, 7. Insatiable, 8. Necklace-Holding, 9. Kuntī, and 10. Plunderer-Of-Energy-Of-All-Beings. These ten rākṣasas [and their attendants] came to the Buddha, together with Mother-Of-Devils and her children and attendants. They said to the Buddha simultaneously:

“World-Honored One! We also will protect the person who reads, recites and keeps the Sūtra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma so that he may have no trouble. No one shall take advantage of the weak points of this teacher of the Dharma.”

Then they uttered spells before the Buddha:

“Ideibi (1), ideibin (2), ideibi (3), adeibi ( 4), ideibi (5), deibi (6), deibi (7), deibi (8), deibi (9), deibi (10), rokei (11), rokei (12), rokei (13), rokei (14), takei (15), takei (16), takei (17), tokei (18), tokei (19).”

Whenever I get to this stopping point, I like to resurrect the drawing of the 10 rākṣasas from Lotus World.

Day 30 covers all of Chapter 26, Dhāraṇīs

Having last month heard the dharani spells of Vaisravana Heavenly-King, we come to World-Holding Heavenly-King.

Thereupon World-Holding Heavenly-King, accompanied by thousands of billions of nayutas of gandharvas who were surrounding him respectfully, came to the Buddha, joined his hands together, and said to him, “World-Honored One! I also will protect the keeper of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma with dharanis, with divine spells.”

Then he uttered spells,” Akyanei (1), kyanei (2), kuri (3), kendari (4), sendari (5), matogi (6), joguri (7), furoshani (8), atchi (9).”

[He said to the Buddha:]

“World-Honored One! These dharanis, these divine spells, have already been uttered by four thousand and two hundred million Buddhas. Those who attack and abuse this teacher of the Dharma should be considered to have attacked and abused those Buddhas.”

World-Holding Heavenly-King, also known as Dhritarashtra or Dai Jilcolcu Tunno, protects the upper right corner of the Mandala Gohonzon, or the East Gate. From Lotus World:

The Flammarion Iconographic Guide: Buddhism describes Dhritarashtra as follows: “This guardian king governs in the east and presides over the spring. He is ‘He who maintains the kingdom (of the Law)’, ‘the maintainer of the state’ … He commands an army of celestial musicians (Gandharvas) and vampire demons (Pishacha).” The gandharvas are one of the eight kinds of supernatural beings who are said to revere and protect the Dharma; the pishachas are a type of hungry ghost.

According to the Kumarajiva translation of the Lotus Sutra, it is Dhritarashtra who offers dharanis in Chapter 26 for the benefit of those who keep the Lotus Sutra.
Lotus World: An Illustrated Guide to the Gohonzon

Day 30 covers all of Chapter 26, Dhāraṇīs

Having last month heard the dharani spells of Brave-In-Giving Bodhisattva, we come to Vaisravana Heavenly-King.

Thereupon Vaisravana Heavenly-King, the Protector of the World, said to the Buddha, ‘World-Honored One! I also will utter dharanis in order to protect this teacher of the Dharma out of my compassion towards all living beings.’

Then he uttered spells, ‘Ari, nari, tonari, anaro, nabi, kunabi.’

[He said to the Buddha:]

‘World-Honored One! I will protect this teacher of the Dharma with these divine spells. I also will protect the person who keeps this sutra so that he may have no trouble within a hundred yojanas’ distance [from here].’

Lotus World offers this about Vaishravana, whom Nichiren placed in the upper left corner of the Mandala Gohonzon.

Vaishravana is the chief of the four heavenly kings. The Flammarion Iconographic Guide: Buddhism describes Vaishravana as follows: Vaisravana is the guardian of the north and the chief of the four guardian kings, ‘He who is knowing’, ‘He who hears everything in the kingdom’, the protector of the state par excellence, sometimes thought to be a god of defensive warfare. In China, he is considered to be a Buddhicization of the Indian god of wealth, Kuvera, the north being considered to hold fabulous treasures. He presides over winter and is black, so is also called ‘the black warrior’. His symbols are a jewel and a serpent, and he commands a large army of Yaksas.

Vaishravana’s army and attendants consisted of the kimnaras and the yakshas, two of the eight kinds of supernatural beings who are said to revere and protect the Dharma. The kimnaras are celestial musicians and dancers who have the bodies of birds with human heads and torsos. They officiate at Vaishravana’s court. The yakshas are a kind of flesh-eating demon or spirit who make up Vaishravana’s army.
Lotus World: An Illustrated Guide to the Gohonzon

Day 30 covers all of Chapter 26, Dhāraṇīs

Having last month heard Medicine-King Bodhisattva’s dharani spells, we come to Brave-In-Giving Bodhisattva.

Thereupon Brave-In-Giving Bodhisattva said to the Buddha:

World-Honored One! I also will utter dharanis in order to protect the person who reads, recites and keeps the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma. If he keeps these dharanis, this teacher of the Dharma will not have his weak points taken advantage of by any yaksa, raksasa, putana, krtya, kumbhanda or hungry spirit.

Then he uttered spells before the Buddha:

Zarei, makazarei, ukki, mokki, arei, arahatei, netsureitei, netsureitahatei), ichini, ichini, shichini, netsureichini, netsurichihachi.

[He said to the Buddha:]

World-Honored One! These dharanis, these divine spells, have already been uttered by as many Buddhas as there are sands in the River Ganges. Those Buddhas uttered them with joy. Those who attack and abuse this teacher of the Dharma should be considered to have attacked and abused those Buddhas.

And now I have a chance again to play this jazz version of the dharanis.

Day 30 covers all of Chapter 26, Dhāraṇīs

Having last month heard the merits to be given to the good men or women who keep, read, recite, understand or copy the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma, it’s time for Medicine-King Bodhisattva’s dharani spells.

Thereupon Medicine-King Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, ‘World-Honored One! Now I will give dharani-spells to the expounder of the Dharma in order to protect him.’

Then he uttered spells:

Ani (1), mani (2), manei (3), mamanei (4), shirei (5), sharitei (6), shamya (7), shabi-tai (8), sentei (9), mokutei (10), mokutabi (11), shabi (12), aishabi (13), obi (14), shabi (15), shaei (16), ashaei (17), agini (18), sentei (19), shabi (20), darani (21 ), arokya-basai-hashabi-shani (22), neibitei (23), abentarancibitei (24), atantahareishudai (25), ukurei (26), mukurei (27), ararei (28), hararei (29), shukyashi (30), asammasambi (31), botsudabikirijittei (32), darumaharishitei (33), sogyanekkushanei (34), bashabashashudai(35), mantara (36), mantarashayata (37), urntaurota (38), kyosharya(39), ashara (40), ashayataya (41), abaro (42), amanyanataya (43).”

[He said to the Buddha:]

‘World-Honored One! These dharanis, these divine spells, have already been uttered by six thousand and two hundred million Buddhas, that is, as many Buddhas as there are sands in the River Ganges. Those who attack and abuse this teacher of the Dharma should be considered to have attacked and abused those Buddhas.’

Thereupon Sakyamuni Buddha praised Medicine-King Bodhisattva, saying:

Excellent, excellent, Medicine-King! You uttered these dharanis in order to protect this teacher of the Dharma out of your compassion towards him. You will be able to give many benefits to all living beings.”

The Daily Dharma from Oct. 29, 2016, offers this explanation:

Thereupon Śākyamuni Buddha praised Medicine-King Bodhisattva, saying: “Excellent, excellent, Medicine-King! You uttered these dhāraṇīs in order to protect this teacher of the Dharma out of your compassion towards him. You will be able to give many benefits to all living beings.”

Day 30 covers all of Chapter 26, Dhāraṇīs

Having last month finished the chapter with the rakshasis and their mother, Hariti, it is time to circle back to the beginning.

Thereupon Medicine-King Bodhisattva rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, joined his hands together towards the Buddha, and said to him:

World-Honored One! How many merits will be given to the good men or women who keep, read, recite, understand or copy the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma?

The Buddha said to him:

Suppose some good men or women make offerings to eight hundred billion nayuta Buddhas, that is, as many Buddhas as there are sands in the River Ganges. What do you think of this? Are the merits given to them many or not?

Very many, World-Honored One!

The Buddha said: More merits will be given to the good men or women who keep, read or recite even a single gatha of four lines of this sutra, understand the meanings of it or act according to it.

Rev. Ryusho Jeffus’ Lecture on the Lotus Sutra offers this observation:

We learn of the many protections that come to us naturally by merely upholding this sutra in the Dharanis Chapter. Dharanis are special incantations that were given by various beings solely for the protection of those who practice the Dharma. These protections and merits do not come to us merely because we read of them but are in a sense activated because our practice calls forth the changes in our lives that otherwise would remain dormant.
Lecture on the Lotus Sutra

Day 30 covers all of Chapter 26, Dhāraṇīs

Last month I introduced the ten rakshasis and their mother, Hariti. Now to finish up the chapter:

Having sung these gathas, the raksasis said to the Buddha:

World-Honored One! We also will protect the person who keeps, reads and recites this sutra, and acts according to it so that he may be peaceful, that he may have no trouble, and that poison taken by him may be neutralized.

The Buddha said to the raksasis:

Excellent, excellent! Your merits will be immeasurable even when you protect the person who keeps only the name of the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma. Needless to say, so will be your merits when you protect the person who keeps the sutra itself, and makes to a copy of this sutra hundreds of thousands of offerings such as flowers, incense, necklaces, powdered incense, incense applicable to the skin, incense to burn, streamers, canopies, music, and various lamps like lamps of butter oil, oil lamps, lamps of perfumed oil, lamps of sumanas-flower oil, lamps of campaka flower oil, lamps of varsika-flower oil, and lamps of utpala-flower oil. Kunti! You [raksasis] and your attendants should protect this teacher of the Dharma.

I would like to think that I enjoy the protection of these deities, especially Plunderer of Energy of All Beings.

Day 30 covers all of Chapter 26, Dhāraṇīs

In my attempt to limit myself to a single topic on each day I have to resist the temptation to talk only about my favorite topic each time. In Chapter 26, Dharanis, what I always want to discuss are the ten rakshasis and their mother, Hariti.

After offering their dharanis, they explain:

Anyone who does not keep our spells
But troubles the expounder of the Dharma
Shall have his head split into seven pieces
Just as the branches of the arjaka-tree [are split].

Anyone who attacks this teacher of the Dharma
Will receive the same retribution
As to be received by the person who kills his parents,
Or who makes [sesame] oil without taking out worms [from the sesame],
Or who deceives others by using wrong measures and scales,
Or by Devadatta who split the Samgha.

Rev. Ryuei Michael McCormick’s Lotus World offers this explanation of the rakshasis and their mother, Hariti.

Rakshasas are a kind of flesh eating, blood drinking, or spirit draining demon or spirit. The tamer ones are known as yakshas and are the spirits of the trees, forests, and villages. They are considered a powerful type of hungry ghost. They appear as beautiful women (though they are sometimes shown with fangs) in courtly attire bearing various weapons or other symbolic objects.

• Kunti carries a spear.
• Insatiable carries a curved scepter in her right hand, while her left hand holds a flower vase.
• Black Teeth carries a banner in her left hand.
• Crooked Teeth carries a tray of flowers.
• Lamba holds a sword in her right hand and a sutra in her left.
• Plunderer of Energy of All Beings holds a staff with rings.
• Necklace Holding holds a garland in both hands.
• Many Hairs carries a banner in both hands.
• Flower Teeth carries the cintamani, or “wish-fulfilling gem.”
• Vilamba carries cymbals.

The ten rakshasis and their mother, Hariti, appear in Chapter 26 of the Lotus Sutra and together offer dharanis for the protection of the teacher of the Lotus Sutra.

Day 30 covers all of Chapter 26, Dhāraṇīs

When the Buddha is asked by Medicine-King Bodhisattva how many merits will be given to the “good men or women who keep, read, recite, understand or copy the Sutra of the Lotus Flower of the Wonderful Dharma,” the Buddha replies:

“Suppose some good men or women make offerings to eight hundred billion nayuta Buddhas, that is, as many Buddhas as there are sands in the River Ganges. What do you think of this? Are the merits given to them many or not?”

“Very many, World-Honored One!” The Buddha said: “More merits will be given to the good men or women who keep, read or recite even a single gatha of four lines of this sutra, understand the meanings of it or act according to it.”

And following this Medicine-King Bodhisattva, Brave-In-Giving Bodhisattva, Vaisravana Heavenly-King, World-Holding Heavenly-King and the 10 raksasis daughters, their mother and attendants offer dharanis to protect the teacher of the Dharma.

Back in May I wrote: “Only two of these – Medicine-King Bodhisattva and the 10 raksasis daughters and their mother – are singled out to receive merit for their efforts by the Buddha.”

In re-reading the chapter today I realized I was mistaken. Unlike the raksasis daughters and their mother, whose “merits will be immeasurable” in exchange for their protection, Medicine-King Bodhisattva will not receive, but he “will be able to give many benefits to all living beings.”

Yes, being able to give merits to others is a merit for oneself, but that doesn’t make my earlier post any less mistaken. The whole point of reading and then re-reading and then re-reading is to understand.

Day 30 covers all of Chapter 26, Dhāraṇīs

Last month I commented on the fact that the Dharanis are not given for the purpose of gaining merit. They will protect the teacher of the Dharma.

The Daily Dharma from Nov. 29, 2015, offers an interesting perspective on this.

Thereupon Medicine-King Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, “World-Honored One! Now I will give dhāraṇī-spells to the expounder of the Dharma in order to protect him.”