法華玄論 10.121

10.121

答：古經云「光世音」，今云「觀世音」也。未詳方言，故為此號耳。若欲釋者，光猶是智慧，如《大經》云「光明者即是智慧，智慧即是觀」也。又菩薩智慧光明照於世間，故云光也。《華嚴》云「觀音菩薩說《大悲經》光明之行」，大悲即是功德，光明謂智慧。則知光世音不失此意也。羅什注《淨名經》明有三名：觀世音、觀世意、觀世身。什今所以作此釋者，見〈普門品〉具釋三名，故有三號耳。

Answer: The older scriptures said Guāngshìyīn (Illuminator of the World's Sounds), while current ones say Guānshìyīn (Contemplator of the World's Sounds). Dialects were not yet fully understood, hence this title was used. If one wishes to explain it, light (guāng) is still wisdom; as the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra says, 'Light is wisdom, and wisdom is contemplation.' Furthermore, the bodhisattva's light of wisdom illuminates the world; hence it is called 'light'. The Avataṃsaka-sūtra says, 'The Bodhisattva Guānyīn preached the practice of light of the Great Compassion Sūtra'; great compassion is merit, and light means wisdom. Thus we know that 'Guāngshìyīn' does not lose this meaning. Kumārajīva's commentary on the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra explains that there are three names: Contemplator of the World's Sounds (Guānshìyīn), Contemplator of the World's Thoughts (Guānshìyì), and Contemplator of the World's Bodies (Guānshìshēn). The reason Kumārajīva provided this explanation was that he saw that the 'Universal Gate Chapter' fully explains all three names, and thus there are three titles.