༄༅། །་ག་པ་གངས།

The Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates

Ṣaṇmukhīdhāraṇī
 འཕགས་པ་་ག་པ་ས་་བ་གངས།
’phags pa sgo drug pa zhes bya ba’i gzungs

The Noble Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates

Āryaṣaṇmukhīnāmadhāraṇī

· Toh 141 ·
Degé Kangyur, vol. 56 (mdo sde, na), folios 299.a–300.a
 Translated by the Pema Yeshé Dé Translation Team
under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha

First published 2022

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co. TABLE OF CONTENTS
ti. Title
im. Imprint
co. Contents
s. Summary
ac. Acknowledgements
i. Introduction
tr. The Translation
1. The Noble Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates
ab. Abbreviations
n. Notes
b. Bibliography
· Tibetan and Sanskrit Source Texts
· Tibetan Secondary References
· Chinese Source Texts
· Western Translation and References
g. Glossary
s. SUMMARY
s.1 While the Buddha is abiding in the space above the Śuddhāvāsa realm with a
retinue of bodhisattvas, he urges them to uphold The Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates
and presents these gates as six aspirations that vanquish the causes of
saṃsāric experience. He then presents the dhāraṇī itself to his listeners and
instructs them to recite it three times each day and three times each night.
Finally, he indicates the benefits that come from this practice, and the
assembly praises the Buddha’s words. This is followed by a short dedication
marking the conclusion of the text.
ac. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ac.1 Giuliano Proença and Leticia Osorio produced and revised the translation.
Joaquim Monteiro provided comparisons with the Chinese versions of the
consulted texts and gave valuable references throughout the translation
process. Giuliano Proença wrote the introduction and other ancillary
elements while Leticia Osorio revised them.
The translation was completed under the patronage and supervision of
84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha.
i. INTRODUCTION
i.1 The Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates is a short text that consists mainly of a dhāraṇī
taught by the Buddha to an assembly of bodhisattvas. According to Pedro
Sánchez,1 this style of dhāraṇī appeared between the third and eighth
centuries ᴄᴇ. Since Xuanzang’s Chinese translation dates to 645 ᴄᴇ, this text
must have already been available at the beginning of the seventh century. It
appears to have enjoyed a certain level of popularity, since we find many
copies of it among the Dunhuang documents in Tibetan and Chinese, as well
as several Indian, Tibetan, and Chinese commentaries and recitation texts
based on it.
i.2 One of its commentaries, the Ṣaṇmukhīdhāraṇīvyākhyāna (Toh 3989), appears
in the Tengyur and is attributed to Vasubandhu (fourth to fifth century); its
Chinese translation is in the Taishō. Its subcommentary (IOL Tib J 430)
written by Jñānadatta has been preserved only in Tibetan and Chinese
among the Dunhuang manuscripts. According to the colophon of the
Dunhuang texts, these Indian commentaries were translated into Tibetan by
the Indian paṇḍitas Dharmapāla and Prajñāvarman and the Tibetan
translator-monk Yeshé Dé.
i.3 There are four known Tibetan commentaries on the Ṣaṇmukhīdhāraṇī
composed by the renowned scholars Butön Rinchen Drup (1290–1364),
Jonang Tāranātha (1575–1634), the seventh Dalai Lama (1708–57), and the
Geluk scholar Ngülchu Dharmabhadra (1772–1851). The Phangthangma, one
of the imperial catalogs of translated works, also mentions two sādhanas
related to the Ṣaṇmukhīdhāraṇī, which we could not locate. There are
available, however, some relatively modern recitation texts related to this
dhāraṇī composed by Ngawang Khedrup (1779–1838) and Losang Tsültrim
Gyatso (1845–1915).
i.4 It is not known who translated The Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates into Tibetan.
Neither the colophons, the Denkarma and Phangthangma imperial catalogs,
nor Tibetan historical works mention the translators. The inclusion of our
 text in the Denkarma catalog, dated to ca. 812 ᴄᴇ, confirms that the translation
was made by the early ninth century at the latest. It seems likely that this
dhāraṇī was translated from an Indian original since, according to the
Phangthangma catalog, it was not among the dhāraṇīs that were translated
from Chinese.
i.5 Texts that include dhāraṇīs, as well as those referred to as dhāraṇīs by
their titles, are widespread in the Mahāyāna sūtra literature as well as
featuring in the tantras. Gergely Hidas, for example, notes that dhāraṇī
scriptures have been assigned both to sūtra and tantra categories in
Buddhist canonical collections and that their classification is “sometimes
controversial within Tibetan and Chinese textual systems.”2 In this regard, it
is interesting to note that three almost identical versions of the Ṣaṇmukhī-
dhāraṇī are assigned to the Sūtra, Tantra, and Dhāraṇī sections of the
Kangyurs of the Tshalpa group. In the Thempangma Kangyurs, such as the
Stok Palace Kangyur, it is included exclusively in the Tantra section. In the
Lhasa and Narthang Kangyurs, we find almost identical versions of The
Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates in both the Sūtra and Tantra sections. Our text is also
found among the Dunhuang manuscripts.3 All versions are roughly the same
length. There were probably different sources for the Tibetan translations
that were found in Dunhuang: Pelliot tibétain 415 is almost identical to the
Thempangma versions, while Pelliot tibétain 77 is in some cases closer to the
Tshalpa versions.
i.6 Fortunately, there are a few extant Sanskrit manuscripts of The Dhāraṇī of
the Six Gates. Mimaki (1977b) prepared a critical edition based on these
manuscripts and prepared a critical edition of the Tibetan based on various
canonical translations. The Tibetan versions seem to be quite accurate
translations of the Sanskrit text, although there are minor differences
between them. It is noteworthy that the versions of the Thempangma
Kangyur group, like that of the Stok Palace, and Pelliot tibétain 415 are closer
to the extant Sanskrit version than versions from the Tshalpa Kangyur
group. The Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates was translated into Chinese by the great
translator Xuanzang in 645 ᴄᴇ (Taishō 1360). The Chinese translation differs
considerably from the Sanskrit and the Tibetan, especially in its presentation
of the six gates, despite having the same structure as the Sanskrit and
Tibetan texts. Interestingly, the Tibetan and Chinese translations of the
above-mentioned commentary and subcommentary are similar in content
and wording. Even the quotations of the six gates in the Chinese
subcommentary more closely match the Tibetan text of The Dhāraṇī of the Six
Gates than Xuanzang’s rendering of the six gates.
i.7 In addition to his critical editions of the Sanskrit and Tibetan versions of
the text, Mimaki (1977a) offers a French translation. Mimaki also examines
references to The Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates in later treatises and its possible
affiliation to the Sautrāntika school. He lists the extant Sanskrit, Tibetan, and
Chinese manuscripts of the text, as well as the Tibetan editions and the
commentaries. He also compares his Sanskrit edition with the Tibetan and
with the Chinese canonical versions. Mimaki’s research proved invaluable
for preparing our own translation.
i.8 We have based our translation mainly on the Tibetan text as found in the
Sūtra section of the Degé Kangyur (Toh 141), but consulted the other
versions found in the Action Tantra and Dhāraṇī sections to clarify
ambiguous passages (Toh 526 and Toh 916, respectively).4 Whenever our
main source text diverged from the Sanskrit, we compared the passage in
question with other Tibetan translations, including the Comparative Edition
(dpe bsdur ma) and Stok Palace versions, and the two complete Tibetan
manuscripts from Dunhuang, and we recorded variant readings in the notes.
Moreover, in cases where both the Tibetan and Sanskrit texts allowed for
different readings, we consulted the Indian commentaries on The Dhāraṇī of
the Six Gates for clarification.
i.9 As suggested by its title, The Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates consists in an account
of the six gates, which are presented as a series of six aspiration prayers,
followed by the presentation of the dhāraṇī itself. The goal of the dhāraṇī is
to transcend worldly suffering by eradicating the causes of saṃsāric
experience.
i.10 The text begins with the Buddha advising his audience of innumerable
bodhisattvas to uphold The Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates for the good of the entire
world. He then utters the six aspirations, which can be summarized as
recognizing one’s own sufferings as no different from those of all beings in
saṃsāra, using worldly happiness for the benefit of others as well as oneself,
purifying one’s misdeeds through confession, understanding demonic
actions, developing virtue through supreme knowledge, and liberating all
beings from saṃsāra.
i.11 He finally instructs the assembly to recite the dhāraṇī three times each day
and three times each night and then highlights the benefits that derive from
this practice, including the ultimate benefit of attaining spiritual awakening.
The text concludes with the assembly praising the Buddha’s teaching. This is
followed by a short dedication marking the conclusion of the text. In one
Tibetan canonical version (Toh 141), two auspicious sayings in Sanskrit and
the “Verse on Dependent Arising” (Pratītyasamutpādagāthā) appear after the
dedication.
The Noble Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates
1. The Translation
[F.299.a]5

1.1 Homage to Mañjuśrī Kumārabhūta.6

Thus did I hear at one time. The Bhagavān was dwelling together with an
assembly of innumerable bodhisattvas in a pavilion ornately decorated with
the seven kinds of precious jewels 7 that was located in the firmament of the
sky above Śuddhāvāsa.
1.2 On that occasion, the Bhagavān said to the bodhisattvas, “Children of a
noble family, [F.299.b] may you uphold The Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates for the
benefit and well-being of the whole world.8 It is as follows:
1.3 “As I pass through life after life in saṃsāra,9 whatever suffering I
experience, may it not be characterized by my not understanding that it is
the same for all beings.
1.4 “Whatever happiness due to worldly success I experience, may I make use
of it in common with all beings to bring about thorough understanding.10
1.5 “Whatever misdeeds and non-virtuous actions 11 I have done, may I not
fail to confess each one of them through unsurpassed confession.
1.6 “Whatever demonic actions have been done to me,12 may I not fail to
thoroughly understand them through unsurpassed thorough
understanding.
1.7 “Whatever roots of virtue I may have, both mundane and supramundane,
endowed with the perfections, may they become the fruit of unsurpassable
wisdom for all beings.13
1.8 “Whatever liberation I may have, through it may all sentient beings be
released.14 May I stay neither in saṃsāra nor in nirvāṇa.15

1.9 tadyathā oṃ kṣame kṣame kṣānte kṣānte dame dame dānte dānte bhadre bhadre
subhadre subhadre candre candre sucandre sucandre candrakiraṇe candravati tejovati
yaśovati16 dharmavati brahmavati sarvakleśaviśodhani sarvārthasādhani
 sarvānarthapraśamani17 paramārthasādhani kāyaviśodhani vāgviśodhani18
manaḥsaṃśodhani svāhā

1.10 “Therefore, children of a noble family, if any sons or daughters of a noble

family recite The Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates three times by day and three times by
night, [F.300.a] then, having purified all their karmic obscurations, they will
remember their previous lives up to seven lifetimes 19 and will swiftly20 and
fully awaken to unsurpassed perfect buddhahood.”21
1.11 When the delighted Bhagavān had spoken these words, the assembly of
bodhisattvas,22 and the world with its devas, humans, asuras, and
gandharvas 23 rejoiced in what the Bhagavān had said.24

1.12 Thus ends “The Noble Dhāraṇī of the Six Gates.”

1.13 śubham astu sarvajagatām25

ye dharmā hetuprabhavā hetuṃ teṣāṃ tathāgato hy avadat

teṣāṃ ca yo nirodha evaṃvādī mahāśramaṇaḥ26

maṅgalaṃ bhavatu27
ab. ABBREVIATIONS
A Comparative Edition (dpe bsdur ma) of the Kangyur
D (Toh Degé (sde dge) Kangyur—Sūtra section
141)
D (Toh Degé (sde dge) Kangyur—Tantra section
526)
D (Toh Degé (sde dge) Kangyur—Dhāraṇī section
916)
HT Lhasa (zhol) Kangyur—Tantra section
K Peking (pe cin) Kangxi Kangyur
NT Narthang (snar thang) Kangyur—Tantra section
PT Pelliot tibétain (numbers denote specific texts in collection)
S Stok Palace (stog pho brang) Manuscript Kangyur
Skt. Mimaki’s Sanskrit edition (1977)
Toh Degé (sde dge) Kangyur (numbers denote specific texts in
collection)
Y Peking Yongle (g.yung lo) Kangyur
n. NOTES
n.1 Sánchez 2011, p. 28.

n.2 Hidas 2015, p. 130.

n.3 Complete and fragmentary, as PT 77, PT 414, PT 415, PT 416, IOL Tib J 426,
IOL Tib J 427, and IOL Tib J 432.

n.4 Note that there is a discrepancy among various databases for cataloging the
Toh 916 version of this text within vol. 100 or 101 of the Degé Kangyur. See
Toh 916, n.4 (https://read.84000.co/translation/toh916.html# UT22084-056-
009-132), for details.

n.5 In the Toh 526 version of the text there is a slight discrepancy in the folio
numbering between the 1737 par phud printings and the late (post par phud)
printings of the Degé Kangyur. Although the discrepancy is irrelevant here,
further details concerning this may be found in n.5
(https://read.84000.co/translation/toh526.html# UT22084-056-009-133) of
the Toh 526 version of this text.

n.6 In the Skt. edition we find oṁ namo buddhāya (“oṁ homage to the Buddha”),
while S, PT, NT , and H T read sangs rgyas dang byang chub sems dpa’ thams cad la
phyag ’tshal lo (“Homage to all buddhas and bodhisattvas”). According to the
instructions regarding Tripiṭaka translations decreed to the translators by
the king Tri Ralpachen, a translators’ homage made to Mañjuśrī was
supposed to be a mark of Abhidharma texts, while homage to the Buddha
and homage to all buddhas and bodhisattvas were deemed appropriate for
Vinaya and Sūtra texts, respectively.

n.7 We have followed the Tib. reading. The Skt. reads “decorated with various
jewels, among which the seven kinds of jewels were arranged.” For the
critically edited Skt. text, see Mimaki 1977b, p. 10.
n.8 We follow the Tib. ’gro ba thams cad la phan pa dang bde ba’i phyir. The Skt. reads
sarvajagaddhitārthaṃ (“for the benefit of the whole world”).

n.9 Translated based on the Skt. saṃsāre saṃsarato and S, PT ’khor ba na ’khor ba’i
tshe. All witnesses in A have ’khor ba nas ’khor ba’i skye gnas gzhan dag tu (“from
saṃsāra to other saṃsāric rebirths”).

n.10 The sūtra versions in D (Toh 141) and N, K, H, and C all read yongs su shes par
byed par spyod par gyur cig, whereas the tantra and dhāraṇī versions in D (Toh
526 and 916) and the other Kangyurs read simply yongs su spyod par gyur cig.
The extant Sanskrit versions do not include any equivalent to the phrase
yongs su shes par byed par (“to bring about thorough understanding”).

PT 77 adds las kyi sgribs pa and S adds las kyi sgrib pa (“karmic obscurations”).
n.11
The phrase in the Skt. is pāpakarmākuśalamūlaṃ karmāvaraṇaṃ (“misdeeds,
roots of nonvirtue, karmic obscurations”).

n.12 The Skt. reads me mārakarmāṇi. All witnesses included in A have bdag gis bdud
kyi las gang ci byas pa de yongs su shes pas, except for NT and H T . NT , H T , and S
read bdag la bdud kyi las gang dag yod pa de dag yongs su shes pas. Although
versions of this phrase could be interpreted as speaking of one’s own
“demonic actions,” the commentary attributed to Vasubandhu suggests that
the obstacle to be overcome here is rather actions done to one (and
influences exerted on one) by others. However, Tāranātha’s commentary (p.
355), while confirming that for experienced practitioners “demonic actions”
may be interpreted as applying mainly to others, lists them as including such
things as procrastination, laziness, rowdiness, belittling others’ virtuous
actions, disliking perfections, slandering bodhisattvas, favoring false views,
getting distracted while in meditation, turning away from and diminishing
virtuous actions, and having incompatible attitudes after engaging in
them—all tendencies that less-than-perfect practitioners could potentially
interpret as applying to themselves.

n.13 The Sanskrit text reads sarvasattvānām (“for all sentient beings”) and omits
the equivalent for “fruit.” NT , S, and PT omit thams cad (“all”).

n.14 PT 77 reads gang bdag gi rnam par grol ba de sems can thams cad kyi rnam par grol
bar ’gyur cig (“may my liberation be the liberation of all sentient beings”). It is
closer to the Skt. yā ca me vimuktiḥ sā bhavatu sarvasattvavimokṣāya (“may my
liberation be for the liberation of all sentient beings”).

n.15 Most of the versions in the Sūtra sections of Tshalpa Kangyurs do not
specify that this aspiration to remain neither in saṃsāra nor nirvāṇa is made
 for oneself, but here we have followed K and Y in the Sūtra section, all
witnesses in A for Toh 916 and Toh 526, and S and PT 415, which read ’khor
ba dang mya ngan las ’das pa la bdag gnas par ma gyur cig. The Skt. has mā ca me
bhūt saṃsāre nirvāṇe pratiṣṭhitatā, with the same meaning.

n.16 The Skt. reads dhanavati.

n.17 Following Skt. and PT; D and other Kangyurs read sarvārthapraśamane, which
would mean “O remover of everything that is valuable.”

n.18 Following Skt., K, S, and Y in the Tantra section; D and other Kangyurs read
vākaviśodhani.

n.19 Skt., S, NT , H T , and PT 415 omit this passage on the recollection of former
lives.

n.20 Following the Skt. which has kṣipram (“swiftly”), translated in S, NT , H T , and
PT as myur du.

n.21 The Skt. reads, “If anyone, son or daughter of a good family, recites this
dhāraṇī of the six gates three times each night and three times each day, then,
having abandoned all karma, they will quickly reach the supreme state of
perfect awakening.” For the critically edited Skt. text, see Mimaki 1977b, p.
10.

n.22 Instead of “assembly of bodhisattvas,” the Skt. reads bodhisattvā mahāsattvā,

and S, NT , H T , and PT 415 read byang chub sems dpa’ sems dpa’ chen po
(“bodhisattvas mahāsattvas”).

n.23 This passage is missing in the Sanskrit. In PT 415, S, D (Toh 916), and D (Toh
526) following “the assembly of bodhisattvas,” it instead reads gnas gtsang
ma’i ris kyi lha’i bu de dag (“the gods of Śuddhāvāsa”).

n.24 The Skt. reads, “When the delighted Bhagavān had thus spoken, the
bodhisattva mahāsattvas rejoiced in what the Blessed One had taught.” For
the critically edited Skt. text, see Mimaki 1977b, p. 10. Commentators and
translators have disagreed over whether the adjective ravi (“delighted”) here
applies to the Bhagavān, to the bodhisattvas (as in the Chinese translations),
or to both (as in the Tibetan translations that have dgyes for the Bhagavān
and yi(d) rang(s) for the assembly). On this delicate issue, see Mimaki 1977b,
p. 13, n. 9.

n.25 “May there be benefit for all beings.” Only D (Toh 141) has this and the
following auspicious sayings in Sanskrit.
 For the translation of these verses, see the Buddhavacana Translation
n.26
Group, trans., The Sūtra on Dependent Arising (Toh 212), 2016, 1.5
(https://read.84000.co/translation/toh212.html# UT22084-062-012-12).

n.27 “May it be auspicious.”

b. BIBLIOGRAPHY
· Tibetan and Sanskrit Source Texts ·

sgo drug pa’i gzungs (Ṣaṇmukhīdhāraṇī). Toh 141, Degé Kangyur vol. 56 (mdo
sde, na), folios 299.a–300.a.

sgo drug pa’i gzungs (Ṣaṇmukhīdhāraṇī). Toh 526, Degé Kangyur vol. 88 (rgyud,
na), folios 54.a–54.b (in par phud printings).

sgo drug pa’i gzungs (Ṣaṇmukhīdhāraṇī). Toh 916, Degé Kangyur vol. 100
(gzungs, e), folios 260.b–261.a.

sgo drug pa’i gzungs. bka’ ’gyur (dpe bsdur ma) [Comparative Edition of the
Kangyur], krung go’i bod rig pa zhib ’jug ste gnas kyi bka’ bstan dpe sdur
khang (The Tibetan Tripitaka Collation Bureau of the China Tibetology
Research Center). 108 volumes. Beijing: krung go’i bod rig pa dpe skrun
khang (China Tibetology Publishing House), 2006–9, vol. 56, pp. 826–29;
vol. 88, pp. 227–30; vol. 97, pp. 775–78.

sgo drug pa’i gzungs. Stok Palace Kangyur vol. 102 (rgyud, da), folios 60.a–61.a.

Pelliot tibétain 77 (http://idp.bl.uk/database/oo_loader.a4d?

pm=Pelliot%20tib%C3%A9tain%2077;img=1), section 2. Bibliothèque
nationale de France, Paris. Accessed through The International Dunhuang
Project: The Silk Road Online.

Pelliot tibétain 415 (http://idp.bl.uk/database/oo_loader.a4d?

pm=Pelliot%20tibétain%20415;img=1), section 1. Bibliothèque nationale de
France, Paris. Accessed through The International Dunhuang Project: The Silk
Road Online.

Mimaki, Katsumi (1977b). “La Ṣaṇmukhī-dhāraṇī ou ‘Incantation des SIX

PORTES,’ texte attribué aux Sautrāntika (II).” Report of the Japanese
Association for Tibetan Studies 23 (1977): 9–13.
 · Tibetan Secondary References ·

Vasubandhu. sgo drug pa’i gzungs kyi rnam par bshad pa (Ṣaṇmukhīdhāraṇī-
vyākhyāna). Toh 3989, Degé Tengyur vol. 113 (mdo ’grel, ngi), folios 64.b–
66.a.

— — —. sgo drug pa’i gzungs kyi rnam par bshad pa. bstan ’gyur (dpe bsdur ma)
[Comparative Edition of the Tengyur], krung go’i bod kyi shes rig zhib
’jug lte gnas kyi bka’ bstan dpe sdur khang (The Tibetan Tripitaka
Collation Bureau of the China Tibetology Research Center). 120 volumes.
Beijing: krung go’i bod rig pa’i dpe skrun khang (China Tibetology
Publishing House), 1994–2008, vol. 37, pp. 3–7.

Jñānadatta (ye shes byin). ’phags pa sgo drug pa’i gzungs kyi rnam par bshad pa
rgya cher ’grel pa. IOL Tib J 430 (http://idp.bl.uk/database/oo_loader.a4d?
pm=IOL%20Tib%20J%20430;img=1), section 1. British Library, London.
Accessed through The International Dunhuang Project: The Silk Road Online.

Denkarma (pho brang stod thang ldan dkar gyi chos kyi ’gyur ro cog gi dkar chag).
Toh 4364, Degé Tengyur vol. 206 (sna tshogs, jo), folios 294.b–310.a.

Phangthangma (dkar chag ’phang thang ma). Beijing: mi rigs dpe skrun khang,
2003.

Tāranātha. ’phags pa sgo drug pa’i gzungs kyi rnam par bshad pa. In gsung ’bum/ tA
ra nA tha (dpe bsdur ma), vol. 35 (77) pp. 350–362. Beijing: krung go’i bod rig
pa dpe skrun khang, 2008.

· Chinese Source Texts ·

Xuanzang, trans. Liu men tuoluoni jing 六⾨陀羅尼經, Taishō 1360

(https://cbetaonline.dila.edu.tw/en/T1360).

Vasubandhu. Liu men tuoluoni jing lun 六⾨陀羅尼經論, Taishō 1361

(https://cbetaonline.dila.edu.tw/en/T1361).

· Western Translation and References ·

Buddhavacana Translation Group, trans. The Sūtra on Dependent Arising

(https://read.84000.co/translation/toh212.html#UT22084-062-012-12) (Pratītya-
samutpādasūtra, Toh 212). 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha, 2016.

Dalton, Jacob, and Sam Van Schaik. Tibetan Tantric Manuscripts from Dunhuang:
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Stein Collection at the British Library. Leiden: Brill,
2006.
Halkias, Georgios. “Tibetan Buddhism Registered: A Catalogue from the
Imperial Court of ’Phang Thang.” The Eastern Buddhist 36, nos. 1–2 (2004):
46–105.

Hidas, Gergely. “Dhāraṇī Sūtras.” In Brill’s Encyclopedia of Buddhism, edited

by Jonathan Silk et al., vol. 1, Literature and Languages, 129–37. Leiden: Brill,
2015.

Mimaki, Katsumi (1977a). “La Ṣaṇmukhī-dhāraṇī ou ‘Incantation des SIX

PORTES,’ texte attribué aux Sautrāntika (I).” Report of the Japanese Association
for Tibetan Studies 23 (1977): 965–72.

— — —(1977b). “La Ṣaṇmukhī-dhāraṇī ou ‘Incantation des SIX PORTES,’

texte attribué aux Sautrāntika (II).” Report of the Japanese Association for
Tibetan Studies 23 (1977): 9–13.

Obermiller, Eugéne, trans. and ed. History of Buddhism (Chos ḥbyung) by Bu-
ston. Vol. 2, The History of Buddhism in India and Tibet. Materialien zur Kunde
des Buddhismus 19. Heidelberg: O. Harrassowitz, 1932.

Sánchez, Pedro M. C. “The Indian Buddhist Dhāraṇī: An Introduction to its

History, Meanings and Functions.” MA diss., University of Sunderland,
2011.

Yoshimura, Shyuki. The Denkar-Ma: An Oldest Catalogue of the Tibetan Buddhist

Canons. Kyoto: Ryukoku University, 1950.
g. GLOSSARY

· Types of attestation for names and terms of the corresponding ·

source language

AS Attested in source text

This term is attested in a manuscript used as a source for this translation.

AO Attested in other text

This term is attested in other manuscripts with a parallel or similar context.

AD Attested in dictionary
This term is attested in dictionaries matching Tibetan to the corresponding
language.

AA Approximate attestation
The attestation of this name is approximate. It is based on other names
where the relationship between the Tibetan and source language is attested
in dictionaries or other manuscripts.

RP Reconstruction from Tibetan phonetic rendering

This term is a reconstruction based on the Tibetan phonetic rendering of the
term.

RS Reconstruction from Tibetan semantic rendering

This term is a reconstruction based on the semantics of the Tibetan
translation.

SU Source unspecified
This term has been supplied from an unspecified source, which most often
is a widely trusted dictionary.

g.1 asura
lha ma yin

་མ་ན།
asura
Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:
 A type of nonhuman being whose precise status is subject to different views,
but is included as one of the six classes of beings in the sixfold classification
of realms of rebirth. In the Buddhist context, asuras are powerful beings said
to be dominated by envy, ambition, and hostility. They are also known in the
pre-Buddhist and pre-Vedic mythologies of India and Iran, and feature
prominently in Vedic and post-Vedic Brahmanical mythology, as well as in
the Buddhist tradition. In these traditions, asuras are often described as
being engaged in interminable conflict with the devas (gods).

g.2 bhagavān
bcom ldan ’das

བམ་ན་འདས།
bhagavān
Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:
In Buddhist literature, this is an epithet applied to buddhas, most often to
Śākyamuni. The Sanskrit term generally means “possessing fortune,” but in
specifically Buddhist contexts it implies that a buddha is in possession of six
auspicious qualities (bhaga) associated with complete awakening. The
Tibetan term—where bcom is said to refer to “subduing” the four māras, ldan
to “possessing” the great qualities of buddhahood, and ’das to “going
beyond” saṃsāra and nirvāṇa—possibly reflects the commentarial tradition
where the Sanskrit bhagavat is interpreted, in addition, as “one who destroys
the four māras.” This is achieved either by reading bhagavat as bhagnavat
(“one who broke”), or by tracing the word bhaga to the root √bhañj (“to
break”).

g.3 bodhisattva
byang chub sems dpa’

ང་བ་མས་དཔའ།
bodhisattva
Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:
A being who is dedicated to the cultivation and fulfilment of the altruistic
intention to attain perfect buddhahood, traversing the ten bodhisattva levels
(daśabhūmi, sa bcu). Bodhisattvas purposely opt to remain within cyclic
existence in order to liberate all sentient beings, instead of simply seeking
personal freedom from suffering. In terms of the view, they realize both the
selflessness of persons and the selflessness of phenomena.

g.4 demonic action

bdud kyi las
 བད་་ལས།
mārakarman
An action that is either done by the god-demon Māra (the personification of
evil) himself; or by beings belonging to the class of demons; or by humans
either (literally) under demonic influence or (figuratively) under the
influence of whatever distractions, obstacles, and afflictions act as an
impediment to liberation.

g.5 deva
lha

།
deva
Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:
In the most general sense the devas —the term is cognate with the English
divine—are a class of celestial beings who frequently appear in Buddhist
texts, often at the head of the assemblies of nonhuman beings who attend
and celebrate the teachings of the Buddha Śākyamuni and other buddhas
and bodhisattvas. In Buddhist cosmology the devas occupy the highest of
the five or six “destinies” (gati) of saṃsāra among which beings take rebirth.
The devas reside in the devalokas, “heavens” that traditionally number
between twenty-six and twenty-eight and are divided between the desire
realm (kāmadhātu), form realm (rūpadhātu), and formless realm (ārūpyadhātu). A
being attains rebirth among the devas either through meritorious deeds (in
the desire realm) or the attainment of subtle meditative states (in the form
and formless realms). While rebirth among the devas is considered favorable,
it is ultimately a transitory state from which beings will fall when the
conditions that lead to rebirth there are exhausted. Thus, rebirth in the god
realms is regarded as a diversion from the spiritual path.

g.6 dhāraṇī
gzungs

གངས།
dhāraṇī
A verbal formula or phrase that can serve a variety of purposes depending
on the genre of text. It often refers to a magical incantation for attaining
mundane or supramundane goals.

g.7 gandharva
dri za
 ་ཟ།
gandharva
Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:
A class of generally benevolent nonhuman beings who inhabit the skies,
sometimes said to inhabit fantastic cities in the clouds, and more specifically
to dwell on the eastern slopes of Mount Meru, where they are ruled by the
Great King Dhṛtarāṣṭra. They are most renowned as celestial musicians who
serve the gods. In the Abhidharma, the term is also used to refer to the
mental body assumed by sentient beings during the intermediate state
between death and rebirth. Gandharvas are said to live on fragrances
(gandha) in the desire realm, hence the Tibetan translation dri za, meaning
“scent eater.”

g.8 karmic obscurations

las kyi sgrib pa

ལས་་བ་པ།
karmāvaraṇa
Obstructions due to past actions.

g.9 Mañjuśrī Kumārabhūta

’jam dpal gzhon nur gyur pa

འཇམ་དཔལ་གན་ར་ར་པ།
mañjuśrīkumārabhūta
Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:
Mañjuśrī is one of the “eight close sons of the Buddha” and a bodhisattva
who embodies wisdom. He is a major figure in the Mahāyāna sūtras,
appearing often as an interlocutor of the Buddha. In his most well-known
iconographic form, he is portrayed bearing the sword of wisdom in his right
hand and a volume of the Prajñāpāramitāsūtra in his left. To his name,
Mañjuśrī, meaning “Gentle and Glorious One,” is often added the epithet
Kumārabhūta, “having a youthful form.” He is also called Mañjughoṣa,
Mañjusvara, and Pañcaśikha.

g.10 nirvāṇa
mya ngan las ’das pa

་ངན་ལས་འདས་པ།
nirvāṇa
 Final liberation from suffering. The Sanskrit literally means
“extinguishment” and the Tibetan “the transcendence of suffering.”

g.11 perfection
pha rol tu phyin pa

ཕ་ལ་་ན་པ།
pāramitā
Typically refers to the practices of the bodhisattvas, which are embraced
with knowledge. The six perfections are generosity, discipline, patience,
diligence, concentration, and wisdom.

g.12 roots of nonvirtue

mi dge ba’i rtsa ba

་ད་བ་་བ།
akuśalamūla
Usually referring to the ten unwholesome actions, which are taking life,
taking what is not given, sexual misconduct, lying, sowing discord, harsh
speech, worthless chatter, covetousness, wishing harm on others, and
wrong views.

g.13 roots of virtue

dge ba’i rtsa ba

ད་བ་་བ།
kuśalamūla
Wholesome actions that are conducive to happiness.

g.14 saṃsāra
’khor ba

འར་བ།
saṃsāra
The cyclic existence in which beings are confined to suffering and
unsatisfactoriness.

g.15 seven kinds of precious jewels

rin po che sna bdun

ན་་་་བན།
saptaratna
Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:
 The set of seven precious materials or substances includes a range of
precious metals and gems, but their exact list varies. The set often consists of
gold, silver, beryl, crystal, red pearls, emeralds, and white coral, but may also
contain lapis lazuli, ruby, sapphire, chrysoberyl, diamonds, etc. The term is
frequently used in the sūtras to exemplify preciousness, wealth, and beauty,
and can describe treasures, offering materials, or the features of architectural
structures such as stūpas, palaces, thrones, etc. The set is also used to
describe the beauty and prosperity of buddha realms and the realms of the
gods.

In other contexts, the term saptaratna can also refer to the seven precious
possessions of a cakravartin or to a set of seven precious moral qualities.

g.16 Śuddhāvāsa
gnas gtsang ma

གནས་གཙང་མ།
śuddhāvāsa
Name for the five highest levels of existence within the form realm.

g.17 thorough understanding

yongs su shes pa

ངས་་ས་པ།
parijñāna
A general term that may here imply not just understanding or knowledge
but realization or even awakening.