འཕགས་པ་རག་པའ་རྒྱལ་མ་ས་སར་འབྲང་བ་ཆན་མ་སངས་རྒྱས་དང intro.6

intro.6

The Great Amulet represents what became the most popular scripture throughout the Mahāyāna world prescribing, as its title suggests, the production and use of protective threads and amulets (pratisara). The tradition of using protective threads or amulets for a broad range of goals is most likely rooted in the Atharvaveda and was only later integrated within a specifically Buddhist framework.¹⁰ Eventually, the dispensation of magically potent amulets became a staple component of the Buddhist community’s medicinal and ritual intercessions on behalf of the monastic and lay community. Indeed, The Great Amulet stipulates that it should be painted or written down and worn around the neck or arm of anyone and everyone, regardless of gender or ordination status. The Great Amulet can be attached to flags, interred in stūpas or funeral pyres, or otherwise used in circumstances for which it is deemed to be especially beneficial. The text also outlines the ritual procedures and material protocols that must be followed precisely when writing and affixing the scripture to ensure its efficacy. The effects promised by wearing the scripture include the prevention and alleviation of illnesses and nonhuman interference; the conception and birth of male offspring; the protection of travelers and seafarers; the protection of persons and fields from natural disasters, from unwanted creatures and pests, and from the elements in general; protection against military invasion and corporal punishment; and control over the world of nonhuman spirit entities. Wearing and otherwise coming into physical contact with The Great Amulet is even claimed to protect from the consequences of negative deeds, delivering evildoers from negative rebirths and ensuring their place among the gods. The promise of augmenting merit even extends in one passage to an increase of mindfulness, liberation from saṃsāra, and the attainment of nirvāṇa.