Incense offering has been a ritual and tradition in Buddhism. One can find that the Incense Anthem is the most popular anthem that will be sung in almost every beginning of a Buddhist ceremony. In gratitude, we offer incense to all Buddhas and Boddhisattvas. 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
修佛者如果想要學木魚或是鐘鼓，大都是從爐香讚開始學。而早晚功課，最好也是要先唱爐香讚。

爐香讚來自賢愚經。佛陀時代有一個阿羅漢—聖者富耆那尊者。他證得阿羅漢果後，想回去度他的家人（爸爸和哥哥)。於是他隨緣托缽，回到故鄉「放缽國」。  回家以後，富耆那尊者就向父兄講解佛理，爸爸和哥哥聽了雖然心生歡喜，但也想要見佛陀。問題是佛陀在「舍衛國」，距離非常遙遠，怎麼能見得到呢？後來他們父子在家中樓上設了壇，準備一個香爐，點上最好的香，向著舍衛國方向遙拜佛陀。當時，佛陀正在舍衛國講經說法，由於父子的虔誠，香煙飄到了佛陀的頭頂上方，結成一朵香雲蓋。佛陀知道這是遠在放缽國的富耆那尊者和他父兄的遙拜祈求。於是，就運用神通去到放缽國，在空中向尊者以及其父兄說法。

因此，法會之前先唱爐香讚，點淨香，誠心禮請諸佛菩薩降臨壇場，就是爐香讚的意義。

The Incense Chant / 爐香讚

Burning incense will help Buddhists to remember the importance of following rules.  With obedience with rules, one can calm down his/her mind and the true wisdom will appear.  It is similar to a flowing river becoming idle, and dirt will sink to the bottom.   At that time, water will return to its original status, which is clean and crystal clear.

Hongfa Temple is arguably the only major Buddhist temple in Shenzhen. Shenzhen Hongfa Temple is built on a series of terraces. 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
戒定真香。焚起沖天上。弟子虔誠。爇在金爐上。頃刻纷纭。即徧滿十方。昔日耶輸。免難消災障。南無香雲蓋菩薩摩訶薩。南無香雲蓋菩薩摩訶薩。南無香雲蓋菩薩摩訶薩。

佛門中經常將'香'與'戒、定、真'聯繫起來，稱為戒定真香。意思是好的香與好的敬香方法，能使人聞香憶戒，聞香思定，聞香悟真。以香來比喻佛法之功德，例如戒香、聞香、施香等。

弘法寺位於中國廣東省深圳市羅湖區仙湖植物園內，背靠梧桐山。弘法寺選址所在地被稱之為“深圳綠色心肺”，1985年7月1日動土起造，是中華人民共和國建立以來國內興建的首座寺院，現任方丈為印順大和尚。

Hongfa Temple - Incense of Precepts, Samadhi and Wisdom / 弘法寺 - 戒定真香

Recite the Six-Character Great Bright Mantra (Om mani padme hum) once, and the immeasurable Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Vajra Dharma protectors constantly support and protect you.  The strength and function of the Six-Character Great Bright Mantra are inconceivable, the intertwining of the response and way unimaginable; therefore it is called the Secret School. If one were to explain in detail, the meanings would be immeasurable and unlimited; they cannot be completely spoken.

Karmapa means “the one who carries out buddha-activity” or “the embodiment of all the activities of the buddhas.” 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
金剛上師諾那呼圖克圖的解說:
「六字真言」為觀音菩薩微妙心印，有無量無邊不可思議功德，為十方諸佛所贊歎。若書六字大明，如同書三藏法寶。如誦六字大明，三世業障悉得清淨，了脫生死，究竟成就；且能斷無明、開智慧、降魔、治病、增富、救貧、消災、延壽，救百千難苦，摧滅貪嗔癡，閉塞輪迴路，歷代眷屬俱得超生，腹腸諸蟲，亦得 證果；又具無量三昧法門，日日得具足六波羅密功德。一切金剛護法、天龍八部，無不歡喜擁護。欲生何佛土，均如願成就。不但持誦書寫與觀想等，始有功德。只要此真言著於身，觸於手，耳有所聞，目有所見，或藏於家中，或書於門上，或展旗揚幡，凡沾此法味者，任何眾生，亦得生死解脫之因，同證菩提道果之德。逢凶化吉，遇難呈祥。凡未成佛，求壽，求子，求福，求權，求消滅一切地水火風空災難危險，以及一切所求，無不如摩尼寶珠，各滿其願。總而言之，六字真言之功德，就是佛之智慧來講，亦窮劫難盡。

第十七世大寶法王，為藏傳佛教噶瑪噶舉派最高宗教領袖，楚布寺住持。

The 17th Karmapa - Om mani padme hum / 大寶法王 - 六字大明咒

In the 88 Buddhas Repentance Ceremony, participants repent by chanting the names of 88 Buddhas, which is an excellent way to clear our karmic obstacles and draw out our inner wisdom.

The first 53 Buddhas’ names came from the Sutra of Visualizing the Two Bodhisattvas, the King of Medicine and the Superior Physician, and the last 35 Buddhas’ names came from the Maharatnakuta Sutra. 

Chanting the 88 Buddhas’ names is a practice that allows us to pay respect to all the Buddhas who have already attained enlightenment and the Buddha-to-be in each of us. Reflecting on and repenting the bad habits that keep us from enlightenment will reduce our false pride and clear new paths for us in our lives.

Hongfa Temple is arguably the only major Buddhist temple in Shenzhen. Shenzhen Hongfa Temple is built on a series of terraces. 
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
《八十八佛大懺悔文》又稱《八十八佛懺悔文》》，是八十八佛是五十三佛加三十五佛。五十三佛名見《觀藥王藥上二菩薩經》，是婆婆世界的過去佛；三十五佛名出自《決定毘尼經》，是現在十方世界的佛。這八十八佛都可以為眾生作懺悔主，因此，人們可以向他們申述自己改悔過惡的願望。

取相懺中，至誠禮拜八十八佛，最為殊勝，最為簡便，亦最常用，極易感應，得見瑞相，身心輕安，足以證明，罪滅障除，堪可進功，修行辦道。是故古德大善知識，將之列入早晚課誦。從普光佛到一切法常滿王佛，這五十三尊佛號，出在《佛說觀藥王藥上二菩薩經》中。經云："若人聞此五十三佛功德名號，百千萬億阿僧祇劫，不墮惡道；若能稱誦，世世見佛；若復有人，恭敬禮拜五十三佛，彼之所有五逆十惡、四重八棄，種種重罪，一齊消滅。過去千佛，現在千佛，未來千佛，皆因稱誦，恭敬禮拜五十三佛，而早成佛。"從釋迦牟尼佛到寶蓮華善住娑羅樹王佛，三十五佛功德名號，出自《佛說決定毘尼經》。《寶積經》雲："一切眾生，若有身俱五逆十惡重罪之者，萬劫千生不通懺悔，應須頂禮三十五佛，至心懺悔，一切罪障，皆得除滅。 "
由此可見，稱念禮拜八十八佛，功德威神不可思議，能除一切極惡重罪。是故我等末世行人，不論罪障迷惑，若輕若重，悉應至誠，恭敬禮拜八十八佛功德名號。亦如過去現在未來三千諸佛，早得成佛。

弘法寺位於中國廣東省深圳市羅湖區仙湖植物園內，背靠梧桐山。弘法寺選址所在地被稱之為“深圳綠色心肺”，1985年7月1日動土起造，是中華人 民共和國建立以來國內興建的首座寺院，現任方丈為印順大和尚。

Hongfa Temple - 88 Buddhas Repentance Ceremony / 弘法寺 - 禮佛大懺悔文

The Heart Sutra is a famous sutra in Mahāyāna Buddhism.  The Heart Sutra is often cited as the best-known and most popular Buddhist scripture of all.

The Heart Sutra, belonging to the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajñāpāramitā) category of Mahāyāna Buddhism literature along with the Diamond Sutra, is perhaps the most prominent representative of the genre.

In the Chinese version of the short text attributed to Xuanzang, it has 260 Chinese characters. In English it is composed of sixteen sentences. This makes it one of the shortest texts in the Perfection of Wisdom genre.  

Soto Zen (曹洞宗) is the largest of the three traditional sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism.  The Japanese brand of the sect was imported in the 13th century by Dogen Zenji, who studied Caodong Buddhism (曹洞宗) abroad in China.  

Soto Zen is now also popular in the West, and in 1996, priests of the Soto Zen tradition formed the Soto Zen Buddhist Association based in North America.  It emphasizes Shikantaza, meditation with no objects, anchors, or content. The meditator strives to be aware of the stream of thoughts, allowing them to arise and pass away without interference.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
《般若波羅蜜多心經》，是闡述大乘佛教的空和般若思想的經典，本經是大品般若及小品般若的實相教理，是《大般若波羅蜜多經》加以濃縮後成為二百餘字的極精簡經典，因此是般若經系列中一部極為重要的經典。

《般若波羅蜜多》直譯為以佛法的智慧到達生死解脫的彼岸，代表由文字聞修而親證般若智慧，超越生死苦海，到達不生不滅的究竟解脫境界

《心經》是所有佛經中翻譯次數最多，共260個字，其經文言簡義豐、博大精深、提綱挈領，直明「第一義諦」，集中展現了般若學的精髓，是大乘佛教出家及在家佛教徒日常背誦的佛經之一。「色即是空，空即是色」一句即出自該部經文。

曹洞宗，禪宗的五個主要流派之一，鎌倉時代，公元13世紀初，日本道元禪師入宋，從學於天童山曹洞宗如淨禪師門下，傳回日本，建立永平寺，提倡「只管打坐」，為日本曹洞宗的開始。本山是永平寺（福井縣）和總持寺（橫濱市）


Soto Zen - Heart Sutra / 曹洞宗大本山總持寺 - 般若波羅蜜多心經

This piece of art is an award winning song under the religion category at Taiwan music festival in 2001.  A brief description of this song is that a monk has left his Guru(master) and gone to a distant land.  He misses his Guru and expresses his urge in singing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
《遙喚根本上師》是堪布貝瑪千貝仁波切榮獲第12屆台灣金曲獎作品，表達對上師的思念感恩彷如天國音聲

歌詞大約是有一天，我離開了上師，到了很遠的地方，這時憶念起上師的恩德，上師的功德，上師的慈悲，內心充滿著信心，唱誦起《遙喚根本上師的祈禱文》，“我心中具德的根本上師是貝諾法王。他是金剛薩垛、金剛手菩薩、貝瑪那密渣三者共同的化身，也是大圓滿瑜珈成就者。”

Rinpoche - To my Guru at far away / 堪布貝瑪千貝仁波切 - 遙喚根本上師

The Amitabha Sutra is a Mahāyāna Buddhist text, and it is one of the primary sutras recited and upheld in the Pure Land Buddhist schools.

The bulk of the Amitābha Sūtra, considerably shorter than other Pure Land sūtras, describes the wondrous adornments that await the righteous in the western pure land of Sukhāvatī (Chinese: 西方極樂國), as well as the beings that reside there, including the buddha Amitābha. The text also describes what one must do to be reborn there.

 This sutra is often recited as part of the evening service, and is also recited as practice for practitioners. 

Jing Lu Si is a temple in Tawian.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
《佛說阿彌陀經》，大乘佛教經典之一，為淨土宗所尊崇，被列為淨土三經之一（阿彌陀經、觀無量壽經、無量壽經）。此經為佛經中極少數非由佛陀弟子提問，而由佛陀不問自說的經典。

經所提倡的念佛法門由於易學，使得念佛一時之間蔚為風氣，甚至廣泛流傳於漢字文化圈各國，如日本、韓國、越南等。
在中國，由唐代善導大師開創了淨土宗。淨土宗在中國逐漸傳播，最後成為與禪宗並列為中國佛教主要的兩大宗派。

此經於前半段宣說西方極樂世界的種種的莊嚴以及阿彌陀佛佛號由來與意義；其後闡明勸導眾生誦念阿彌陀佛之名號以往生西方極樂世界；最後以東、南、西、北、下、上等六方諸佛亦勸導其土眾生相信阿彌陀佛及其極樂世界之事跡作結。

淨律寺是台灣一個佛教團體

Jing Lu Si - Amitabha Sutra / 淨律寺 - 佛說阿彌陀經

 Great Compassion Mantra was spoken by the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.   Avalokiteśvara is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. This bodhisattva is variably depicted and portrayed in different cultures as either female or male.  Avalokiteśvara is one of the more widely revered bodhisattvas in mainstream Mahayana Buddhism,

The Lotus Sūtra is generally accepted to be the earliest literature teaching about the doctrines of Avalokiteśvara.  These are found in the Lotus Sūtra chapter 25, The Universal Gateway of Avalokitasvara Bodhisattva (觀世音菩薩普門品). This chapter is devoted to Avalokitasvara, describing him as a compassionate bodhisattva who hears the cries of sentient beings, and who works tirelessly to help those who call upon his name. A total of 33 different manifestations of Avalokitasvara are described, including female manifestations, all to suit the minds of various beings. The chapter consists of both a prose and a verse section. This earliest source often circulates separately as its own sūtra, called the Avalokitasvara Sūtra, and is commonly recited or chanted at Buddhist temples in East Asia.

Jing Lu Si is a temple in Tawian.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
大悲咒是觀世音菩薩的咒。觀世音菩薩，名號意思為「觀察世間音聲覺悟有情」。為大乘佛教西方極樂世界教主阿彌陀佛座下的上首菩薩，同大勢至菩薩一起，為阿彌陀佛的左、右脅侍菩薩，並稱「西方三聖」，同時祂也是四大菩薩之一。

佛教的經典上說觀世音菩薩的悲心廣大，世間眾生無論遭遇何種災難，若一心稱念觀世音菩薩聖號，菩薩即時尋聲赴感，使之離苦得樂，故人稱「大慈大悲觀世音菩薩」 ，為佛教中知名度最高的大菩薩，有「家家阿彌陀，戶戶觀世音」的讚譽。

普陀山是觀世音菩薩的道場。傳說觀世音菩薩住此山中，常放光明，表示大悲光明，普門示現，因而得名。

淨律寺是台灣一個佛教團體。

Jing Lu Si - Great Compassion Mantra / 淨律寺 - 大悲咒

In the early morning, when our minds are quiet and tranquil, we should be awaken, get dressed and immediately commence the recitation of the Shurangama Mantra of the Buddha’s Summit. This mantra serves to regulate the five desires before they have had time to arise.

Next we go on to recite the Great Compassion Mantra, which has the ability to cleanse the mind of filth.  Then, we recite the Ten Small Mantras.  

Furthermore, the Heart Sutra is recited.   

There are more to be chanted afterward, and the whole recitation usually requires around 45 minutes to 1 hour.  

It is essential to practise morning recitation every morning because this activity reminds you that you have to benefit everyone and the society from what you have learnt in Buddha's teaching.

Hongfa Temple is arguably the only major Buddhist temple in Shenzhen. Shenzhen Hongfa Temple is built on a series of terraces. 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
在清晨僧眾集於大殿，上香禮佛，依序誦念楞嚴咒、大悲咒、十小咒、心經、上來偈贊、讚佛偈、三皈依、韋馱贊等經文。

早晚課誦是自古就傳下來的傳統，但是雖然傳了數千年，不過早晚課誦所代表的意思真正明了的人就不多了。

早課的用意是：一日之際在於晨，最清醒的時候也是早上，所以早上讀誦經典，是告誡自己這一日要依照著經典中的教導去利益大眾，為大眾做好事，並且提醒自己今天不要犯錯誤。

弘法寺位於中國廣東省深圳市羅湖區仙湖植物園內，背靠梧桐山。弘法寺選址所在地被稱之為“深圳綠色心肺”，1985年7月1日動土起造，是中華人 民共和國建立以來國內興建的首座寺院，現任方丈為印順大和尚。

Hongfa Temple - Morning Recitation / 弘法寺 - 早課

Amitabha is the principal buddha in the Pure Land sect.   Amitabha is translatable as "Infinite Light," hence Amitabha is also called "The Buddha of Immeasurable Life and Light".

Dharmakāra(while Amitabha was a monk in ancient time)'s eighteenth vow was that any being in any universe desiring to be born into Amitābha's Pure Land and calling upon his name even as few as ten times will be guaranteed rebirth there. His nineteenth vow promises that he, together with his bodhisattvas and other blessed Buddhists, will appear before those who call upon him at the moment of death. This openness and acceptance of all kinds of people has made the Pure Land belief one of the major influences in Mahāyāna Buddhism. Pure Land Buddhism seems to have first become popular in northwest India/Pakistan and Afghanistan, from where it spread to Central Asia and China.

Through his efforts, Amitābha created the "Pure Land" called Sukhāvatī .  Sukhāvatī is situated in the uttermost west, beyond the bounds of our own world. By the power of his vows, Amitābha has made it possible for all who call upon him to be reborn into this land, there to undergo instruction by him in the dharma and ultimately become bodhisattvas and buddhas in their turn (the ultimate goal of Mahāyāna Buddhism). From there, these same bodhisattvas and buddhas return to our world to help yet more people.

Jinshan Temple can be traced back as early as the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), and has had a history of more than 1,600 years. The temple was known as Zexin Temple or Longyou Temple; however, people have been calling it Jinshan Temple since the Tang Dynasty (618-907) because gold was found in the mountain. 

Jinshan temple is a Buddhism holy land, amongst the four most famous Buddhist temples in China.  It is the origin of Chinese most important Buddhism pujas of reading scriptures and practising abstinence. Jinshan Temple has been a royal temple in ancient China, that is why the temple walls here are all yellow (yellow or golden was the symbol of imperial family in ancient China). The temple was visited by many emperors who left their calligraphy as praise. 

A widely spread legend, ‘the White Snake', happened in the temple. This story mainly tells about the love story between Bai Suzhen, who was a magic snake and changed herself into a beautiful girl, and Xu Xian who was forced to be a monk in Jinshan Temple at the latter part of the story. It is this story that makes most Chinese people get to know this temple.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
阿彌陀佛，即無量光佛，無量壽佛，彌陀佛等；在大乘佛教信仰中，認為他是在西方極樂世界的他方佛。大乘佛教各宗派普遍接受阿彌陀佛，而淨土宗則以專心信仰阿彌陀佛為其主要特色。

因為淨土宗的影響，在唐朝之後，阿彌陀佛成為漢傳佛教中的信仰主流之一。後期的中國佛教徒，多以藥師如來主消災延壽、阿彌陀佛主往生事。

佛教淨土宗或稱顯教信眾均認為，念佛成就可以往生西方極樂世界國土，阿彌陀佛手持蓮台，與觀世音菩薩、大勢至菩薩等清淨大海眾菩薩會接引十方念佛眾生。釋迦牟尼佛曾多次宣講阿彌陀佛的念佛法門，推薦人們到只有歡樂、沒有痛苦的極樂世界去生活，其要求就是信、願、行（念佛）具足，這是不分利根、鈍根，人人都可以修學、都可以成就的法門。如果在“信、願、行”外修持三福、具足眾戒、念佛功夫深，往生的品位還要更高。因為十方三世一切諸佛都稱嘆阿彌陀佛功德，所以念阿彌陀佛者，十方三世一切諸佛都加以護念。而且，不管是根性高下，只要念佛，乃至十念，現前、將來，必定能夠成佛，這是阿彌陀佛成佛前發的大願之一。今生能夠接觸到阿彌陀佛，也是無量劫來積累善根、福德、因緣的結果。十方諸佛與大菩薩都發願要幫助念佛眾生往生西方。眾生往生西方成佛之後，得佛智慧，還可以任意到各個佛國，幫助、救度無邊眾生。

念佛法門即是在中國佛教流傳悠遠的淨土宗。五代永明延壽大師，據說曾作四料簡來宣揚淨土信仰：

“有禪無淨土，十人九蹉路，陰境若現前，瞥爾隨他去。
  無禪有淨土，萬修萬人去，但得見彌陀，何愁不開悟。
  有禪有淨土，猶如戴角虎，現世為人師，來生作佛祖。
  無禪無淨土，鐵床並銅柱，萬劫與千生，沒個人依怙。”

金山寺為禪宗之正宗，中國所有的寺廟山門都是坐南朝北，唯有鎮江的金山寺朝西，朝向西方極樂世界。

金山寺，始建於東晉時代，距今已有1600多年曆史。原名澤心寺。南朝時始稱金山寺。金山寺規模宏大，全盛時期有和尚三千多人，參禪的僧侶達數万人。在佛教禪寺廟中有著卓著的地位，是中國有名的古剎。清代與普陀寺，文殊寺，大明寺並為中國的四大名寺。

在一般人心中之所以知道金山寺是因為民間傳說《白蛇傳》。說是有一條白蛇修煉成人，即美麗善良的白娘子，嫁給青年許仙，日子過得很甜美。金山寺法海和尚知道了這事，就遊說許仙出家，並把許仙誆藏寺中。白娘子來尋夫與法海打鬥起來。

另外一個傳說是金山寺開山祖師唐靈坦和水漫金山寺尚初到此時一片荒蕪，只得在山後的石洞坐禪。傳說那洞裡有一條白龍常吐毒氣，人觸之即死，但靈坦一到就借佛力將其收伏。這洞就是現在的白龍洞，內有一條石縫深不可測。

相傳，第二代祖師唐釋法海有一天在江邊挖土，竟然挖到了一批黃金，就將黃金獻於皇帝。敕命將黃金返回作修復寺宇之用，並賜名金山寺，由法海住持。

還有一個更早的與蛇有關的故事。南梁武帝一天夜裡夢見剛死不久的寵妃郗氏變成了一條毒蛇，向他哀求說：“我在世時心太毒，死後變為毒蛇，請為我做佛事超度眾生，讓我安心。”次曰上朝，梁武帝正在要大臣們為他釋夢，一條大蛇游進殿來，梁武帝見是夢裡所見的蛇，就說：“你若是郗氏變的，就開囗說話吧。”那蛇就複述了昨晚的話。後來，梁武帝召見澤心寺住持寶誌商量，寶誌又約請九位高僧，在全山覽閱藏經三年，編成《水陸儀軌》，接著梁武帝親赴金山參加水陸大法會，這是當時佛教最大的盛典，亦為後世水陸法會之濫觴。

Jin Shan Temple - Amitabha / 金山寺 - 阿彌陀佛

Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, known as Guan Yin to the Japanese and Chinese, and Shadakshari to the Tibetans, is the bodhisattva who most embodies compassion. The name Avalokitesvara has its root meaning as "he who observes the sounds of the world". The great vow of Avalokitesvara is to listen to the supplications, and cries for help from those in difficulty in the world and to provide them with aid. He takes many different forms....male, female, four-armed, thousand-armed, human, non-human, teacher, student...whatever expedient means are needed to help people most effectively. 

Great Compassion Mantra can relieve living beings of all their sufferings and difficulties. Because it relieves suffering and bestows happiness, it is called the Great Compassion Mantra.

Ten Small Mantras are usually chanted at Morning Recitation.  

A foundational text of Mahayana Buddhism, the Heart Sutra is one of the shortest versions of a series of sutras.  The Heart Sutra is said to teach the core, the essence, the heart, of the Buddha's teachings and is recited by the majority of Buddhists around the world almost every morning.   

The Heart Sutra is not a document that you read one time and expect to understand it. It is not a short, concise, summary of the teachings in the sense of Cliff Notes. Rather, it is a summary of how to look at the core teachings you learn in other documents from the point of view of Emptiness. That point of view is so contrary to our normal way of looking at the world.  The Heart Sutra is pointing out that in the absolute view of reality, the view from the mountaintop of Emptiness, things are not as they appear in our everyday conventional view of reality.

Once the sutra deconstructs our normal view of reality, it finishes by telling us how Bodhisattvas and Buddhas see it. It tells us that the way to nirvana, a correct understanding of reality, is to get rid of the obstructions in our mind; to eliminate the negative mental factors that corrupt our perceptions of everything we see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and think. 

By eliminating these obstructions, we see that everything is impermanent and non-self existent; including ourselves.  We are actually and simply just a pure awareness; pure, unobstructed, unmanifested, undefined, infinite awareness. 

Hongfa Temple is arguably the only major Buddhist temple in Shenzhen. Shenzhen Hongfa Temple is built on a series of terraces. 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
《大悲咒》是觀世音萻薩的大慈悲心，無上菩提心，以及濟世渡人。據《大悲心陀羅尼經》經文的記載：此咒系由過去九十九億恆河沙諸佛所宣說，後於千光王靜住如來的淨土時，千光王靜住如來為觀世音菩薩傳授「廣大圓滿無礙大悲陀羅尼」，並且對他說：「善男子汝當持此心咒，普為未來惡世一切眾生作大利樂。」。當時觀世音菩薩聽了此咒之後，即由初地菩薩，升至第八地－不動地菩薩果位。於是心生歡喜發出誓願說：「設我當來之世能利樂一切眾生者，令我即時身生千手千眼具足。」如此發願後，果真頓時身生千手千眼，並且十方大地都為之震動，十方諸佛亦都放出無量光明，遍照十方無邊世界。

佛教的十小咒主要由釋迦摩尼佛、觀世音菩薩、藥師佛等佛菩薩所說。咒語凝聚了十方三世眾佛菩薩的很多功德能量。

《心經》，具稱《般若波羅密多心經》，是佛教經論中文字最為簡煉，而內容又極為豐富的一部典藉。它和《金剛經》一樣，在社會上廣泛流傳，影響極大。

《心經》在佛教中屬於般若系經典，指出了苦、無常、無我，空。心（梵hrdaya ），指心臟，含有精要、心髓等意。本經係將內容龐大之般若經濃縮，成為表現'般若皆空'精神之簡潔經典。全經舉出五蘊、三科、十二因緣、四諦等法以總述諸法皆空之理。“色即是空，空即是色”一語，即是出自本經。
般若。智慧也。波羅蜜。到彼岸也。多。定也。經。徑也。言此經乃定心之徑路也。

弘法寺位於中國廣東省深圳市羅湖區仙湖植物園內，背靠梧桐山。弘法寺選址所在地被稱之為“深圳綠色心肺”，1985年7月1日動土起造，是中華人 民共和國建立以來國內興建的首座寺院，現任方丈為印順大和尚。

Hongfa Temple - Great Compassion Mantra, Ten Small Mantras, Heart Sutra / 弘法寺 - 大悲咒, 十小咒, 心經

"Om Mani Padme Hum" is known periphrastically as the "six-syllable mantra".  The origins of the mantra are obscure, but it is normally associated with the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.

In Tibet the six-syllable mantra is to be found everywhere, on prayer flags and on prayer wheels, but most spectacularly carved onto the rocks and stones that decorate the landscape. 

Tibetan Buddhists believe that saying the mantra (prayer), Om Mani Padme Hum, out loud or silently, invokes the powerful benevolent attention and blessings of bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.

Karmapa means “the one who carries out buddha-activity” or “the embodiment of all the activities of the buddhas.” 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
唵嘛呢叭咪吽，又名六字真言或六字大明咒，是佛教裡最常見的真言，是觀世音菩薩願力與加持的結晶，故又稱為觀世音的心咒。

密宗發源於印度，密法中有很多咒語，如〈楞嚴咒〉、〈大悲咒〉、〈心經咒〉等。若論流傳之深廣，攝受之殊勝，〈六字大明咒〉當屬咒中第一。

六字大明咒出自於《佛說大乘莊嚴寶王經》。此經第四卷中，兩次出現六字大明咒。西藏人持誦六字大明咒，至少比漢人早了三百多年，六字大明咒在西藏的廣泛傳誦，成為每個藏人生活的一部份。

第十七世大寶法王，為藏傳佛教噶瑪噶舉派最高宗教領袖，楚布寺住持。

The 17th Karmapa - Om mani padme hum (long version)  / 大寶法王 - 六字大明咒 (長版)

Om mani padme hum is the six-syllabled Sanskrit mantra particularly associated with Shadakshari in Tibetan Buddhism, which is one form of Avalokiteśvara appearing in four-arms, the bodhisattva of compassion. In direct translation from Sanskrit, Mani means "jewel" or "bead" and Padma means "the lotus flower", the Buddhist sacred flower.

Om mani padme hum is commonly carved onto rocks or written on paper which is inserted into prayer wheels. When an individual spins the wheel, it is said that the effect is the same as reciting the mantra as many times as it is duplicated within the wheel.

Spinning the written form of the mantra around in a Mani wheel (or prayer wheel) is also believed to give the same benefit as saying the mantra, and Mani wheels, small hand wheels and large wheels with millions of copies of the mantra inside, are found everywhere in the lands influenced by Tibetan Buddhism.

The 14th Dalai Lama is the current Dalai Lama, as well as the longest-lived incumbent. Dalai Lamas are the head monks of the Gelug school, the newest of the schools of Tibetan Buddhism.   He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, and is also well known for his lifelong advocacy for Tibetans inside and outside Tibet.

Lama is a title for a teacher of the Dharma in Tibetan Buddhism. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term, Guru.  "Gu" means darkness, and "Ru" means light.  Guru together means the light in darkness, which guides people to leave the darkness.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
唵嘛呢叭咪吽（梵文：ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ / oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ；藏文：ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པ་དྨེ་ཧཱུྃ / om ma ni bê mê hum），又名六字真言或六字大明咒，是佛教裡最常見的真言（mantra），是觀世音菩薩願力與加持的結晶，故又稱為觀世音（藏文：སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས་）（四臂白觀音）的心咒，經上說：「此六字大明陀羅尼（註：六字真言），是觀自在菩薩摩訶薩微妙本心，若有知是微妙本心，即知解脫」。六字真言除了刻在石上，亦多刻在轉經筒上。

六字真言具有微妙不可思議功德，又具無量三昧法門，一切金剛護法、天龍八部，無不喜歡擁護，佛教認為，若此真言著於身、觸於手、藏於家，或書於門，皆得逢凶化吉，遇難呈祥。念誦本咒即特別啟請大悲觀世音菩薩的加持。

第十四世達賴喇嘛，藏傳佛教格魯派最有影響力的人物，1959年西藏爆發騷亂後，離開西藏並流亡印度。達賴是蒙古語"海"的意思，喇嘛是藏語"上人"的意思。

喇嘛（藏文：bla-ma）為 bla（上）與 ma（人）之复合词，直譯為上師、上人，為對藏傳佛教僧侶之尊稱，長老、上座、高僧之稱號。随着藏傳佛教傳入中原，漢人習慣上以喇嘛來泛稱所有的藏傳佛教僧侶。

The 14th Dalai Lama - Om mani padme hum / 達賴喇嘛 - 六字大明咒

＊Master Hsuan Hua mentioned that please do not play this version of Mantra unless it is for the purpose of learning.  

Bow to Master Hsuan Hua!

The Great Compassion Mantra is an extremely powerful spell because it contains not only the sacred name of Avalokiteshvara, but also the various embodiments, wisdom, capacities and merits of this Bodhisattva and other enlightened beings. When this mantra is recited, you are connected to Buddhahood through your voice. You do not have to understand the content of this mantra; reciting the Sanskrit version alone will create remarkable merit.

Master Hsuan Hua was a monk of Chan Buddhism (禪宗) and a contributing figure in bringing Chinese Buddhism to the United States in the 20th century.

The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah, California is one of the first Chan Buddhist monasteries in America. The Dharma Realm Buddhist University is a Buddhist college, and the Buddhist Text Translation Society works on the phonetics and translation of Buddhist scriptures from Chinese into English, Vietnamese, Spanish, and many other languages.

Master Hsuan Hua brought the true and proper teachings of the Buddha to the West and establishing a proper monastic community of the fully ordained Sangha here.  Because of the increasing numbers of people who wished to become monks and nuns under Hsuan Hua's guidance, in 1972 he decided to hold ordination ceremonies at Gold Mountain Dhyana Monastery. Two monks and one nun received ordination. Subsequent ordination platforms have been held at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in 1976, 1979, 1982, 1989, 1991, and 1992, and progressively larger numbers of people have received full ordination. Over two hundred people from countries all over the world were ordained under him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsuan_Hua
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
＊宣公上人交代︰ "此錄音帶只可用來鑑定自己發音正確與否，（非鑑定或學習自己發音正確與否時）不可任意播放。"

頂禮宣化上人!

依據《大悲心陀羅尼經》記載，釋迦牟尼佛正要廣說陀羅尼法門時，突然十方大地震動，三千大千世界皆作金色，是因為觀世音菩薩密放神通之故。但因為大眾皆疑惑，總持王菩薩見到這種稀有的情況，便起立合掌問釋迦牟尼佛：『如此神通的相貌，是誰所放？』而釋迦牟尼佛回答說：『現場的大會裡，有一名菩薩，名曰觀世音自在，從無量劫以來，成就了大慈大悲，擅能修習無量陀羅尼門，為了使眾生安樂，所以釋放神通威力。』 釋迦牟尼佛話說完，觀世音菩薩從座而起，向釋迦牟尼佛合掌說：『我有大悲心陀羅尼咒，現在想要說，為了使所有的眾生得到安樂、除一切病苦、得壽命、得富饒、得除一切所有的惡罪、遠離一切的魔障礙困難、成就清淨的功德、能成就一切所有的善根、遠離一切的恐懼害怕、速能滿足一切所希望所求的，希望世尊能夠慈悲的允許我向大眾宣說。』 釋迦牟尼佛聽見觀世音菩薩的請求，釋迦牟尼佛就說：『善男子，你是如此廣大的慈悲要向大眾宣說大悲咒，現在正是時候，我隨喜你的功德，十方諸佛也隨喜讚嘆你的功德。』

此咒名稱彰顯了觀世音菩薩欲安樂利益一切眾生之廣大圓滿、無礙大悲的大悲願力，及此咒不但能除一切災難、以及諸惡業病苦；且能成就一切善法、隨心滿願；遠離一切怖畏、速登佛地的威神特德。今人以大悲咒簡稱之，取之觀世音菩薩慈披眾生之大悲願力而命名。

釋宣化，現代佛教高僧，信眾尊稱他為宣化上人，在美國舊金山創立萬佛聖城，他是將佛教傳入西方世界的先驅者之一，對於佛教在美國西岸的推展有很大貢獻，他在台灣佛教界也擁有許多信眾。

在弘法方面，上人教導弟子天天參禪打坐、念佛、拜懺、研究經典、嚴持戒律、日中一食、衣不離體，和合共住，互相砥礪，在西方建立行持正法之僧團，以圖匡扶正教，令正法久住。又開放萬佛聖城為國際性宗教中心，並於1994年成立法界宗教研究院，提倡融合南北傳佛教，團結世界宗教，大家互相學習，溝通合作，共同追求真理，為世界和平而努力。

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%8B%E5%AE%A3%E5%8C%96

Master Hsuan Hua - Great Compassion Mantra (No playing unless learning)/ 宣化上人 - 大悲咒 (非學習時不可播放)

My mistake.  Correction: "Video is Master Hsu Yun.  Audio (Chanting) is Master Chan Yun)"

Bow to Master Hsu Yun!

The Shurangama Mantra is from Chapter 7 in the Shurangama Sutra. The word 'Shurangama' has the meaning 'absolutely firm and solid.' In China, this Sutra is considered one of the most important Sutras. It is said: "to become a Buddha requires the Dharma Flower Sutra; to develop one's wisdom requires the Shurangama Sutra."

As long as the Shurangama Sutra exists in this world, the demons from the heavens and the externalists will be afraid to show themselves. Unfortunately, the Shurangama Sutra will be the first to disappear in the Dharma-ending Age. 

There are many Westerners who love to chant the Shurangama Mantra. Not only do they like to chant the Shurangama Mantra, they are even able to recite it from memory! 

Master Hsu Yun was a Chan Buddhist master(禪宗) and one of the most influential Buddhist teachers of the 19th and 20th centuries. He is often noted for his unusually long lifespan, having allegedly lived to age 119.

During the twelfth lunar month, on the third evening of the eighth week of his meditation session, after having six hours of sitting meditation, the attendant made his rounds, filling up the tea cups. 

Master Hsu Yun's hand was burned by spilling boiling water, and his cup fell to the floor. At the sound of the crash, the root of his doubt was instantly severed. He was joyous beyond words at having fulfilled his lifelong ambition. It was as if he had just awakened from a dream, and he observed how the conditions of the past unravel.

Hsu's verse explanation says:
A cup fell to the ground
With a sound clearly heard.
As space was pulverised,
The mad mind came to a stop.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hsu_Yun
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
頂禮虛雲老和尚!

楞嚴咒是最長的咒, 是咒中之王.  

楞嚴會前，阿難因隻身赴遠方齋主應供，未及返回趕上波斯匿王供佛營齋，在舍衛城內獨自逐門乞食。遇摩登伽女，為之所喜，女求摩登伽用幻術攝阿難入淫席，阿難將毀戒體。
釋迦牟尼佛離席返回祇樹給孤獨園，大放光明，宣說《楞嚴神咒》，並遣文殊師利菩薩持咒往護阿難，誦首楞嚴咒，把先梵天咒的威力消除掉，幻術遇楞嚴咒而解，阿難及摩登伽女同歸佛所。阿難殷勤啟請佛開示「十方如來得成菩提妙奢摩他」心得安止的妙法，因而促成楞嚴法會，日後結集為《楞嚴經》，卷七中並載咒文。

釋虛雲，中國近代禪宗高僧。其禪功和苦行倍受稱贊，以一身而兼禪宗五宗法脈，為現代中國禪宗傑出代表。其著名成就包括從普陀山三步一拜，朝禮五台山，之後步行往印度朝聖；在高旻寺打禪七中開悟；重興廣東南華寺、鼓山湧泉寺、雲居山真如寺等祖師道場；延續禪宗五家法脈。

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%87%8A%E8%99%9A%E4%BA%91

Master Hsu Yun/Master Chan Yun - Shurangama Mantra / 虛雲老和尚/懺雲老法師 - 楞嚴咒

Bow to Master Chan Yun!

Among the Buddha's teachings, “Shurangama Mantra” is considered to be the king of all mantras because it is the longest and the most important one. The flourish or demise of Buddhism rests entirely with this “Shurangama Mantra”.

"Shurangama" translates as "Ultimately firm and strong". The content of the “Shurangama Mantra” subdues heavenly demons and controls externalists. Every line, from beginning to end, comes from the top of Buddha’s Dharma. 

Each line has its own function, esoteric wonder and incredible power. The recitation of the entire mantra causes the heavens to vibrate and the earth to tremble. Even though demons have spiritual penetrations and their own mantras, “Shurangama Mantra” can break through all of their mantras and become ineffectual. The power of “Shurangama Mantra” can make demons behave. 

Therefore, the ghosts and spirits wail, the demons keep a wide distance, and mountain and river sprites hide away. The power of the mantra can dispel every sort of darkness and enable people to amass all kinds of merit and virtue. 

Master Chan Yun is a famous Buddhism monk, teacher and cultivator. His temple is Lianyin Temple (蓮因寺) at Taiwan. He is one of the important figures of Pureland Buddism in Taiwan.  His motto is that “the vinaya is our guide” (以戒為師), which means precepts (rules/disciplines passed by Buddha) are our teacher. Master Chan Yun initiated the “Fasting and Precepts Program” at the temple, which offered intensive courses in Buddhism study and precepts practices during summer and winter vacations for college students.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
頂禮懺雲老法師!

楞嚴咒是最長的咒, 是咒中之王.  

《楞嚴咒》乃《大佛頂首楞嚴經》之主體，沒有《楞嚴咒》的因緣就沒有《楞嚴經》。《楞嚴咒》是起源於佛陀的侍者「阿難」，因被外道「摩登伽女」的幻邪咒所惑， 在戒體快要被毀時，佛陀便在頭頂上，發出無量光明，並以化身佛誦出《大佛頂首楞嚴神咒》，請文殊菩薩持《楞嚴咒》前往救護「阿難」，「阿難」才被救醒歸佛。後來「阿難」懺悔並求開示，才有楞嚴法會，而《楞嚴經》本身也就是為了解釋《楞嚴咒》而說的。

《楞嚴咒》 的無量光明， 能破除一切黑暗，降伏一切妖魔，成就一切功德。每一句都有它的用途，奧妙和效力。《楞嚴咒》有說不完的好處，因為咒文一開始就巳經皈依十方，盡虛空，遍法界的一切諸佛，然後又皈依一切諸菩薩和阿羅漢，並恭敬諸天，所以《楞嚴咒》是真的妙不可思議。《楞嚴咒》功力非常大，有如一部濃縮的《楞嚴經》。

持誦《楞嚴咒》是一個很好的修行入門， 因它有數不清的殊勝功德，能使「未得戒者，令其得戒；未精進者，令其精進；未清淨者，令其清淨；無智慧者，令得智慧 」，有助修行人懺悔罪業，能令破戒之人， 身口意再次清淨，發心精進，開啟智慧，自然立下齋戒，在正法修行中不易退轉，在習定時不易被邪魔所惑。

懺雲法師持戒嚴謹、以戒為師，精持戒律，宣揚淨土宗，創建蓮因寺。是臺灣佛教界享譽盛名的法師，信眾皆尊稱他為「懺公」，是淨土宗在臺灣極為重要的法師。法師30歲出家後，即行「過中不食」之戒律，無一間日。法師對於弟子的訓練也是依法解行並重，在導引青年學佛上，貢獻良多。

Master Chan Yun - Shurangama Mantra / 懺雲老法師 - 楞嚴咒

This site contains all the great chantings from different Monks, Masters and Groups. 

I also include researches on the origins of these Mantras or Sutras into the lyric section of each track.  Hence, even though you may not understand Chinese, you can have a brief idea of what you are listening to.  With the English title supplied, you can search for that Mantra or Sutra in the English version easily.  In fact, language will never and can never be a barrier if you have a sincere heart to learn and practise Buddhism. 

Sometimes I will choose a track and let it play overnight.  Master Hsu Yun's Shurangama Mantra is my all time favourite.  
I don't own any copyright on these tracks and pictures, as I found them online.  This site is to benefit people who want to learn about Buddhism.

BuddhismToronto

Popular tracks