妙法蓮華經玄贊 10.331

10.331

釋名者，「觀」音古寬反，又古段反，今從初。「觀」者察義，俯救悲慧。「世」者可破壞義，體即生死有情世間。「音」謂音聲有情語業，世間有情起音聲以歸念，菩薩以大悲慧俯觀隨救，名觀世音。正義應云觀自在。諸三業歸依，必六通垂化，無暇危苦飛輪摧拔，作不請友為應病醫，攝利難思，名觀自在。「菩薩」如前。「普」者平等遍滿義。「門」者入出之由處。諸三業歸依，必六通垂救平等，示此出苦入樂所由處所，故名普門。神通、記說、教誡三輪，為離苦之處所作入寂之因由，是普門體。然有苦者多發聲以歸念，大悲者必應念以臨拯，故名觀音。此品廣明，故名觀世音普門品。

Regarding explaining the title: "Guan" (觀, to contemplate) is pronounced with the fanqie gu-kuan, or alternatively gu-duan; here we follow the former. "Guan" means examination, looking down to rescue with compassion and wisdom. "Shi" (世, world) means destructible; its essence is the worldly realm of sentient beings in saṃsāra. "Yin" (音, sound) refers to sounds, the verbal karma of sentient beings. Worldly sentient beings produce sounds to take refuge and be mindful, and the Bodhisattva, with great compassion and wisdom, looks down, contemplates, and rescues them accordingly; hence the name Guanyin (Avalokitasvara). The correct meaning should be Avalokiteśvara (Guanzizai). When all take refuge with the three karmas, he unfailingly descends to transform with the six supernormal knowledges, with a flying wheel crushing and pulling out unrelenting perils and sufferings, acting as an uninvited friend and a physician who matches the illness; drawing in and benefiting inconceivably, he is named Avalokiteśvara. "Bodhisattva" is as previously explained. "Universal" (pu) means impartial and all-pervasive. "Gateway" (men) means the place through which one enters and exits. When all take refuge with the three karmas, he unfailingly descends with the six supernormal knowledges to rescue them impartially, showing this place through which one leaves suffering and enters bliss; therefore it is called the Universal Gateway. The three wheels of supernormal powers, manifestation of prophecies, and instruction serve as the locus of departing from suffering and the cause of entering tranquility; this is the essence of the Universal Gateway. However, those who suffer mostly utter sounds to take refuge and be mindful, and the Great Compassionate One unfailingly responds to the thought to descend and rescue; therefore he is named Avalokiteśvara. This chapter extensively clarifies this; hence it is named the Universal Gateway Chapter of Avalokiteśvara.