觀音義疏 1.72

1.72

三千大千滿中者，此假設之辭也。若言滿中，復更從何處來？知是假言爾。上水、火何不假設滿大千耶？鬼有心識相延故滿，假設為便；水、火無心，假設為難。鬼所以畏者，觀音有威有恩，若非懷恩則是畏威，所以聞名尚不能加於惡眼，豈容興害心？害心、惡眼二俱歇也。

'Filling the great trichiliocosm' is a hypothetical expression. If one says they fill it completely, from where else could they come? Thus one knows it is merely hypothetical speech. Why did the preceding water and fire not hypothetically fill the trichiliocosm? Ghosts have consciousness and attract one another, thus filling it; making a hypothesis is convenient. Water and fire lack consciousness; making a hypothesis is difficult. As for why ghosts are terrified: Avalokiteśvara possesses both majesty and grace. If they do not cherish grace, then they fear majesty; therefore, upon hearing the name, they cannot even direct an evil gaze, so how could they be permitted to give rise to a harmful mind? Both the harmful mind and evil gaze subside together.