Day 30

Day 30 covers all of Chapter 26, Dhāraṇīs

After discussing 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,” I discussed those offering dharani spells who were singled out to receive merit for their efforts by the Buddha.

But the Dharanis are not given for the purpose of gaining merit. They will protect the teacher of the Dharma.

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, mani, manei, mamanei, shirei, sharitei, shamya, shabi-tai, sentei, mokutei, mokutabi, shabi, aishabi, obi, shabi, shaei, ashaei, agini, sentei, shabi, darani, arokya-basai-hahabi-shani, neibitei, abentaraneibitei, atantahareishudai, ukurei, mukurei, ararei, hararei, shukyashi, asammasambi, botsudabikirijittei, darumaharishitei, sogyanekkushanei, bashabashashudai, mantara , mantarashayata, urntaurota, kyosharya, ashara, ashayataya, abaro, amanyanataya”

[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.”