Let’s take a look at the Chapter 25 in the Lotus Sutra; The Gateway to Every Direction ~Manifested by Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.
Opening Chant of Sutra
The Gateway to Every Direction ~Manifested by Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara~
世尊妙相具 我今重問彼 仏子何因縁 名為観世音
具足妙相尊 偈答無尽意
Most noble being in the world (Buddha), you have a truly beautiful and magnificent appearance.
I (Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara; one who possesses an immortal mind) would now like to ask again.
Why was Kannon Bodhisattva named “Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva”?
Buddha, who has a truly beautiful and majestic appearance, answered Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara with this verse:
汝聴観音行 善応諸方所
弘誓深如海 歴劫不思議 侍多千億仏 発大清浄願
我為汝略説 聞名及見身 心念不空過 能滅諸有苦
First, I will explain the practice of Kannon Bodhisattva.
The training of Kannon involves hearing the cry of anyone in distress, no matter what direction or where they are, and appearing to save them.
This vow is made with a generous heart deeper than the ocean, and no matter how long you think about it, it will never be understood.
This is because this vow is the purest of promises, as Kannon served many Tathagatas in the past with all her heart, listened to their teachings and continued her training, attained enlightenment, and now continues to save all living beings.
Let me summarize the merits of this vow for you.
If you hear the name “Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva,” see his form, and keep him in your mind without forgetting him, he will eliminate all suffering.
假使興害意 推落大火坑 念彼観音力 火坑変成池
或漂流巨海 竜魚諸鬼難 念彼観音力 波浪不能没
或在須弥峯 為人所推堕 念彼観音力 如日虚空住
或被悪人逐 堕落金剛山 念彼観音力 不能損一毛
或値怨賊繞 各執刀加害 念彼観音力 咸即起慈心
或遭王難苦 臨刑欲寿終 念彼観音力 刀尋段段壊
或囚禁枷鎖 手足被杻械 念彼観音力 釈然得解脱
呪詛諸毒薬 所欲害身者 念彼観音力 還着於本人
或遇悪羅刹 毒竜諸鬼等 念彼観音力 時悉不敢害
若悪獣囲遶 利牙爪可怖 念彼観音力 疾走無辺方
蚖蛇及蝮蠍 気毒煙火然 念彼観音力 尋声自回去
雲雷鼓掣電 降雹澍大雨 念彼観音力 応時得消散
Even if you are thrown into a huge pit of fire by someone with murderous intent, if you visualize in your mind the power of Kannon’s pure vow, the pit of fire will turn into a pond of cool water.
Even if you are adrift on the ocean and attacked by a dragon, sea monster, or other demon, if you visualize in your mind the power of Kannon’s pure vow, you will not be drowned by the huge waves.
Even if you were to be thrown off the cliffs of Mount Sumeru, if you visualize in your mind the power of Kannon’s vow, you would float in the air like the sun hanging in the void.
Even if you were chased by evildoers and slipped and fell from Mount Kongo (a mountain made of diamonds), if you visualize in your mind the power of Kannon’s vow, you would not suffer a single injury.
Even if you are surrounded by vicious thieves, each holding a sword and threatening you, if you visualize the power of Kannon’s vow, the thieves will feel compassion for you.
If you have incurred the wrath of the king and are about to be executed, and your life is about to be taken, if you visualize the power of Kannon’s vow, the swords will shatter into pieces.
Even if you are tied up, put in a shackle around your neck, and put in handcuffs and leg irons, if you visualize in your mind the power of Kannon’s vow, you will naturally be released and set free.
Even if you are cursed and forced to drink poison in an attempt to kill you, if you visualize in your mind the power of Kannon’s vow, the curse and poison will only torment the person who tried to kill you.
Even if you are possessed by vicious demons, poisonous dragons, monsters, or any other evil spirits, if you visualize in your mind the power of Kannon’s vow, you will not be harmed in the slightest.
Even if you are surrounded by terrifying beasts and are about to become prey to their sharp fangs, if you visualize in your mind the power of Kannon’s vow, the beasts will instantly flee.
Even if you are surrounded by poisonous vipers or scorpions, their burning aura radiating from their poison, if you visualize in your mind the power of Kannon’s vow, they will become non-poisonous and flee.
Even if thunder roars, lightning strikes, hail falls, or torrential rain pours, if you visualize in your mind the vow of Kannon’s power, they will instantly subside and disappear.
衆生被困厄 無量苦逼身 観音妙智力 能救世間苦
具足神通力 広修智方便 十方諸国土 無刹不現身
種種諸悪趣 地獄鬼畜生 生老病死苦 以漸悉令滅
When all living beings in this world suffer calamity, are overwhelmed by misfortune, and are in agony, Kannon’s miraculous, unparalleled power of wisdom will relieve them of their suffering.
Possessing supernatural powers and freely using the vast light of wisdom, Kannon appears in all places and in all things throughout the universe. He eliminates the suffering of various evil realms, such as those of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals, as well as the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death in this world.
真観清浄観 広大智慧観 悲観及慈観 常願常瞻仰
Kannon views the world through five powers.
True View: Seeing things correctly
Pure View: Seeing things with a pure heart, based on what one sees with true view
Vast Wisdom View: Seeing things from a broad perspective, realizing that they exist in harmony with one another, based on pure view
Compassionate View: A heart of compassion that experiences the suffering of others, arising from vast wisdom view
Loving-kindness View: A heart of compassion that rejoices with others, arising from vast wisdom view
Therefore, let us rely on the power of Kannon. Let us look up to and respect Kannon.
無垢清浄光 慧日破諸闇 能伏災風火 普明照世間
悲体戒雷震 慈意妙大雲 澍甘露法雨 滅除煩悩焔
諍訟経官処 怖畏軍陣中 念彼観音力 衆怨悉退散
妙音観世音 梵音海潮音 勝彼世間音 是故須常念
念念勿生疑 観世音浄聖 於苦悩死厄 能為作依怙
具一切功徳 慈眼視衆生 福聚海無量 是故応頂礼
Kannon’s pure eyes emit a pure and innocent light, and like the sun of wisdom, she dispels the darkness in our hearts.
She prevents natural and man-made disasters, illuminating everything in this world.
Kannon’s compassionate heart, which requires us to save, is as solemn as thunder, and her heart of kindness is like great clouds covering the sky, causing wonderful teachings to rain down like nectar on the earth, quelling the burning fires of earthly desires.
When you are troubled by a dispute traveling back and forth to court, or when you are gripped by fear on the battlefield, if you visualize the power of Kannon in your mind, all your emotional pain will disappear.
Kannon’s voice of wisdom is so beautiful, as magnificent as that of Brahma, and as solemn as the sound of the ocean tides.
So, please visualize Kannon in your mind with peace of mind.
Keep on thinking and reciting, and do not let yourself doubt for even a moment.
Kannon, who has been endowed with pure virtues, is like a parental figure to whom we can rely in times of pain, worry, when our lives are at risk, and when we suffer all kinds of hardships and disasters.
Kannon has been endowed with all kinds of virtues and watches over all living things with eyes of compassion. Her blessings are as limitless as the ocean.
Therefore, please respect and look up to her from your heart.
爾時持地菩薩 即従座起 前白仏言 世尊 若有衆生
聞是観世音菩薩品 自在之業 普門示現 神通力者
当知是人 功徳不少 仏説是普門品時
衆中八万四千衆生 皆発無等等
阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心
When the Buddha had answered in this way, Bodhisattva Jiji (the one who supports the earth) stood up, stepped forward in front of the Buddha, and praised the merits of Kannon as follows:
“Buddha, all those who have heard what you have just said about the activities of Kannon Bodhisattva, that is, about her power to appear anytime, anywhere and to save all living beings, have come to know that they exist within Kannon Bodhisattva’s vows, and therefore I believe that Kannon Bodhisattva’s merits are extremely great.”
Upon hearing this story, the “Universal Gate Chapter,” all 84,000 living beings present at the event aspired to attain the supreme enlightenment of the Buddha.
Dedication Verse from Lotus Sutra
Video Version
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