Chísòng zhǔntí zhēnyán fǎyào 持誦準提真言法要
Essential Method for Holding-and-Reciting the Cuṇḍā Mantra by 弘贊 Zàishēn Hóngzàn (輯)
About the work
A one-fascicle (1卷) practical handbook for the Cuṇḍā dhāraṇī practice, compiled (jí 輯) by 弘贊 Zàishēn Hóngzàn 在犙弘贊 (1612–1686) of Guǎngzhōu Bǎoxiànglín 廣州寶象林. The title-line identifies him as Guǎngzhōu Bǎoxiànglín shāmén Hóngzàn Zàishēn jí 廣州寶象林沙門弘贊在犙輯. Preserved as X59 no. 1079 in the Xùzàngjīng.
Abstract
The work opens with a programmatic justification for the abridged practical handbook: “The Cuṇḍā Mantra originates in the Sūtra of the Cuṇḍā Dhāraṇī Spoken by the Seven-Koṭi Buddha-Mother. Those who seek mundane and supramundane [accomplishments] in all activities — perform rituals according to the sūtra and they will speedily attain efficacious responses. But the present age is the latter age of the Dharma; people are largely indolent, dull of capacity. Beginners cultivating themselves by the sūtra cannot purify the three karmas, cannot perform the various contemplation-practices; their minds become frustrated and retreat, losing the bodhi-seed and the immeasurable merits. Therefore I now record this fǎyào (essential method) so as to provide an easy means of upholding the practice and bringing the supreme good to fruition.”
The handbook compresses the full sūtra-prescribed ritual to a tractable abbreviated procedure for the late-Míng / early-Qīng practitioner whose ritual capacity is limited. The work pairs with Hóngzàn’s earlier and longer Qījùzhī fómǔ suǒshuō Zhǔntí tuóluóní jīng huìshì 七俱胝佛母所說準提陀羅尼經會釋 (KR6j0736) — the latter the doctrinal commentary, the present a practical handbook. Composition window: post-1660 (Hóngzàn’s mature Bǎoxiànglín / Dǐnghúshān period) – 1686 (his death).
Translations and research
No substantial secondary literature located.