Original Preface
During the Five Dynasties period (907-960), there was a king named High Pleasure. He was the leader of the state of Hsiang and took pleasure in killing. At that time, an official in charge of the treasury, named Sun-jin-deh, involuntarily committed a serious crime. (Textual research showed that it was Sun's brother who committed the crime and, as the criminal's relative, Sun was implicated.) Awaiting death while imprisoned, Sun recited the Universal Gateway Article of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva1 (Kuan-Yin) day and night without resting.
Suddenly one day he dreamt of a monk, speaking to him, "You cannot escape the death sentence by reciting this sutra. I advise you to recite instead the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra one thousand times, and then your death sentence will be lifted." "How can I obtain this sutra while I am in prison?" asked Sun. The monk said, "I will teach you orally and you can memorize it in your dream." After learning it, Sun sincerely recited the sutra nine hundred times.
Then the time came for Sun to be taken to the market to be executed in public. In fear, Sun asked the prison official how far away was the market. The official asked Sun why he wanted to know. Sun then told him about the monk appearing in his dream and how the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra was supposed to help him from dying. Sun begged the official to slow down so that he could finish the remaining one hundred recitations. Sun managed to complete the recitations by the time they arrived at the market. When the executioner sank his sword into Sun's neck, the sword broke into three pieces, leaving Sun unscathed.
Being informed of this event, the king was in awe and asked what kind of magic Sun had employed. Sun told the king that he had not used any magic, but how he had been afraid of dying while in the prison and had recited the Universal Gateway Article of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. Then he told how a monk had appeared suddenly to him in a dream and taught him to recite the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra a thousand times, thus obtaining the blessing. The king spoke to Sun, "You are stronger than I am; I regard you as I regard the Buddhas." The king then ordered the prison officer to write down the sutra and he ordered all the prisoners, including the ones waiting for execution, to recite this sutra one thousand times. He then tried the sword on them. Everyone survived. Thus the king decreed that everyone in the state should recite this sutra to receive the fruits of blessing.
That is how it came to be known as the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra. It is unprecedented for a sutra to have such spiritual power. Therefore, the author writes this preface to record how it originated and how powerful it is, so that sincere reformed persons have a way to follow.
The High King Avalokitesvara Sutra
GUAN SHI YIN PU SA,
Homage to Kuan Yin Bodhisattva!
NA MO FO,
Homage to the Buddhas,
NA MO FA,
Homage to the Dharma,
NA MO SENG,
Homage to the Sangha.
FO GUO YOU YUAN, FO FA XIANG YIN,
An affinity with the Pure Lands opens the Dharma Paths,
CHANG LE WO JING, YOU YUAN FO FA.
With permanence, bliss identity and purity, one is blessed with the Dharma
NA MO MO HO BO RE BO LUO MI SHI DA SHEN ZHOU,
Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, a great spiritual mantra.
NA MO MO HE BO RUO BO LUO MI SHI DA MING ZHOU,
Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, a great wisdom mantra.
NA MO MO HE BO RUO BO LUO MI SHI WU SHANG ZHOU,
Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, a supreme mantra.
NA MO MO HE BO RUO BO LUO MI SHI WU DENG DENG ZHOU.
Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, an unequalled mantra.
NA MO JING GUANG MI MI FO,
Namo the Pure Light Secret Buddha,
FA ZANG FO,
the Dharma Treasury Buddha,
SHI ZI HOU SHEN ZU YOU WANG FO,
the Tranquil King Buddha with Lion's roar and divine speed,
FO GAO XU MI DENG WANG FO,
the Sumeru Light King Buddha announced by Buddha,
FA HU FO,
the Dharma Protector Buddha,
JIN GANG ZANG SHI ZI YOU XI FO,
the Vajra Treasury Roaming Lion Buddha,
BAO SHENG FO,
the Precious Victory Buddha,
SHEN TONG FO,
the Supernatural Power Buddha,
YAO SHI LIU LI GUANG WANG FO,
the Medicine Crystal Light King Buddha,
PU GUANG GONG DE SHAN WANG FO,
the Universal Light Merit Mountain King Buddha,
SHAN ZHU GONG DE BAO WANG FO,
the Merit Retaining jewel King Buddha,
GUO QU Ql FO,
the Seven Past Buddhas,
WEI LAI XIAN JIE QIAN FO,
the Future Thousand Buddhas of this fortunate eon,
QIAN WU BAI FO,
the Fifteen Hundred Buddhas,
WAN WU QIAN FO,
the Fifteen Thousand Buddhas,
WU BAI HUA SHENG FO,
the Five Hundred Flower Victory Buddhas,
BAI YI JIN GANG ZANG FO,
the Billion Vajra Treasury Buddhas,
DING GUANG FO,
and the Fixed Light Buddha,
LIU FANG LIU FO MING HAO:
The Buddhas of Six Directions:
DONG FANG BAO GUANG YUE DIAN YUE MIAO ZUN YIN
WANG FO,
To the East the Precious Light Moon Palace Venerable Wonderful Voice King Buddha,
NAN FANG SHU GEN HUA WANG FO,
to the South the Tree-Root Flower King Buddha,
XI FANG ZAO WANG SHEN TONG YAN HUA WANG FO,
to the West the Spiritual Power Flower Blazing King Buddha,
BEI FANG YUE DIAN QING JING FO,
to the North the Moon Palace Purity Buddha,
SHANG FANG WU SHU JING JIN BAO SHOU FO,
Above, the countless Vigor jewel Crown Buddhas,
XIA FANG SHAN JI YUE YIN WANG FO.
Below, the Tranquil Moon Sound King Buddha.
WU LIANG ZHU FO,
All the countless Buddhas,
DUO BAO FO,
Many Jewels Buddha,
SHI JIA MOU NI FO,
Shakyamuni Buddha,
MI LE FO,
Maitreya Buddha,
AH CHU FO,
Akshobhya Buddha,
MI TUO FO.
Amitabha Buddha.
ZHONG YANG YI QIE ZHONG SHENG,
All beings in the Central Realm,
ZAI FO SHI JIE ZHONG ZHE,
and those in the Pure Lands,
XING ZHU YU DI SHANG, JI ZAI XU KONG ZHONG
while moving upon the Earth and through the Heavens,
Cl YOU YU YI QIE ZHONG SHENG,
shower limitless compassion upon all living beings,
GE LING AN WEN XIU XI
affording them equanimity and peace,
ZHOU YE XIU CHI
that they might cultivate day and night
XIN CHANG QIU SONG Cl JING
By constantly invoking this sutra,
NENG MIE SHENG SI KU, XIAO CHU ZHU DU HAI,
one is liberated from the suffering of birth and death, and freed from all the many kinds of suffering.
NA MO DA MING GUAN SHI YIN,
Homage to the great wisdom Kuan Yin,
GUAN MING GUAN SHI YIN,
the observant Kuan Yin,
GAO MING GUAN SHI YIN,
the noble Kuan Yin,
KAI MING GUAN SHI YIN,
the expansively-minded Kuan Yin,
YAO WANG PU SA,
the Medicine King Bodhisattva,
YAO SHANG PU SA,
the supreme Medicine Bodhisattva,
WEN SHU SHI LI PU SA,
Manjusri Bodhisattva,
PU XIAN PU SA,
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva,
XU KONG ZANG PU SA,
Akasagarbha Bodhisattva,
DI ZANG WANG PU SA,
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva,
QING LIANG BAO SHAN YI WAN PU SA,
the billions of Clear Cool Treasure Mountain Bodhisattvas,
PU GUANG WANG RU LAI HUA SHENG PU SA,
the Universal Light Venerable King Tathagata Bodhisattva.
NIAN NIAN SONG Cl JING,
Chanting this sutra continually,
QI FO SHI ZUN, JI SHOU ZHOU YUE:
the Seven World-Honored Buddhas recite this mantra:
LI PO LI PO DI, QIU HE QIU HE DI, TUO LUO NI DI, NI HE LA DI, BI LI NI DI, MO HE QIE DI, ZHEN LING QIAN DI, SUO HA.
Lee-poh-lee-poh-deh, kyo-ho-kyo-ho-deh, toh-loh-nee-deh, nee-ah-la-deh, pee-lee-nee-deh, mo-ho-kya-deh, jen-len-chen deh, so-ha (Repeat this mantra 7 times)
All the transformation bodies of Avalokitesvara
and all the bodhisattvas
have vowed to liberate every being in samsara,
and to cleanse all sufferings when called upon.
One who has nondual faith in Buddha
will be greatly blessed with guidance.
By keeping intact the root of virtue
one will be able to practice this,
and with one thousand recitations,
the practice blends into one's mindstream.
Then one remains unharmed by fire or weapons,
and anger is transformed into happiness.
Even those who are left for dead
return thereby to life.
One must not doubt this,
for it is the word of Buddha.
The High King Avalokitesvara
in truth removes all obstacles.
Even in the most grave plight
one is saved from death.
This is the truth all Buddhas announce,
therefore pay them homage.
By reciting this sutra one thousand times,
one purifies the most negative of karmas.
Those fortunate ones endowed with indestructible faith
are to always uphold this sutra.
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Homage to the Eight Great Bodhisattvas:
Namo Mahasattva Avalokitesvara.
Namo Mahasattva Maitreya.
Namo Mahasattva Akasagarbha.
Namo Mahasattva Samantabhadra.
Namo Mahasattva Vajrapani.
Namo Mahasattva Manjusri.
Namo Mahasattva Viskambin.
Namo Mahasattva Ksitigarbha.
Namo all Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas.
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May this practice
serve to benefit each and every sentient being.
Having performed one thousand recitations,
the most serious transgressions are altogether purified.