Mantalá: Dhāraṇī of Maitreya Bodhisattva

Himalayan Art Resources Item No. 2348

A dhāraṇī that helps with both a good rebirth and one's needs is the dhāraṇī of Maitreya Bodhisattva, the future buddha. The dhāraṇī is known formally as the Noble Dhāraṇī "Maitreya’s Pledge" or Āryamaitreyapratijñānāmadhāraṇī. After the buddha of our time, Śākyamuni Tathāgata, and his teachings have passed, Maitreya will eventually return to reestablish the Buddhadharma as a buddha in his own right. Maitreya's name comes from the Sanskrit word maitrī, meaning loving-kindness. His dhāraṇī encapsulates the essence of his name, especially when taking into account the promises attached to reciting this mantra.

The dhāraṇī, with very minor edits on my end (I separated clear words with dashes for ease of recitation), goes:

namo ratna-trayāya
namo bhagavate śākya-munaye
tathāgatāya arhate samyak-saṃbuddhāya, tadyathā:
oṃ ajite ajite aparājite ajitaṃ jaya hara hara
maitri avalokite kara kara mahā-samaya-siddhe
bhara bhara mahā-bodhi-maṇḍabīje smara smara
asmakaṃ samaya bodhi bodhi mahā-bodhi svāhā

There are two, shorter mantras attached to the sūtra text, but this is the root mantra, which one should diligently apply oneself to reciting. The text states the following:

“Once I have fully awakened to unsurpassed and perfectly complete enlightenment, I will be certain to search out any being who simply hears, recites, chants, correctly contemplates, or meditates on this dhāraṇī and offer them a prophecy for unsurpassed and perfectly complete enlightenment. Even if this dhāraṇī is recited into the ear of a deer or bird from the animal realm, they will also receive a prophecy for unsurpassed and perfectly complete enlightenment.

This dhāraṇī is greatly beneficial to recite for the benefit of other beings, especially those who or which cannot practice themselves, like our pets and so on. Additionally:

Whoever merely hears this will never go to the lower realms, nor will they be stained by the dirt of the lower realms. They will not be reborn in a mother’s womb. They will become a universal monarch for a thousand divine eons. They will inhabit the path of the ten virtuous actions. Whichever material enjoyments they wish for and seek will appear for them. I, a blessed one, will never forget that being. Having reached the seat of awakening, I will absolutely provide them, no matter who they are, a prophecy for unsurpassed and perfectly complete enlightenment.”

By Maitreya's power, any person who recites and even simply hears the dhāraṇī will benefit. When one is facing hardships and need solace, the dhāraṇī can help ease one's suffering and provide us our needs. By doing so, one not only helps oneself but also others as the beings---humans and animals (and even unseen beings) alike---benefit and secure for themselves supreme enlightenment just by hearing the dhāraṇī be recited.

The mantra should be recited three, seven, twenty-one, or as many times as one can every day. When one goes about the day and sees animals, especially ones which are suffering, the mantra can be recited softly near the animal for their benefit. If one is need (spiritually, materially, financially, and so on), the mantra should be recited as well.

May the Buddhadharma again take root, spread, flourish, and remain forever in the Pearl of the Orient and in the whole world!