The Prajnaparamita (The Silent Mantra)-- A Short Discourse
translation: JW
Thus have I heard at one time.
The Blessed One dwelt at Rajagaha on Vulture Peak with a large gathering of monks, a vast gathering of bodhisattvas, and an equally vast gathering of gods.
At which time the Avalokita, the great bodhisattva, placed the upper robe over his shoulder and with palms together bowed towards the Blessed One and spoke:
Lord, teach the short discourse on the prajnaparamita so that when its truth is heard, all beings' entanglements from past actions will be extinguished in the attainment of enlightenment.
Because all beings who hear the silent mantra of the prajnaparamita, who evoke this mantra, who practice this mantra with sincere and undying devotion, will attain enlightenment without fail.
The Blessed One acknowledged Avalokita and spoke:
Son and daughter of a good family, listen! I will teach you the short discourse on the prajnaparamita so that when its truth is heard, all entanglements from past actions will be extinguished in the attainment of enlightenment. Because all beings who hear the silent mantra of the prajnaparamita, who evoke this mantra, who practice this mantra with sincere and undying devotion, will attain enlightenment without fail.
Avalokita: For the happiness and welfare of all beings, teach this discourse, Blessed One!
At this time, the Tathagata Shakyamuni withdrew into the deepest samadhi called 'freedom from all suffering,' at which point from a tuft of hair between his eyebrows burst forth a hundred thousand million rays, a boundless light so that all the Buddha-fields were alight, and all beings were turned to focus on the supreme enlightenment-- even the beings in the lowest hell.
And the Buddha-fields quaked in the six directions as heavenly flowers rained down on the lotus feet of the Buddha, and his eyes opened, and he taught:
Steady steady
...is a bodhisattva!
Gone forth in the prajnaparamita, flowing & dwelling in the prajnaparamita-- a bodhisattva recites the silent mantra:
OM MUNI MAHĀMUNI SVĀHĀ.
(Om silent one, perfect silent one-- hail!)
Know this: I, Tathagata Shakyamuni, have attained supreme enlightenment solely through this prajnaparamita, and only from this prajnaparamita are Buddhas born.
Indeed, as I heard this prajnaparamita from the Tathagata before me, you bodhisattvas hearing this, shall a Buddha-be-- an Enlightened One, a Sugata, an Unsurpassed One, a tamer of those to be tamed, a teacher of those to be taught, the one who knows--
Lord of All-Encompassing Light,
a Tathagata.
Such it is-- all who hear this short discourse, who lift into their hearts the prajnaparamita, who recite the prajnaparamita, who write down the prajnaparamita, who teaches the prajnaparamita, who guard and devote themselves to this prajnaparamita shall a Buddha be.
Homage to the prajnaparamita, the supreme enlightenment!
Listen, son and daughter of the good family-- this is the prajnaparamita! The one most pure, Mother of all Buddhas, Mother of all bodhisattvas, inconceivable luminosity, flowing source of all enlightenment--
silence.
Even the Tathagatas in a hundred million eons do not have a single word to describe her; they know only silence. Therefore, recite the silent mantra:
OM MUNI MAHĀMUNI SVĀHĀ.
And where this mantra is recited with sincere devotion, all shall be saved. For this silent mantra is the very face of the prajnaparamita-- behold!
Avalokita: Lord Buddha, what is the purpose of this discourse?
The Blessed One: To reveal the easy path of the prajnaparamita.
Any being who is dumb and blind, confused and anxious, petrified in sin, if they hear the silent mantra of the prajnaparamita-- if they lift the prajnaparamita into their hearts, recite it and cause it to be recited-- through this easy path of the prajnaparamita, they will attain enlightenment.
Indeed, this short discourse of the prajnaparamita is offered to the sons and daughters of a good family out of love and compassion.
Avalokita: It is wonderful, it is marvelous, Lord Buddha, for the happiness of all beings, you reveal this short discourse:
O Silent One,
protector: a lotus shining,
prajnaparamita
all-surpassing,
tangled karma untangled--
free.
Thereupon, the Avalokita expounded on these words with the following dharani:
Om prajnaparamita,
Mother of the Tathagatas!
Triumphant!
Our protector, who surpasses all-- unfathomable
a lotus shining,
source of all wisdom flowing--
silence.
Mother Prajna!
You who protect with your life
your only child,
heart boundless, love spread-- our refuge.
Rescue us! Show us the end of all suffering!
Perfect, most Blessed Mother, clear away
our obstacles. Purify us--
so that we may be happy.
Happiness of all beings!
Mother of the Tathagatas!
On you all Buddhas depend. Svah!
The Blessed One: Such it is, Avalokitesvara, the one who hears the world's cries!
I offer this short discourse on the prajnaparamita for the dumb and blind who are petrified in sin-- for their welfare and happiness.
Thus, the Buddha spoke, and Avalokita, the great being bodhisattva, was joyous.
Joyous were all the bodhisattvas, joyous were all the monks and all the gods.
All rejoiced in the Blessed One's teaching.