True Buddha School students will know that dharma sister Hanifa is the live translator for His Holiness Living Buddha Lian Sheng‘s dharma teachings. During group practice sessions, this means reciting the High King Sutra in English at high speed to keep up with the group saying it in Chinese! During these sessions, she uses this translation which is optimised for speed.
Like with the other translations of the High King Sutra shared on this site, this variation translation offers many interesting meanings that are true to the Chinese original. Translating the Chinese into English normally means that only parts of the meaning can be expressed, hence it is wonderful to see a collection of competent translations side by side for comparison. All are valid and you can choose whichever you wish to be your practice version.
High King Avalokitesavara (Guanyin) Sutra:
Invocation of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas (Mahasattvas)
Namo Avalokitesvara Mahasattva
Namo Maitreya Mahasattva
Namo Akasagarbha Mahasattva
Namo Samantabhadra Mahasattva
Namo Vajrapani Mahasattva
Namo Manjusri Mahasattva
Namo Viskambhin Mahasattva
Namo Ksitigarbha Mahasattva
Namo all bodhisattvas and mahasattvas.
Homage to Avalokitesavara Bodhisattva
Namo Buddha ya
Namo Dharma ya
Namo Sangha ya
An affinity with the pureland
opens the dharma doors.
The [true] “self’ is permanent, blissful, and pure,
and blessed with the buddhadharma.
Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, a great divine mantra
Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, a great spiritual mantra
Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, a supreme mantra
Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, an unequalled mantra
Namo the Pure Light Secret Buddha
the Dharma Treasury Buddha
the Tranquil King Buddha with Lion’s Roar and Divine Speed
the Sumeru Light King Buddha Announced by Buddha
the Dharma Protector Buddha
the Vajra Treasury Roaming Lion Buddha
the Precious Victory Buddha
the Supernatural Power Buddha
the Medicine Lapiz Lazuli Light King Buddha
the Universal Light Merit Mountain King Buddha
the Merit Retaining Jewel King Buddha
the Seven Past Buddhas
the Future Thousand Buddhas of This Fortunate Eon
the Fifteen Hundred Buddhas
the Fifteen Thousand Buddhas
the Five Hundred Flower Victory Buddhas
the Billion Vajra Treasury Buddhas
and the Fixed Light Buddha.
The Buddhas of Six Directions:
To the East, the Precious Light Moon Palace Venerable Wonderful Voice King Buddha
to the South, the Tree-Root Flower King Buddha
to the West, the Spiritual Power Flower Blazing King Buddha
to the North, the Moon Palace Purity Buddha
above, the Countless Vigor Jewel Crown Buddhas
below, the Tranquil Moon Sound King Buddha.
All the Countless Buddhas
Many Jewels Buddha
Sakyamuni Buddha
Maitreya Buddha
Aksobhya Buddha
Amitabha Buddha.
All beings in the Central Realm,
and those in the buddhaverses,
while moving upon the Earth
and through the Heavens,
shower limitless compassion upon all living beings,
affording them stability and peace,
that they might cultivate day and night.
By constantly invoking this sutra,
one is liberated from the suffering of birth and dying,
and freed from all kinds of suffering.
Namo the Great Wisdom Avalokitesvara
the Observant Avalokitesvara
the Noble Avalokitesvara
the Expansively-Minded Avalokitesvara
the Medicine King Bodhisattva
the Medicine Lord Bodhisattva
Manjusri Bodhisattva
Samantabhadra Bodhisattva
Akasagarbha Bodhisattva
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva
the Billions of Clear Cool Treasure Mountain Bodhisattvas
the Universal Light Venerable King Tathagata Bodhisattva.
Chanting this sutra continually, the Seven World-Honored Buddhas proclaim 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 (7x)
Merit Dedication
The Avalokitesvaras in the ten directions and all bodhisattvas vow to save sentient beings.
Calling upon their names allows for liberation.
The wise ones expound it diligently,
and those with affinity constantly recite it.
With a thousand recitations and
constant mindfulness of it,
fire causes no harm,
knives and weapons break instantly,
anger turns into joy,
and death revives.
Never be doubtful,
for the buddhas always speak the truth.
High King Avalokitesvara
alleviates all sufferings.
Faced with a fatal crisis,
the doomed shall live.
The words of the buddhas are always true;
thus they deserve our homage.
With a thousand recitations,
grave karma shall be eradicated.
Those with great merit and unwavering faith
single-mindedly chant this sutra and
dedicate its merit to all.
One thousand recitations
will eradicate grave karma.
This concludes the High King Avalokitesvara Sutra.