How to Quickly Memorize the Shurangama Mantra

The Śūraṅgama Mantra has a tremendously powerful blessing effect: it can increase merit, enable perfect observance of the precepts without violation, make the mind focused and free of distracting thoughts, foster diligence in the practice of the Buddha-dharma, strengthen one's resolve for the Path, grant the eye of Dharma-selection, and keep demonic disturbances at bay. For details, see the various benefits of upholding the Śūraṅgama Mantra that the World-Honored One describes in Volume Seven of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra. Therefore, for a Buddhist practitioner, it is very necessary to be able to recite and memorize the Śūraṅgama Mantra every day from the very beginning of one's study of Buddhism. With the blessings of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Dharma-protecting deities, one can be spared many disturbances and setbacks, transform the worldly mind into a mind set on cultivating the Path, and make rapid progress in practice. How can one memorize the Śūraṅgama Mantra quickly? This depends on one's memory. If, while reciting the Śūraṅgama Mantra, one can concentrate single-mindedly, with a mind free of distracting thoughts and with full attention on the mantra, then by the time one has become fluent in reciting it, one will already be able to recite it from memory. If, while reciting the mantra, one has many wandering thoughts and the mind cannot be focused, attention will be scattered, the mantra will not be retained, and no matter how long one recites it, it will be very difficult to memorize. To avoid mixing in distracting thoughts, one may choose to read aloud quickly or recite rapidly, completing it in one breath. However, this has a drawback: it easily depletes one's vital energy. Over a short period there is no adverse effect, but over a long period there will be one. If one can truly recite with full concentration, it is possible to memorize it in a short time. To concentrate one's attention, one may choose to beat a wooden fish as an auxiliary method; those without a wooden fish can tap the table with their hand. The rhythm should be even and regular. Once interest is aroused, attention will become focused, and one will come to enjoy reciting—then one will quickly reach the point of being able to recite it from memory.