Invoking the Bodhisattvas ❂

The Names of the Bodhisattvas

Om Namo Śākyamunaye Buddhaya ×3

Om Namo Mañjuśrīye Bodhisattvaya ×3

Om Namo Samantabhadraya Bodhisattvaya ×3

Om Namo Avalokiteśvaraya Bodhisattvaya ×3

Om

additional stanzas

Om Namo Kṣitigarbhaya Bodhisattvaya ×3

Om Namo Sadāparibhūtaya Bodhisattvaya ×3

Om Namo Matri Gaiaya Bodhisattvaya ×3

Om Namo Mahāvairocanaya Buddhaya ×3

Here is this beautiful chant from the Plum Village Sutra library (Plum Village / YouTube)

Śākyamuni

The Buddha, the Enlightened One. We invoke the presence of the Buddha in ourselves as we practice, that our breath may be the Buddha’s breath, our steps be the Buddha’s steps, and our actions be the actions of the Buddha.

Mañjuśrī

The Bodhisattva¹ of Great Understanding embodies transcendent wisdom. We invoke the presence of the Bodhisattva of Wisdom within us, that the door to insight may gently open to our practice.

We invoke your name, Mañjuśrī. We aspire to learn your way, which is to be still and to look deeply into the heart of things and into the hearts of people. We will look with all our attention and openheartedness. We will look with unprejudiced eyes. We will look without judging or reacting. We will look deeply so that we will be able to see and understand the roots of suffering and the impermanent and selfless nature of all that is. We will practice your way of using the sword of understanding to cut through the bonds of suffering, thus freeing ourselves and other species.

Samantabhadra

The Bodhisattva of Great Action, embodies the energies of practice and meditation. We invoke the Bodhisattva of Practice within us, that we be solid as a mountain, that we be light as a white cloud.

We invoke your name, Samantabhadra. We aspire to practice your vow to act with the eyes and heart of compassion, to bring joy to one person in the morning and to ease the pain of one person in the afternoon. We know that the happiness of others is our own happiness, and we aspire to practice joy on the path of service. We know that every word, every look, every action, and every smile can bring happiness to others. We know that if we practice wholeheartedly, we ourselves may become an inexhaustible source of peace and joy for our loved ones and for all species.

Kṣitigarbha

The Bodhisattva of Great Aspiration, that brings the light of compassion into the darkest places of the world. We invoke the steadfast courage within us, to help beings in great need.

We invoke your name, Kṣitigarbha. We aspire to learn your way of being present where there is darkness, suffering, oppression, and despair, so we can bring light, hope, relief, and liberation to those places. We are determined not to forget about or abandon those in desperate situations. We will do our best to establish contact with those who cannot find a way out of their suffering, those whose cries for help, justice, equality, and human rights are not being heard. We know that hell can be found in many places on Earth. We will do our best not to contribute to creating more hells on Earth, and we will help transform the hells that already exist. We will practice in order to realize the qualities of perseverance and stability, so that, like the Earth, we can always be supportive and faithful to those in need.

Sadāparibhūta

The “Never Despising” or “Never Disgracing”, sees that all beings contain within them a Buddha-to-be. We invoke the Bodhisattva of Constant Respect within ourselves, that we might help all realize their Buddha nature, transcending the path of anxiety and sorrow.

We invoke your name Sadāparibhūta. We aspire to learn your way of looking deeply with the eyes of nondiscrimination in order to see the virtuous qualities of others. Whenever you meet anyone, you bow respectfully and say in appreciation: I respect you deeply. You are a future Buddha. We vow to look deeply into ourselves to recognize the positive qualities that are there, to accept and to love ourselves. We vow only to water positive seeds in ourselves and in those around us. Then our thoughts, words, and deeds will give rise to self-confidence and acceptance in ourselves, our children, grandchildren, and all those we know. We vow to look deeply with the eyes of nondiscrimination to see that your joy and success is also our joy and success. We vow to behave and to speak with humility and respect. We vow to practice loving speech to help people who underestimate themselves see that they are wonders of the universe. We know that only when we are able to transcend the barriers of a separate self, shall we be able to transform the superiority, inferiority, and equality complexes and realize true happiness and freedom.

Matri Gaia

The Mother of all Buddhas and of all Bodhisattvas, our beautiful planet, the Earth. We invoke the Bodhisattva of all beings, more animate and less animate, remembering that she consists of us and, interbeing, we are of her.

Mahāvairocana

Great Father Sun, Buddha of infinite light and life. We bow to the source of all life on Earth, that radiates warmth and light in all directions.

Avalokiteśvara

The “Looking Down Lord”, watches all beings with the eyes of compassion. She or he embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. We invoke the presence of the Bodhisattva of Compassion within ourselves, that the door to interbeing be open to us.

We invoke your name, Avalokiteśvara. We aspire to learn your way of listening in order to help relieve the suffering in the world. You know how to listen in order to understand. We invoke your name in order to practice listening with all our attention and openheartedness. We will sit and listen without any prejudice. We will sit and listen without judging or reacting. We will sit and listen in order to understand. We will sit and listen so attentively that we will be able to hear what the other person is saying and also what is being left unsaid. We know that just by listening deeply we already alleviate a great deal of pain and suffering in the other person.

Practicing or listening to this chant, we encourage the spirit of the Buddha within us. We invite inner wisdom to manifest, the strength of our concentration and the compassion of all beings to flower. It’s a beautiful, simple practice and can be sung any time during the day.