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Sutras
Lama Zopa Rinpoche works on writing out the Prajnaparamita Sutra with Ven. Tsering at his side, Aptos, California, United States, June 2017. Photo by Ven. Lobsang Sherab
Sutras are records of teachings given by the historical Buddha, Shakyamuni. The Buddha’s discourses were memorized by his disciples and later written down in various languages, the most complete collections of teachings being in Pali and Sanskrit. Because sutras contain the actual words spoken by the Buddha, by reproducing that speech ourselves during recitations our voice becomes a conduit for the spread of Buddha’s teachings in the world. A special set of sutras called dharmaparyayas or “transformative teachings,” including the Sanghata Sutra, function to transform those who hear, recite or write out them in particular ways, in the same way as meeting a buddha in the flesh.
Dharanis contain the essence of a teaching but are often compared to mantras due to their intended ritual vocalization. Generally, however, dharanis are longer than mantras and are more likely to have intelligible phrases, like sutras. The word dharani is from a Sanskrit root word that means “to hold or maintain.” Dharanis are said to have the power to heal and protect from harm.
Sutras
- Amitayus Long Life Sutra
According to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, “This text is very precious and there is so much benefit in printing or writing it. This is one of the texts that, if written in gold, mountains of negative karma get purified … It’s very good to print for people who have cancer, and for the success of activities and projects. If a business has difficulties, or is difficult to start, if you have difficulty finding a job, or the job is not going well, you can print many copies to make merit, not particularly for mundane success but generally to collect merit for realizations, conditions for Dharma practice. Then you can dedicate the merits of printing for all sentient beings. This is one solution for success and long life. Also, when you die you will get born in Amitabha’s pure land.”
- The Array of Sukhavati Pure Land: A Concise Mahayana Sutra
- Entering the Great City of Vaishali Sutra
Entering the Great City of Vaishali is an incredibly powerful sutra that one can listen to, read when one is in intense pain or very sick, suffering from spirit harm or other ailments. - The Sutra of the Exalted Great Glorified Female Being
According to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, “This practice is for overcoming financial difficulties, especially if someone is causing you financial problems, but also to empower financial endeavors that are dependent on others to bring success.”
- Sutra of Golden Light
This “King of Glorious Sutras,” contains everything needed, from daily happiness to complete enlightenment. It contains a profound practice of confession and rejoicing, profound teachings on dependent arising, reliable assurances of protection, guidelines for ideal government, and awe-inspiring stories of the Buddha’s previous lives.
- Sutra of Great Liberation
The Sutra of Great Liberation is an important Mahayana sutra that is also often recited and greatly cherished in Tibet. The sutra contains teachings on various topics, as well as the names of many enlightened beings. The sutra is often recited for those who have passed away, and even just having a copy of it has great benefits. Lama Zopa Rinpoche began giving the oral transmission of the Sutra of Great Liberation during the Teachings on Thought Transformation during the Time of COVID-19, an online teaching series that began during the coronavirus pandemic. Rinpoche teaches that receiving the oral transmission of the sutra, reading it, reciting it, and writing it out, etc., has many spiritual benefits.
- High-resolution Tibetan pechas suitable for printing (PDF)
- High-resolution Tibetan pechas suitable for printing (PDF)
- Heart Sutra
The Heart Sutra is the most widely known sutra of the Mahayana tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. It is part of the Prajnaparamita Sutras, which is a collection of about 40 sutras composed between 100 BCE and 500 CE. The Heart Sutra is a presentation of profound wisdom on the nature of emptiness.
- Noble Stack of Auspiciousness Sutra
This sutra is said to be good for dispelling inauspicious energies.
- The Sutra Remembering the Three Jewels
Lama Zopa Rinpoche recommends reciting this sutra on merit multiplying days. - Sanghata Sutra
The Sanghata Sutra promises to transform all those who read it. Like other sutras, the Sanghata Sutra records an oral teaching given by the Buddha, but unlike other sutras, Buddha explains that he himself had heard this sutra from a previous buddha. The Sanghata Sutra is a text that talks about itself by name and talks in great detail about what it will do to anyone who encounters it. It is also an extraordinary literary adventure, full of stories of death, discovery and transformations.
- The Sutra on What is Most Precious to a Monk
This sutra from the vinaya discusses the meaning of and motivations for monastic engagement, exploring what kind of mind constitutes one of monastic practice. It explains why that which a monk holds most dear is his mind of renunciation and commitment to his vows.
- Vajra Cutter Sutra
Along with the Heart Sutra, the Vajra Cutter Sutra (also known as the Diamond Cutter Sutra or Diamond Sutra) is one of most well-known sutras of Mahayana Buddhism. The Vajra Cutter Sutra is a discourse on the Buddhist concept of emptiness or “Wisdom Gone Beyond.”
Dharanis
- The Dharani Called “Extremely Conquering from Bondage”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche indicated this was one practice that could be done to help prevent the spread of the Ebola virus.
- The Dharani Called “Glorious Vajra Claws”
According to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, “This practice is wrathful, performed in order to not receive harm, to not suffer, when there is a powerful need to solve problems, when you have tried every other way to benefit.”
- The Dharani Called “Possessing the Limbs of All the Buddhas”
Other Resources
- The Benefits of Studying the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras by Lama Zopa Rinpoche
