妙法蓮華經 7.41

7.41

Then the Buddha said to Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara: “You should accept

this necklace out of pity for such humans and nonhumans as this Bodhisattva

Akṣayamati, the fourfold assembly, devas, nāgas, yakṣas, gandharvas, asuras,

garuḍas, kiṃnaras, and mahoragas.”

The Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara accepted the necklace out of pity for the fourfold assembly, devas, nāgas, humans, nonhumans, and the rest. He then divided it into two parts and gave one part to the Buddha Śākyamuni and the other part to the stupa of the Buddha Prabhūtaratna.

“O Akṣayamati! With such inherent transcendent powers Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara wanders throughout the sahā world.”

Thereupon, Bodhisattva Akṣayamati asked a question in verse, saying:

O Bhagavat, endowed with excellent marks!

I now wish to ask you about him once again:

For what reason is the heir of the Buddha

Named Avalokiteśvara?

The Bhagavat, endowed with excellent marks, answered Akṣayamati in verse:

Listen to the practices of Avalokiteśvara,

Which have their application to all!

His vow is deep like the ocean

And his kalpa is of inconceivable length.

After having attended

Many thousands of koṭis of buddhas,

He made a great, pure vow.

I will now explain it to you in brief:

If you hear his name and see his body,

And contemplate him in thought,

Your life will not be in vain;

And you will extinguish all suffering.

If anyone wants to hurt you

And pushes you into a great firepit,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara,

The firepit will change into a pond.

If you drift upon the great ocean and meet danger

From dragons, fish, and demons,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara,

You will not be swallowed by the waves.

If you are on the peak of Sumeru

And are pushed by somebody,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara,

You will stay suspended in the air like the sun.

If any evil one chases you

And pushes you from Mount Diamond,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara,

Not even a single hair will be hurt.

If evil robbers surround you

Each with a sword and the intent to harm,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara,

The thought of mercy will awaken in them.

If you suffer under the punishment of a king

And your life is to be ended by execution,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara,

The sword will be immediately broken into pieces.

If you are imprisoned with a neck chain,

Your hands and feet fettered,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara,

They will disappear and you will be released.

If anyone wants to hurt your body

With a curse or poison,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara,

These ills will return and afflict their authors.

If you meet evil rākṣasas,

Poisonous dragons, or demons,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara,

They will not dare to hurt you.

If you are surrounded by evil animals

Whose teeth and claws are fearfully sharp,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara,

They will run away swiftly

And to an immeasurable distance.

If there are lizards, snakes, vipers, or scorpions,

Whose breath is poisonous like a flaming smoke,

If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, They will turn away swiftly at the sound of your voice. If thunder resounds, lightning flashes, Hail falls, and a great rain pours out of the clouds, If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara, They will disappear immediately. If sentient beings are in great adversity, And immeasurable pain afflicts them, The wonderful power of the wisdom of Avalokiteśvara Can relieve the suffering of the world. Endowed with transcendent powers And having fully mastered wisdom and skillful means, In all the worlds of the ten directions, There is no place where he will not manifest himself. The suffering of those in the troubled states of being: Hell-dwellers, hungry ghosts, and animals; And the suffering of birth, old age, illness, and death Will gradually be extinguished. He who perceives the world with truth, purity, And vast knowledge, And with benevolence and compassion, Should be ever longed for and looked up to. He is a spotless pure ray of light, A sun of wisdom that destroys the darkness, A flame that withstands the winds of calamity. He brilliantly illuminates the entire world. His will, the essence of which is compassion, Shakes like thunder; And the mind of mercy Is like a beautiful overspreading cloud, Which pours the Dharma rain of immortality And extinguishes the flame of desires. In a dispute before judges, Or fearful in the midst of battle, If you contemplate the power of Avalokiteśvara,

All enemies will flee away.

He has a wondrous voice,

The voice of one who perceives the world,

A voice like Brahma’s, a voice like the rolling tide,

A voice unsurpassed in this world;

For this reason you should always contemplate him.

You should have no doubt, even for a moment.

The pure seer Avalokiteśvara will be a refuge

When suffering distress or the misery of death.