Dharani for the Prevention of Disaster

The dharani below is the Dharani for the Prevention of Calamity, or shōsaishu (消災呪), called more formally the shōsaimyōkichijō darani (消災妙吉祥陀羅尼). It is used in both Rinzai and Soto Zen traditions as a general-protection “spell”.¹ I assume the intention is to protect the Zen disciple so that they can reduce obstructions on their path, similar to prayers to the Medicine Buddha in other traditions.

Before we share the dharani, let’s talk about mantras vs. dharani in Buddhism. Both belong to the esoteric traditions of “Vajrayana Buddhism”, (e.g. Tibetan Buddhism, and Shingon/Tendai Buddhism in Japan). My experience is limited, but I believe that mantras usually have layers of deeper and deeper meaning that a disciple explores in the esoteric path, while dharani do not. Instead, dharani are more like tools, simple “spells”¹ or chants to provide a specific benefit. Mantras might provide also a benefit, but that’s not their sole purpose in the esoteric tradition.

Also, non-esoteric traditions in Buddhism will sometimes cherry-pick ones that they feel are useful, some more than others.² Sometimes mantras and dharani are used for very specific liturgical purposes, others are chanted as part of normal service.

In any case, the Dharani for the Prevention of Calamity is regularly chanted three times in Rinzai Zen liturgies. I am less clear how it’s used in Soto Zen.

An example of the recitation is below from the Soto Zen tradition:

The dharani has a couple versions, one used in the Soto Zen sect, and another used by Rinzai. I’ve included both versions below.

Language	Dharani Text
Sanskrit	namaḥ samanta-buddhānām apratihata-śāsanānāṃ tadyathā oṃ kha kha khā hi khā hi hūṃ hūṃ jvala jvala prajvala prajvala tiṣṭhā tiṣṭhā ṣṭri ṣṭri sphaṭ sphaṭ śāntika śrīye svāhā
Classical Chinese	曩謨 三滿哆 母駄喃 阿盋囉底 賀哆舍 娑曩喃 怛姪他 唵 佉 佉 佉呬 佉呬 吽 吽 入嚩囉 入嚩囉 盋羅入嚩羅 盋羅入嚩羅 底瑟姹 底瑟姹 瑟致哩 瑟致哩 娑發吒 娑發吒 扇底迦 室哩曳 娑嚩訶
Soto Zen version	のーもーさんまんだー　もとなん　おはらーちー　ことしゃー　そのなん　とーじーとー　えん　ぎゃーぎゃーぎゃーきー　ぎゃーきー　うんぬん　しふらー　しふらー　はらしふらー　はらしふらー　ちしゅさー　ちしゅさー　ちしゅりー　ちしゅりー　そはじゃー　そはじゃー　せんちーぎゃー　しりえー　そーもーこー
Japanese Romanization of Soto Zen version	NO MO SAN MAN DA MO TO NAN O HA RA CHI KO TO SHA SO NO NAN TO JI TO EN GYA GYA GYA KI GYA KI UN NUN SHI FU RA SHI FU RA HARA SHI FU RA HARA SHI FU RA CHI SHU SA CHI SHU SA CHI SHU RI CHI SHU RI SO WA JA SO WA JA SEN CHI GYA SHI RI EI SO MO KO
Rinzai Zen version	なむさんまんだー　もとなん　おはらーちー　ことしゃー　そのなん　とーじーとー　えん　ぎゃーぎゃーぎゃーきー　ぎゃーきー　うんぬん　しふらー　しふらー　はらしふらー　はらしふらー　ちしゅさー　ちしゅさー　しゅしりー　しゅしりー　そはじゃー　そはじゃー　せちーぎゃー　しりえー　そーもーこー
Japanese Romanization of Rinzai version	NA MU SAN MAN DA MO TO NAN O HA RA CHI KO TO SHA SO NO NAN TO JI TO EN GYA GYA GYA KI GYA KI UN NUN SHI FU RA SHI FU RA HA RA SHI FU RA HA RA SHI FU RA CHI SHU SA CHI SHU SA SHU SHI RI SHU SHI RI SO WA JA SO WA JA SE CHI GYA SHI RI EI SO MO KO

¹ I am not sure what else to call it. Dharani use Sanskrit words that are chanted to provide a concrete benefit. If there was a meaning originally, it’s obscure now. I wish I could use a more suitable word for this, but there’s nothing in English I can use that doesn’t sound like a Harry Potter episode.

² the Pure Land tradition usually doesn’t use mantras or dharani. One could argue the nembutsu is something similar, but that’s a story for another post.