自在寺 · At Ease Temple
The Universal Gate chapter: its verses and a plain introduction
The Universal Gate of Guanyin Bodhisattva is chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra, translated into Chinese by Kumarajiva around 406 CE. It is one of the most often recited texts in Chinese Buddhism and is often circulated on its own as the Guanyin Sutra. "Universal gate" means a door open to all: Guanyin helps beings in whatever way they need.
The chapter has two parts: a prose section, then a section of verses, five characters to a line, which retells the prose.
What the prose says
This is a short outline in our own words, to help first-time readers. It is not a translation. For deeper study, please learn from a teacher.
- The name: the bodhisattva Inexhaustible Intent asks the Buddha why Guanyin is called "the one who perceives the sounds of the world". The Buddha answers that when beings in distress call Guanyin's name with a single mind, Guanyin at once perceives their voices and frees them.
- Freedom from danger: calling Guanyin's name, the sutra says, saves one from fire, flood, demons, weapons, evil spirits, chains and bandits, traditionally counted as seven dangers.
- Freedom from the three poisons: keeping Guanyin in mind with reverence frees one from greed, anger and ignorance.
- Prayers answered: those who pray for a son or a daughter are blessed with one, traditionally called the two wishes.
- Many forms: Guanyin appears in whatever form will help, from a Buddha or a bodhisattva to a boy or a girl, traditionally counted as thirty-three forms.
- An offering passed on: Inexhaustible Intent offers Guanyin a necklace of jewels; Guanyin divides it in two and offers one half to the Buddha Shakyamuni and the other to the stupa of the Buddha Many Treasures.
The Chinese verses
世尊妙相具，我今重問彼。
佛子何因緣，名為觀世音。
具足妙相尊，偈答無盡意。
汝聽觀音行，善應諸方所。
弘誓深如海，歷劫不思議。
侍多千億佛，發大清淨願。
我為汝略說，聞名及見身。
心念不空過，能滅諸有苦。
假使興害意，推落大火坑。
念彼觀音力，火坑變成池。
或漂流巨海，龍魚諸鬼難。
念彼觀音力，波浪不能沒。
或在須彌峯，為人所推墮。
念彼觀音力，如日虛空住。
或被惡人逐，墮落金剛山。
念彼觀音力，不能損一毛。
或值怨賊繞，各執刀加害。
念彼觀音力，咸即起慈心。
或遭王難苦，臨刑欲壽終。
念彼觀音力，刀尋段段壞。
或囚禁枷鎖，手足被杻械。
念彼觀音力，釋然得解脫。
呪詛諸毒藥，所欲害身者。
念彼觀音力，還著於本人。
或遇惡羅剎，毒龍諸鬼等。
念彼觀音力，時悉不敢害。
若惡獸圍遶，利牙爪可怖。
念彼觀音力，疾走無邊方。
蚖蛇及蝮蠍，氣毒煙火燃。
念彼觀音力，尋聲自迴去。
雲雷鼓掣電，降雹澍大雨。
念彼觀音力，應時得消散。
眾生被困厄，無量苦逼身。
觀音妙智力，能救世間苦。
具足神通力，廣修智方便。
十方諸國土，無剎不現身。
種種諸惡趣，地獄鬼畜生。
生老病死苦，以漸悉令滅。
真觀清淨觀，廣大智慧觀。
悲觀及慈觀，常願常瞻仰。
無垢清淨光，慧日破諸闇。
能伏災風火，普明照世間。
悲體戒雷震，慈意妙大雲。
澍甘露法雨，滅除煩惱焰。
諍訟經官處，怖畏軍陣中。
念彼觀音力，眾怨悉退散。
妙音觀世音，梵音海潮音。
勝彼世間音，是故須常念。
念念勿生疑，觀世音淨聖。
於苦惱死厄，能為作依怙。
具一切功德，慈眼視眾生。
福聚海無量，是故應頂禮。
The verses follow the Taishō Tripiṭaka, no. 262, from the CBETA digital canon, five characters to a line; the punctuation is our own. They were not in Kumarajiva's original translation but were added in the Sui dynasty from a later translation, and every edition in use today includes them.
At At Ease Temple
The statue of Guanyin stands on the east terrace of the temple. Walk up to it and hold "Circle" to walk around it three times, or first draw water at the Pure Spring and carry it slowly to the Offering Basin before the statue.