Shurangama Mantra – guide to memorize by mnemonics

[wondrous Dharma]

Good knowing ones,

1.     Praising the Shurangama Mantra in brief.

Excerpts of talk by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua:  “Among the Buddha’s teachings, the Shurangama Mantra is considered to be the king of mantras because it is the longest and most important. The flourish or demise of Buddhism rests entirely with the Shurangama Mantra. It is the efficacious phrases of the Shurangama Mantra that keep heaven and earth from being destroyed. It is the efficacious phrases of the Shurangama Mantra that keep the world from coming to an end. That is why, I often tell you that as long as a single person can recite the Shurangama Mantra, the world cannot be destroyed, nor can Buddhism. But when there is no longer anyone who can recite the Shurangama Mantra, then very quickly the world will be destroyed, because the Proper Dharma no longer abides.”

“This Sutra (Shurangama Sutra) and mantra (Shurangama Mantra) are critically important to the preservation of the Proper Dharma. The Shurangama Sutra was spoken for the sake of the  Shurangama Mantra. There’s no way to ever finish expressing the importance of the Shurangama Sutra and the Shurangama Mantra; to the ends of all time their merits, virtues and wonderful functions could never be told – so absolutely inconceivable and ineffable are they!”

2.     Introduction to mnemonics on the Shurangama Mantra

There are 554 lines in the Shurangma Mantra comprising five Divisions:

1.     Vairochana True Dharma assembly of 187 lines

2.     Honored Shakya Response and Transformation assembly of 45 lines

3.     Guanyin’s Harmonious Union assembly of 131 lines

4.     Vajra Treasury exhorting and gathering in assembly of 71 lines

5.     Manjusri’s Propagating and Transmitting assembly of 120 lines

If you are able to memorize the Great Compassion Mantra which comprises 87 lines, the Shurangama Mantra comprising 554 lines is then similar to repeating the process about seven times over. With the view to make the memorization less daunting, here is how from the 554 lines comprising five divisions, it can be sub-divided further to look like there are seven parts, each with about 90 lines: Division 1 above can be broken into two parts with the second part commencing from line 91 Di pyau. Division 3 can be broken down into two parts with the second part commencing from line 278 pi two ye she.

Moreover, many parts are repetitive and that is why the attached mnemonics can aid your memorization. It is suggested that certain parts such as the 5-line Heart Mantra and the Heart Mantra can be memorized in groups and they are indicated as merged cells.

Amitabha and happy memorizing.

Sincerely, in the Shurangama Dharma

Wondrous Dharma