The Lotus
Sutra
Translated by Burton Watson
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Chapter
Twenty-five:
The Universal Gate of Bodhisattva Kanzeon
At that time the bodhisattva Inexhaustible
Intent immediately rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, pressed his palms
together and, facing the Buddha, spoke these words: "World Honored One, this
Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds-- why is he called Perceiver of the World's
Sounds?"
The Buddha said to Bodhisattva
Inexhaustible Intent: "Good man, suppose there are immeasurable hundreds, thousands,
ten thousands, millions of living beings who are undergoing various trials and suffering.
If they hear of this Bodhisattva Perceiver of the Word's Sounds and single-mindedly call
his name, then at once he will perceive the sound of their voices and they will all gain
deliverance from their trials.
If someone, holding fast to the name of
bodhisattva perceiver of the world's sounds, should enter a great fire, the fire could not
burn him. This would come about because of this bodhisattva's authority and supernatural
power. If one were washed away by a great flood and call upon his name, one would
immediately find himself in a shallow place.
"Suppose there were a hundred, a
thousand, ten thousand, a million living beings who, seeking for gold, silver, lapis
lazuli, seashell, agate, coral, amber, pearls, and other treasures, set out on the great
sea. and suppose a fierce wind should blow their ship off course and it drifted to the
land of rakshasas demons. If among those people there is even just one who calls the name
of Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's sounds, then all those people will be delivered
from their troubles with the rakshasas. This is why he is called Perceiver of the World's
Sounds.
"If a person who faces imminent
threat of attack should call the name of Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's sounds, then
the swords and staves wielded by his attackers would instantly shatter into so many pieces
and he would be delivered.
Thought enough yakshas and rakshasas to
fill all the thousand-million-fold world should try to come and torment a person, if they
hear him calling the name of Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds, then these evil
demons will not even be able to look at him with their evil eyes, much less do him harm.
"Suppose, in a place filled with all
the evil-hearted bandits of the thousand-million-fold world, there is a merchant leader
who is guiding a band of merchants carrying valuable treasures over a steep and dangerous
road, and that one man shouts out these words: 'Good men, do not be afraid! You must
single-mindedly call on the name of Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds. This
bodhisattva can grant fearlessness to living beings. If you call his name, you will be
delivered from these evil-hearted bandits!' When the band if merchants hear this, they all
together raise their voices, saying, 'Hail to the Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's
Sounds!' And because they call his name, they are at once able to gain deliverance.
Inexhaustible Intent, the authority and supernatural power of the Bodhisattva and
mahasattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds are as mighty as this!
"If there should be living beings
beset by numerous lusts and cravings, let them think with constant reverence of
Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds and then they can shed their desires. If they
have great wrath and ire, let them think with constant reverence of Bodhisattva Perceiver
of the World's Sounds and then they can shed their ire. If they have great ignorance and
stupidity, let them think with constant reverence of Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's
Sounds and they can rid themselves of stupidity.
"Inexhaustible Intent, the
Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds possesses great authority and supernatural
powers, as I have described, and can confer many benefits. For this reason, living beings
should constantly keep the thought of him in mind.
"If a woman wishes to give birth to a
male child, she should offer obeisance and alms to Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's
Sounds and then she will bear a son blessed with merit, virtue, and wisdom. And if she
wishes to bear a daughter, she will bear one with al the marks of comeliness, one who in
the past planted the roots of virtue and is loved and respected by many persons.
"Inexhaustible Intent, the
Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds has power to do all this. If there are living
beings who pay respect and obeisance to Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds, their
good fortune will not be fleeting or vain. Therefore living beings should all accept and
uphold the name of Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds.
"Inexhaustible Intent, suppose there
is a person who accepts and upholds the names of as many bodhisattvas as there are sands
in sixty-two million Ganges, and for as long as his present body lasts, he offers them
alms in the form of food and drink, clothing, bedding and medicines. What is your opinion?
Would this good man or good woman gain many benefits or would he not?"
Inexhaustible Intent replied, "They
would be very many, World-Honored One."
The Buddha said: "Suppose also that
there is a person who accepts and upholds the name of Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's
Sounds and even just once offers him obeisance and alms. The good fortune pained by these
two persons would be exactly equal and without difference. For a hundred, a thousand, ten
thousand, a million kalpas it would never be exhausted or run out. Inexhaustible Intent,
if one accepts and upholds the name of Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds, he
will gain the benefit of merit and virtue that is as immeasurable and boundless as
this!"
Bodhisattva Inexhaustible Intent said to
the Buddha, "World-Honored One, Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds-- how
does he come and go in this saha world? How does he preach the Law for the sake of living
beings? How does the power of expedient means apply in this case?"
The Buddha said to Bodhisattva
Inexhaustible Intent: "Good man, if there are living beings in the land who need
someone in the body of a Buddha in order to be saved, Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's
Sounds immediately manifests himself in a Buddha body and preaches the Law for them. If
they need someone in a pratyekabuddha's body in order to be saved, immediately he
manifests a pratyekabuddha's body and preaches the Law to them. If the need a voice-hearer
to be saved, immediately he becomes a voice-hearer and preaches the Law for them. If they
need King Brahma to be saved, immediately he becomes King Brahma and preaches the Law for
them. If they need the lord Shakra to be saved, immediately he becomes the lord Shakra and
preaches the Law for them. If they need the heavenly beiang Freedom to be saved,
immediately he becomes the heavenly being Freedom and preaches the Law for them. If they
need a great general of heaven to be saved, immediately he becomes a great general of
heaven and preaches the Law for them. If they need Vaishravana to be saved, immediately he
becomes Vaishravana and preaches the Law for them. If they need a petty king to be saved,
immediately he becomes a petty king and preaches the law for them.
If they need a rich man to be saved,
immediately he becomes a rich man and preaches the Law for them. If they need a
householder to be saved, immediately he becomes a householder and preaches the Law for
them. If they need a chief minister to be saved, immediately he becomes a chief minister
and preaches the Law for them. If they need a Brahman to be saved, immediately he becomes
a Brahman and preaches the Law for them. If they need a monk, a nun, a layman believer, or
a laywoman believer and preaches the Law for them. If they need the wife of a rich man, of
a householder, a chief minister, or a Brahman to be saved, immediately he becomes those
wives and preaches the Law for them. If they need a young boy or a young girl and preaches
the Law for them. If they need a heavenly being, a dragon, a yaksha, a gandharva, an
asura, a garuda, a kimnara, a mahoraga, a human or a nonhuman being to be saved,
immediately he becomes all of these and preaches the Law for them. If they need a
vajra-bearing god and preaches the Law for them.
"Inexhaustible Intent, this
Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds has succeeded in acquiring benefits such as
these and. Taking on a variety of different forms, goes about among the lands saving
living beings. For this reason you and the others should single-mindedly offer alms to
Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds can bestow fearlessness on those who are in
fearful, pressing or difficult circumstances. That is why in this saha world everyone
calls him Bestower of Fearlessness."
"Bodhisattva Inexhaustible Intent
said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One, now I must offer alms to Bodhisattva
Perceiver of the World's Sounds."
Then he took from his neck a necklace
adorned with numerous precious gems, worth a hundred or a thousand taels of gold, and
presented it to [the bodhisattva], saying, "Sir, please accept this necklace of
precious gems as a gift in the Dharma."
At that time Bodhisattva Perceiver of the
World's Sounds was unwilling to accept the gift.
Inexhaustible Intent spoke once more to
Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds, saying, "Sir, out of compassion for us,
please accept this necklace."
Then the Buddha said to Bodhisattva
Perceiver of the World's Sounds, "Out of compassion for this Bodhisattva
Inexhaustible Intent and for the four kinds of believers, the heavenly kings, dragons,
yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kimnaras, mahoragas, human and nonhuman beings, you
should accept this necklace."
Thereupon Bodhisattva Perceiver of the
World's Sounds, having compassion for the four kinds of believers and the heavenly beings,
dragons, human and nonhuman beings and the others, accepted the necklace and, dividing it
into two parts, presented one part to Shakyamuni Buddha and presented the other to the
tower of the Buddha Many Treasures.
[The Buddha said,] "Inexhaustible
Intent, these are the kinds of freely exercised supernatural powers that Bodhisattva
Perceiver of the World's Sounds displays in his comings and goings in the saha
world."
At that time Bodhisattva Inexhaustible
Intent posed this question in verse form:
World-Honored One replete with wonderful
features,
I now ask you once again
for what reason that Buddha's son
is named Bodhisattva Perceiver of the
World's Sounds?
The honored One endowed with wonderful
features
replied to Inexhaustible Intent in verse:
Listen to the actions of the Perceiver of
Sounds,
how aptly he responds in various quarters.
His vast oath is deep as the ocean;
kalpas pass but it remains unfathomable.
He has attended many thousands and
millions of Buddhas,
setting forth his great pure vow.
I will describe him in outline for you-
listen to his name, observe his body,
bear him in mind, not passing the time
vainly,
for he can wipe out the pains of
existence.
Suppose someone should conceive a wish to
harm you,
should push you into a great pit of fire.
Think on the power of that Perceiver of
Sounds
and the pit of fire will change into a
pond!
If you should be cast adrift on the vast
ocean,
menaced by dragons, fish and various
demons,
think on the power of that Perceiver of
Sounds
and the billows and waves cannot drown
you!
Suppose you are on the peak of Mount
Sumeru
and someone pushes you off.
Think on the power of that Perceiver of
Sounds
and you will hang in midair like the sun!
Suppose you are pursued by evil men
who wish to throw you down from a diamond
mountain.
Think on the power of that Perceiver of
Sounds
and they cannot harm a hair of you!
Suppose you are surrounded by evil-hearted
bandits,
each brandishing a knife to wound you.
Think on the power of that Perceiver of
Sounds
and at once all will be swayed by
compassion!
Suppose you encounter trouble with the
king's law,
face punishment, about to forfeit your
life.
Think on the power of that Perceiver of
Sounds
and the executioner's sword will be broken
to bits!
Suppose you are imprisoned in cangue and
lock,
hands and feet bound by fetters and
chains.
Think on the power of that Perceiver of
Sounds
and they will fall off, leaving you free!
Suppose with curses and various poisonous
herbs
someone should try to injure you.
Think on the power of that Perceiver of
Sounds
and the injury will rebound upon the
originator.
Suppose you encounter evil rakshasas,
poison dragons and various demons.
Think on the power of that Perceiver of
Sounds
and then none of them will dare to harm
you.
If evil beasts should encircle you,
their sharp fangs and claws inspiring
terror,
think on the power of that Perceiver of
sounds
and they will scamper away in boundless
retreat.
If lizards, snakes, vipers, scorpions
threaten you with poison breath that sears
like flame,
think on the power of that Perceiver of
Sounds
and, hearing your voice, they will flee of
themselves.
If clouds should bring thunder, and
lightning strike,
if hail pelts or drenching rain comes
down,
think on the power of that Perceiver of
Sounds
and at that moment they will vanish away.
If living beings encounter weariness or
peril,
immeasurable suffering pressing them down,
the power of the Perceiver of Sounds'
wonderful wisdom
can save them from the sufferings of the
world.
He is endowed with transcendental powers
and widely practices the expedient means
of wisdom.
Throughout the lands in the ten directions
there is no region where he does not
manifest himself.
In many different kinds of evil
circumstances,
in the realms of hell, hungry spirits or
beasts,
the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness
and death--
all these he bit by bit wipes out.
He of the true gaze, the pure gaze,
the gaze of great and encompassing wisdom,
the gaze of pity, the gaze of compassion--
constantly we implore him, constantly look
up in reverence.
His pure light, free of blemish,
is a sun of wisdom dispelling all
darknesses.
He can quell the wind and fire of
misfortune
and everywhere bring light to the world.
The precepts from his compassionate body
shake us
like thunder,
the wonder of his pitying mind is like a
great cloud.
He sends down the sweet dew, the Dharma
rain,
to quench the flames of earthly desires.
When law suits bring you before the
officials,
when terrified in the midst of an army,
think on the power of that Perceiver of
Sounds
and hatred in all its forms will be
dispelled.
Wonderful sound, Perceiver of the World's
Sounds,
Brahma's sound, the sea tide sound--
they surpass those sounds of the world;
therefore you should constantly think on
them
from thought to thought never entertaining
doubt!
Perceiver of the World's Sounds, pure
sage--
to those in suffering, in danger of death,
he can offer aid and support.
Endowed with all benefits,
he views living beings with compassionate
eyes.
The sea of his accumulated blessings is
immeasurable;
therefore you should bow your head to him!
At that time the Bodhisattva Earth Holder
immediately rose from his seat, advanced, and said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One,
if there are living beings who hear this chapter on Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's
Sounds, on the freedom of his actions, his manifestation of a universal gateway, and his
transcendental powers, it should be known that the benefits these persons gain are not
few!"
When the Buddha preached this chapter on
the Universal Gateway, a multitude of eighty-four thousand persons in the assembly all
conceived a determination to attain the unparalleled state of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.
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| Content
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Update: 01-12-2001
