觀音普門品之 “偈答無盡意” The Gatha in Guan Yin’s Universal Gate

Complete text of the Universal Gate in Chinese

Searching the Web, this seems to be almost unknown in the West. I have not found any English translations of it online. Kwan Yin Temple in Honolulu, which I value more the more I find out about it, distributes a number of practice manuals containing this wonderful chapter of the Lotus Sutra, which is the basis of their practice. The gatha below, when sung by the nuns at Kwan Yin Temple, is literally the most beautiful Buddhist practice I have ever heard in any language.

Below is exactly nothing but the very beautiful gatha from the Guan Yin Bodhisattva’s Universal Gate chapter of the Wonderful Lotus of the Law Sutra. This has become a huge influence in my practice, from hearing the nuns at Kwan Yin Temple, Honolulu, chant it. I have decided to translate it, and to post nothing else until that translation is finished. It could take months before I have finished it to my satisfaction.

The language here is a transparant classical grammar that I have not seen anywhere else but in Buddhist scriptures, apparently because only the Bodhisattvas who wrote them could keep themselves clean of literary affectation. This is my most favorite form of Chinese. I find it more clear, and far more beautiful, than Mandarin.

Needless to say, like anyone who has ever had anything real to do with Guan Yin, I consider every single word of this to be fully and literally true. How that appears in our lives in the modern era in the West is a whole book that I am not yet prepared to write. Let’s get the doctrine straight first, please. And by that, I DO mean the actual words of the Buddha. The Lotus Sutra was spoken by the Buddha. This is 100% pure orthodox Buddhadharma. Let’s keep it that way.

I have used the feminine pronoun in deference to the Chinese preference for representing this Bodhisattva as a lady. Later we will discover that Kuan Yin is unbounded with respect to form. What then with respect to sex? Both the Tibetans and the Theravada prefer to represent this Bodhisattva (Chenresig, Avalokiteshvara) in the male form. Hey, whatever works for you, you know what I mean?

Namu Amida Butsu
Xing Ping, 15 Nov 08

爾時，無盡意菩薩，以偈問曰：

At that time, inexhaustible Intention Bodhisattva asked the Buddha in verse: ((the verse form is rhymed pentameter, which has the same connotations in Chinese that it has in English; a lyric form capable of epic duration. -xp))

『世尊妙相具 我今重問彼 佛子何因緣名為觀世音？』

World-honored One replete with wonderful attributes, I now sincerely ask you: Why is the Buddha’s offspring called “The One Who Hears the Sounds of the World (Guan Shi Yin)?

具足妙相尊 偈答無盡意 汝聽觀音行 善應諸方所
The revered one replete with wonderful attributes replied to Unlimited Intention Bodhisattva: Listen to Kuan Yin’s path, (so) well responding to whatever may appear.

弘誓深如海 歷劫不思議 侍多千億佛 發大清淨願
Her great vows have been as deep as the ocean for inconcievable kalpas on end. In serving many hundreds of millions of Buddhas, she concieved great pure vows.

我為汝略說 聞名及見身 心念不空過 能滅諸有苦

I will briefly speak of it to you. Neither hearing her name nor seeing her form nor remembering her in your heart are in vain, (all) these can extinguish whatever suffering you may have.

假使興害意 推落大火坑 念彼觀音力 火坑變成池

Suppose that being raised up with a harmful intention, you are pushed down into a fiery pit. If you then remember that power of Guan Yin, the fiery pit will change to a lake.

或漂流巨海 龍魚諸鬼難 念彼觀音力 波浪不能沒

If tossed about in huge seas, and troubled by dragons, fish, and all devils, you remember that power of Guan Yin, the waves cannot destroy you.

或在須彌峰 為人所推墮 念彼觀音力 如日虛空住

If people push you down off of a tall peak like Mt. Sumeru, and you remember that power of Guan Yin, you will abide in the empty sky like the sun.

或被惡人逐 墮落金剛山 念彼觀音力 不能損一毛

If, pursued by savages, and the degenerates of the Vajra Mountain, they cannot hurt one hair.

或值怨賊繞 各執刀加害 念彼觀音力 咸即起慈心

Or if surrounded by hateful bandits, each threateningly brandishing a knife, you then remember that power of Guan Yin, they will all become merciful in one fell swoop.

或遭王難苦 臨刑欲壽終 念彼觀音力 刀尋段段壞

Or if encountering oppression from a king, and being in danger of being punished to death, one then remembers that power of Kuan Yin, it is the (oppressor’s) knife that will be broken to pieces.

或囚禁枷鎖 手足被杻械 念彼觀音力 釋然得解脫

Or if confined in a pillory, hands and feet being bound, you remember that power of Guan Yin, you will be released as a matter of course.

咒詛諸毒藥 所欲害身者 念彼觀音力 還著於本人

If cursed by the incantation of all poisonous herbs that can be intended to harm the body, remembering that power of Guan Yin, all that will return to the perpetrator.

或遇惡羅剎 毒龍諸鬼等 念彼觀音力 時悉不敢害

Or if you encounter such things as evil demons, poisonous dragons, and all kinds of devils, and then remember that power of Guan Yin, from that very time they will absolutely not dare to harm you.

若惡獸圍繞 利牙爪可怖 念彼觀音力 疾走無邊方

If when surrounded by evil beasts, being frightening with claws and teeth, you then remember that power of Guan Yin, they will scurry off to innumerable places.

蚖蛇及蝮蠍 氣毒煙火然 念彼觀音力 尋聲自迴去

If in the noxious energy and fiery fumes of snakes, vipers, and scorpions you remember that power of Guan Yin, the desired tone will return of itself. ((I believe this is about what we call “bad vibes.” — xp))

雲雷鼓掣電 降雹澍大雨 念彼觀音力 應時得消散

When lightning strikes and thunder roars, and hail and rain descend in a great storm, according to the time when you remember that power of Guan Yin, they will be scattered and extinguished.

眾生被困厄 無量苦逼身 觀音妙智力 能救世間苦

With respect to the innumerable sufferings and oppressed forms by which sentient beings are afflicted, Guan Yin’s marvelous wisdom and power can save (us) from the world’s suffering.

具足神通力 廣修智方便 十方諸國土 無剎不現身

There is not a kshana ((the most infinitesmal time unit – xp)) in which she does not manifest forms in all the lands of the ten directions, having extensive spiritual powers and broad skillful means.

種種諸惡趣 地獄鬼畜生 生老病死苦 以漸悉令滅

She completely brings sbout the destruction of every kind of evil path, whether of hell beings, ghosts, or animals, and the suffering of birth, old age, sickness, and death,

真觀清淨觀 廣大智慧觀 悲觀及慈觀 常願常瞻仰

O true regard and pure regard, broad, great, and wise regard, sympathetic and merciful regard that is constantly wished for and revered.

無垢清淨光 慧日破諸暗 能伏災風火 普明照世間

The sun of wisdom of (her) unpolluted pure radiance can subdue disasters of fire and wind, and universally illumines the world.

悲體戒雷震 慈意妙大雲 澍甘露法雨 滅除煩惱焰

Her caring body regulates the trembling of the lighting, and the saving rain of sweetness from the marvelous great cloud of her merciful intent descends as the rain of Dharma, extinguishing and expelling flames of agony. ((This is some of the most beautiful poetry I’ve ever seen in any language, but it’s true. She does this. – xp))

諍訟經官處 怖畏軍陣中 念彼觀音力 眾怨悉退散

Whether it’s contention in dealing with officials or or terror in the midst of the military, when one remembers that power of Guan Yin, the multitude of complaints will totally retreat and scatter.

妙音觀世音 梵音海潮音 勝彼世間音 是故須常念

The wonderful sound of “Guan Shi Yin” — the true sound of “Guan Shi Yin” — transcends that sound of the (ordinary) world, and for that reason it must be constantly chanted.

((There’s a play on words which is essential to the meaning but untranslatable. Guan Shi Yin is the complete translation of Avalokiteshvara, and it literally means “The One Who Hears the Sounds of the World.” So this meaning “sound” is in her name. When we make the sound of her name, rather than the sound of our usual laundry list of complaints, which she has vowed to hear until it stops, we then stand in her shoes. Do you see? We become what we chant. Therein lies the most powerful magic ever invented by any person, human or devine.

In general, however, what is meant here is more general than “chant.” [念, nian] actually means “to remember” in the root. There is the same kind of ambiguity in the Pure Land school. What was spoken was more general than what we tend to translate, and in fact, what we tend to do. The Buddha wasn’t saying “chant constantly,” What He actually meant was “Remember Her constantly.”

There are many ways to remember Her, one of which is to chant Her name. Keeping a shrine to Guan Yin is another. Going to Her temple is another. Having her compassionate attitude is another. Philanthropic works are others, etc.

Oh, and hey, chanting the Heart Sutra is another. –xp))

念念勿生疑 觀世音淨聖 於苦惱死厄 能為作依怙

Continue to remember Guan Yin’s purity and holiness without creating doubt; this is reliable with respect to suffering, rage, death and evil.

具一切功德 慈眼視眾生 福聚海無量 是故應頂禮

Her compassionate eyes regard all sentient beings with all merit; benefit is gathered from innumerable seas; and for this reason, we must bow to the ground.

爾時，持地菩薩，即從座起，前白佛言：『世尊！若有眾生，聞是觀世音菩薩品，自在之業，普門示現神通力者，當知是人功德不少。』佛說是普門品時，眾中八萬四千眾生，皆發無等等阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心。

At that time, Earth-Supporting Bodhisattva directly rose from his seat, and first said to the Buddha: “Revered One! If there are sentient beings who hear this Universal Gate of Guan Yin, her self-existent work, and the spiritual powers manifested in the Universal Gate, then aaccordingly we know that the merit of those people is not small.” At the time when the Buddha spoke the Universal Gate of Guan Yin, 84,000 people in the gathered assembly attained Annutara-Samyak-Samabodhi.

妙法蓮華經觀世音菩薩普門品終

The end of Guan Yin Bodhisattvas’ Universal Gate in the Wonderful Dhama Lotus Flower Sutra.