When we have completely reformed and saved ourselves, we then have the strength to reform and save others people.

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

 

How to reform and save ourselves? It depends on our own strength of wisdom, the Buddha-nature. That is what the Buddha Shakyamuni wanted to enlighten us and to teach us to know it. When we have completely reformed and saved ourselves, we then have the strength to reform and save others people. How to reform and save others people? It depends on our own strength of compassion and wisdom. In the methods of application, there are four methods said by Buddha Shakyamuni. That is as follows:

 

Give;

Express by love;

Benefiting action;

Work by together.

 

The above is called four assimilating-methods or four reforming-methods. To reform and save others people is not easy, because most of the human beings have the stubborn nature and the strong arrogance. When we have not yet been enlightened, we might be one of them and have no such self-awareness.

 

To practice the four assimilating-methods needs to follow the opportunity and conditions which are changed in the situation and environment, and also needs to follow the change of personal situation and the change of fate of the persons who are in the suffering. It is unable to force them, if we want to reform and save others people by the four reforming-methods. Furthermore, the four assimilating-methods should be based on our four immeasurable inner hearts of mercy, compassion, joy and abandon. 

The another meaning of the good-knowledge person in Buddha's teaching.

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

The another definition for the good-knowledge person in Buddha's teaching is meant to those persons who became the “evil person” to teach and punish the true evil persons, and to adjust them to be good persons. 

 

Even though it seems "evil person", its essence is still based on the benevolence and empathy to all sentient beings. Just he used another means which we think it might be not normal and not corresponding with our logical thinking.

 

Evil people ride and tame the evil horse.

For example, one of the good-knowledge persons is a king, and he might be not a good king according to our common sense. On the contrary, according to the public's common sense, they think the king is “evil and brutal”. Due to there are more evil people in his country, such evil people are full of greedy and hatred in mind, and always to bully and cheat the good persons, that is why the king becomes “the evil person” and uses the cruel punishment to punish such evil people.

 

There is a Chinese saying, “Evil people ride the evil horse.” It means that the true evil people are like the evil horse and there would be the more-evil people to tame such evil people. Do not worry. If we are not the true evil people, we would absolutely not meet the “more-evil person”.

The God for me is the Buddha; The Buddha is the God.

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

 

Even though I am a Buddhist teacher now, I had been baptized informally, read the bible, and went to the church, sang the saint song. I also prayed to the God before I went to bed. Do you know what I pray to the God? I pray to him that I hope that I am able to help people someday. In that time, I was a 16-years-old girl and I only had a little idea about Buddhism.

 

Meanwhile, I also have read a novel which is a story about an American nun of Christian, who does her best, and abandon her self-ego, so to help people and to take care of what the peoples need. And she is always misunderstood by another nun. I have forgotten the name and the detail of the novel. But, I remember that I was so moved by the drama. I think that what the nun has done is the virtue of human beings, which is not concerned about any belief or any religion.

 

One day I realize that my wish and what I have prayed to the God has come true. And the God never left me alone. In that time, I was already a 46-years-old woman and have trained in Buddhism. What you have known about the God might be different from what I have known. I tell you a truth that I do not know what the said in the bible. The God what I have known is very mercy and its mind is very open and inclusive the all. It absolutely would not reject any human beings who do not believe the God. The God for me is the Buddha; The Buddha is the God.

 

In Buddhism, the Buddha Sakyamuni also mentioned about the God who dominate one of the 33 heavens. And the God always guards and supports the Buddha Sakyamuni and his disciples, or any person who puts the Buddhism into practice. When I read the Buddhist scripture, I think it is reasonable according to my personal experience. God for me is not someone else, it is the Bodhisattva. The nature of name, image, and picture is emptiness. The essence of the Buddha-nature is true, which is the Emptiness. It is not important about what the name is. In my realizing and opinions, the essence and the nature of the God is Emptiness. The state of Emptiness is still and "be able to create and appear". Due to the Emptiness, it can create and appear the all, including the ideologies of religions, or of the public, or of the politics, or of any parties, or any ideas.  All of these things is created from the nature of Emptiness.  

A Brief Discussion on Morality and Law in Chinese History and about Buddhism

 

Author: Tao Qing Hsu  (Hsu, Tao-qing) 

I remember I chose a law course at university because I wanted to explore whether I was capable or interested in studying law. One of the chapters talks about ethics and law. This chapter really impressed me. Why?

 

As we know, some people violate the law because they do not know the law. However, what makes us surprise is that those understand the law but violate the law, especially the lawyer or the Judge, or those who have graduated from the law school, such as president or the officer.

 

In traditional China and in the history of China, the morality is more stressed than the law. However, in the modern time, the law is more stressed than the morality. Law is the last line of defense to the morality. But, in my opinion, the law might be misused today. In some country, the law might be not corresponding to the morality or the human right.

 

The religion is concern about the morality. Buddhism is also concern about it. But, Buddhism is not the law, and is also not used to restrain the human behavior. So, Buddhism is never used to be the country law in the history of China. However, the emperor and the officer are deeply influenced by the Buddhism, Taoism and Confucius theory, because the concept of that the heaven and the human beings are combined to be the one is the supreme realm in rule.

 

In other words, the emperor and the officer request themselves to be mercy, compassion, like the Buddha, Bodhisattva, or the god, so to love the people in the country.

 

They also expect that the people in the country could be enlightened and have the mercy and compassionate like the Buddha, Bodhisattva, or the god, so the emperor or the officer support and promote the Buddhism, Taoism and Confucius theory in the country.

 

In other words, there is the concept that if everyone from the emperor to the ordinary people could be mercy and compassionate, and could control and correct their self-behavior automatically, such as no greedy heart, no hatred heart, no stealing and no killing, then the world and the society are naturally peaceful.

 

In Buddhism, there is the concept that if everyone does the evils, they themselves would be retributive back by their own evils. It may be not necessary to use the law to punish the evil persons.

 

In a word, that is the concept of no-doing but governing. That is also why the concept of law is not general in China of history. But, I think that the ancient people, the founder of the country, such as the emperor and the officer, are very wise.

 

The concept of law is to regulate others. The concept of law is quite different from the concept of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucius theory, because the concept of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucius theory is self-discipline, self-regulatory. Such concept is also different from the other religion. That is why other country might use the Christian or Islam as their country law, but not Buddhism. And that is also why the law is developed well in western country, but not in China of history.

 

Extending the concept, we might have another view why the foreign countries invade China. From my research on the history of China, I have found that the China is rarely to invade foreign countries, except for the civil war and resisting the foreign invasion.

 

You might find that the culture of traditional China is focus on the morality and self-regulatory. Even today, it is not easy to do so. The early law of Taiwan is in reference from the law of German and Japan. But, do you have found that these two countries had ever invaded China and the other countries? Why they want to invade other countries? Think about it. The dispute of law in Taiwan is always exist and changing all the time. Honestly, it is really not perfect.

Chapter 12 ﹝5﹞: Being born in the time of Buddha is difficult

(Chapter 12 ﹝5﹞ ) A Brief Talk about The Scripture of Forty-Two Chapters Said by Buddha 

Co-translators in the time of Eastern Han Dynasty, China(A.D. 25 - 200) : Kasyapa Matanga and Zhu Falan (Who translated the said Scripture from Sanskrit into Chinese. )

Translator in modern time (A.D.2018: Tao Qing Hsu (Who translated the said Scripture from Chinese into English.)

Teacher and writer for explaining the said Scripture: Tao Qing Hsu

Chapter 12: List the difficulties and exhort to practice   

The Buddha said,” There are twenty difficulties for people. Giving something to others is difficult when people are in poor. Learning the Dao is difficult when people are in the huge wealth and are the nobility. It is hard to the people when they must die because their lives have to be abandoned. Being able to see the scripture of Buddha is difficult. Being born in the time of Buddha is difficult. Enduring the erotic and desire is difficult. Seeing the self-interest and not to pursue it is difficult. No resentment when being humiliated is difficult. When having the authority and not to draw near to ordinary people  is difficult. When contact with things and no heart  is difficult. Learning widely and researching extensively are difficult. Removing the ego-arrogance is difficult. Not to despise the un-learner is difficult. Practicing the equality in heart is difficult. Not saying its right or wrong is difficult. Meeting the good-knowledge person is difficult. Seeing the Nature and learning the Dao are difficult. According to conditions to reform people so as to save them is difficult. Seeing the circumstance and unmoved in heart are difficult. Good at understanding the convenience is difficult.

Chapter 12 ﹝5﹞: Being born in the time of Buddha is difficult

What is Buddha?

Being born in the time of Buddha is difficult. This is the fifth difficulty said by Buddha Shakyamuni in this Chapter. Buddha Shakyamuni was lived in the year between 563 and 483 BCE and his living range was in the north India. “Buddha” is a title and means “the person who is awaken or enlightened, meanwhile, who is liberated from all suffering in life and death, and who also has the ability to help sentient beings liberate from all suffering in life and death.”

Brief description of Buddha Shakyamuni

The title “Buddha Shakyamuni” is called by the Buddhist disciples and the public. The worldly name of Buddha Shakyamuni is Siddhartha. Siddhartha was an ordinary person, just like you and me. He was a prince and educated well. He also had the marriage and a child, a boy. Before he left the family, he was expected by his parents to be a king.

He had found that being a king could not resolve the personal problem, that is the suffering in life and death, let alone to help the others resolve their personal problem, that is also the suffering in life and death. He had found that everyone could not avoid the four sufferings, that is, the suffering of life, of aging, of disease, and of death. Then, he sought for the methods to liberate himself from the sea of personal suffering. That is why he began to practice the Dao (the Dao of Buddha) and then proceeded with the course for speaking of Buddha-law and the teaching of Buddha-law during 49 years, after he had achieved the Buddhahood in his 31 years old.

Everyone has Buddha-nature and is equal to each other on this principle and basis.

In his teaching, he did not deify himself to be a god. Meanwhile, he did not control or harm others by the name of god. In other word, he did not rely on the strong to bully the weak. What he had told us is a truth, that is, everyone had the Buddha-nature which could let us become Buddha. In this point, everyone is equal to each other and is equal to Buddha. He had proved it by himself and had showed it to us. In other word, he wanted us to know that we could achieve the Buddhahood as him someday.  

What is the special about Buddha?

Then, we might have a question. What is the special about Buddha? Buddha owns the honor of bliss, virtue and wisdom at the same time, is the teacher of the human beings in heaven and on earth, and is also respected by them. There is no gender difference to become Buddha. In other word, woman or girl could also become Buddha.

The benevolent and smiled god of wealth, Buddha Maitreya.

There is a lot of Buddha in the universe, including the past and the future. Buddha Shakyamuni is not the only Buddha. He had mentioned that there is a lot of Buddha before and after his time. What the viewpoint of time from Buddha Shakyamuni, the time is very long and it is beyond our knowledge and understanding. He had mentioned that the next Buddha being born in this world is Maitreya. That would be after 56 hundred million years. In other word, the time from one Buddha being born to the next Buddha being born in the world, it is very long.

“Maitreya” is originally the Sanskrit and means benevolence, mercy and compassion. Buddha Maitreya has some of the different appearance which is created by the human’s imagination, and I think that is not what the really appearance of Buddha Maitreya. Anyway, do not be bound by any appearance of any Buddha, but to know the essence of Buddha's teaching.

In China and Taiwan, the outward appearance of Buddha Maitreya is a Buddhist monk with many smiles and relaxed sitting position. He has a little fat and upper body naked, and it is highlighting his round belly. Mostly, one of his hands holds a gold ingot and the other hand holds Buddhist-beads or wishful treasure. Meanwhile, he carries a fabric backpack on his back. So, he is also called Buddhist monk Fabric-backpack. There is a folk hymn to describe him:

The Big belly can tolerate things that are difficult to be tolerated for the world;

The mercy face often smiles and smiles to the ridiculous people in the world.

Secondly, such outward appearance of Buddha Maitreya as described above is always regarded as the god of wealth by the folk. And we can see such statues at the general stores. It means that the bosses of the stores hope to luckily have the wealth.

In Buddhist Scripture, the Buddha Shakyamuni said that the human beings are benevolence, mercy, compassion, wealthy and healthy, and have the longevity life to be 1000 years, in the time of Buddha Maitreya. Meanwhile, each one is happily interested in learning Buddha.  

The Buddha Shakyamuni also said that the world what we have been now are more evil and more trouble. And the people in this world are not easy to be taught. In other word, those who are willing to learn Buddha and could learn it well are few. In the history of China, there are some Buddhist monk who learn Buddha well and vows to reborn in the time of Buddha Maitreya and to encounter him, so as to have the chance to keep learning Buddha and to follow the path of Buddha Maitreya, and to support him to continue the teaching of Buddha.

If we could be born in the time of Buddha, we would have the chance to meet the Buddha and be taught by the Buddha. That is also to mean that we have a lot of chance to be saved by the Buddha and to liberate ourselves from our suffering, such suffering includes the suffering of reincarnation.

But, I have to tell you that the above speaking is one of the teachings from Buddha Shakyamuni. Such speaking is for the beginners in Buddhism and is to hope them to cherish their human body and time to learn Buddha. Therefore, they would be willing to learn Buddha well in the present, and to have more chance to be born in the time of Buddha and to encounter them.

The human beings in heaven still keep learning Buddha.

In the viewpoint of Buddha, doing the good for going to the heaven and enjoying the bliss in there could not really liberate the personal suffering. In the teaching of Buddha, Buddha Shakyamuni had mentioned that, even the human beings in heaven, they would have to meet the suffering of aging and of death. The human beings in heaven might be reincarnated into hell after the ending of their enjoyed bliss and their death, if they did not have the chance to hear the teaching of Buddha.

Buddha Shakyamuni also had mentioned that, there are thirty-three heavens and which could be classified into three, which are the realm of desire, the realm of material-form, and the realm of no material-form. What we have known about the god in the Greek and Roman Mythology might be the human beings in heaven in the realm of desire.  

Buddha Shakyamuni had also mentioned that, some of the human beings in heaven in the realm of desire also have the heart and mind of hatred. Such human beings of heaven would fight with the other human beings of the other heaven. So, there is also the war in some heavens. Such human beings have the great bliss. However, they still have not yet liberated themselves from the suffering. They have to go into hell after the ending of their life in heaven someday. The amount of human beings in heaven which is mentioned by Buddha Shakyamuni is countless more than the human beings on earth. Even though we might not feel their existence, it doesn’t mean that they don’t exist. For example, do you think that the all ants could feel the existence of human beings on earth?  

Don't kill self and others is one of the basic teachings of Buddha.

In the Scripture of Buddha, there is rare to mention about the war. That is, in the time of Buddha and in the living range of Buddha, the world is more peaceful. Even today, there are some people who are living in the war; and there is almost not existed the Buddhism in those place. In the history, we could find that most of those people to attack others, to bully others, and to fight to the other country’s people are not Buddhists. Why? It is because that don't kill self and others is one of the basic teachings of Buddha. But, Buddhists will also defend themselves in support of Buddhism without being destroyed.

Being human beings born in the world is difficult.

In the Scripture of Nirvana, Buddha Shakyamuni had said that, being human beings born in the world is difficult; encountering the Buddha-world is difficult; it is so difficult such as in the big sea, a blind turtle meets a hole floating on the sea. In other word, this is a small chance.

We could image that a blind turtle swims in the big sea, meanwhile, there is a hole floating on the sea in the other side. The blind turtle and the hole are respectively floating or sinking with the wind and the waves in the different realm. If the head of the blind turtle wants to meet into the hole, the probability is very low.

Being human beings born in the world and encountering the Buddha-world is like the head of the blind turtle to meet into the hole, the chance is very small. That is also to tell us that, to obtain the body of human beings is difficult and to hear the Buddha-law is also difficult, even though we are not born in the time of Buddha. If we have the chance to obtain the body of human beings, we should cherish our body to hear the Buddha-law. That is to cherish our Buddha-nature and to learn Buddha well. 

Supplementary note: Dao is transliterated from Chinese, meaning way and method, deeper meaning as a system of learning or religion. Dao is Tao, which is transliterated from Chinese. The original meaning of Dao is the way and path, and it is extended to be the truth of life that we can learn and practice in our lives.

Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving in Universal Door Chapter

                                        

Translator in the time of post-Qin, China (AD.344-413): Kumārajīva (Who translated the said Chapter from Sanskrit into Chinese.)

Translator in the modern time (A.D.2018): Tao Qing Hsu (Who translated the said Chapter from Chinese into English.)

  

At that time, Bodhisattva Endless-Meaning stood up from the seat, uncovered the right shoulder, closed the palms of the hand, faced the Buddha and said that “World Honored One! By which cause and condition is Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving called World-Sounds-Perceiving? ” The Buddha told the Bodhisattva Endless-Meaning: "Good man! If there were infinite thousands-millions sentient beings afflicted by all kinds of troubles, they heard Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving and called its name single mindedly, Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving would immediately perceive their sounds and liberate all of them from the suffering. If there were people who recited the name of Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving, and to suppose that these people entered into a huge fire, the fire could not burn them. That is all because the Bodhisattva’s awesome spiritual power. If they were drifted away by the huge water, and they called its name, they would be in a shallow place.

If the hundred-trillions sentient beings entered into the sea in order to seek for gold, silver, glass, agate, coral, amber, pearl, and other treasures, and to suppose their ship was blown by the black wind and was floating in the ghost’s kingdom of Rakshasa, any one of them and even only one person who recited the name of Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving, those people would be all released from the affliction in the Rakshasa. Because of the aforesaid causes and conditions, it was named as World-Sounds-Perceiving."

 

"Furthermore, if people might be killed and they recited the name of Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving, the held knife would be badly broken into pieces, and then they would be liberated. If the three-thousand and large-thousand countries were full of Yaksha and Rakshasa, which wanted to annoy people and heard the name of Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving recited by those people, the wicked ghosts could not stare at them with their evil eyes, let alone to harm them. To suppose there was a person, who was bound by handcuffs and shackles, as if in guilty or in innocence, recited and called out the name of Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving, those fetters would be broken and he would be liberated. If there were full of hatred thieves in the three-thousand and large-thousand countries, one merchant chief held heavy treasures from all merchants and went through dangerous roads. One of them said loudly: "All good men! Don't be terrified, you should call out the name of Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving single mindedly. The Bodhisattva can give all sentient beings the fearlessness by fearlessness. If you recited and called out its name, you shall surely relieve from such hatred thieves. When all businessmen heard that, all cried out, “Na Mo Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving!” Then, they were immediately liberated because of reciting and calling its name out. “

 

"Endless-Meaning! The power of awesome spirituality of the Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving is as majestic and lofty as the said. If sentient beings had much more sexual desire, and then often recited and saluted the Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving, they would thus depart from the lust. If they had much more hatred, and then often recited and saluted the Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving, they would thus leave away the hatred. If they had much more stupidity and infatuation, and then often recited and saluted the Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving, they would thus leave away the infatuation. Endless-Meaning! Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving had the power of great majestic spirituality such as these, and had much more mercy on all sentient beings so as to confer them benefit.  Therefore, sentient beings should often recite its name in mind.

  

If there were a woman who wanted a boy, politely worshiped Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving and offered something to it, she would have a boy who owned bliss and virtue; if she intended to have a girl, she would thus have a dignified-pretty girl who owned the virtue roots planted in the past life and was loved and respected by all people. Endless-Meaning! Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving has such power as these. If there were sentient beings to salute and politely worship Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving, their planted-accumulated bliss would not be in vain. Therefore, all sentient beings should accept and recite the name of Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving."

 

"Endless-Meaning! If there was someone who accepted and recited 62 billion Ganges sands’ name of Bodhisattva, and exhaustively offered them the food, clothing, bedding, and medicine, what do you think? Do the good man or the good woman has such much more merit and virtue or not?"

 

Endless-Meaning said: "A lot! World honored one!" The Buddha said: "If there was a person who accepted and recited the name of Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving, even politely worship and offering at one time, the bliss of the two people was exactly equal and no difference, and would be endless at one hundred billion myriads of eons. Endless-Meaning! To accept and recite the name of Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving will have such benefit of immeasurable-boundless bliss and virtue."

 

Bodhisattva Endless-Meaning told the Buddha: "World honored one! How does Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving tour in this Saha World? How does it speak of the Buddha-law for all sentient beings? What happened when it uses the power of convenience?" The Buddha told Bodhisattva Endless-Meaning : "Good man! If there were sentient beings in a country should be saved by the form and body of Buddha, Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving would appear the form and body of Buddha and speak of the law of Buddha for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of Pratyeka-Buddha, the Bodhisattva would appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of Sravaka, the Bodhisattva would appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of Brahma King, the Bodhisattva would appear the said form and body, and speak the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of Sakra, the Bodhisattva would appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of Mahesvara, the Bodhisattva would appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of the great general of heaven, the Bodhisattva would appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of Vaisravana, the Bodhisattva would appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of little king, the Bodhisattva would appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of the elderly, the Bodhisattva would appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of Buddhist Layman, the Bodhisattva would appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of Prime Minister, the Bodhisattva would appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of Brahman, the Bodhisattva would appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of Buddhist monk, Buddhist nun, Upasaka and Upasika, the Bodhisattva would appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of woman which are the elderly or Buddhist Layman or Prime Minister or Brahman, the Bodhisattva would instantly transform and appear the said form and body of woman, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of little boy or little girl, the Bodhisattva would transform and appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of heaven or dragon or Yaksha or Gandharva or Asura or Garuda or Rahula or Kinnara or human resembling but not like human, the Bodhisattva would transform and appear the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them. If they should be rescued by the form and body of Vajradhara, the Bodhisattva would transform and present the said form and body, and speak of the Buddha-law for them.   

 

"Endless-Meaning! The Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving accomplishes such merit and virtue, by various forms tours all countries and rescues the sentient beings. Therefore, you should thus offer something to Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving single mindedly. The Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving can give all sentient beings the fearlessness in the fear, crisis and difficulty. It is thus in this Saha world, all call it as the fearlessness-giver (It means that it gives all sentient beings the fearlessness.)."

 

Bodhisattva Endless-Meaning told the Buddha and said:”World Honored One! I should offer something to Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving now.” Then, from his neck, he untied all necklaces of jades and pearls and gold of worth more than thousand ounces, gave them to the Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving, and said:”The Benevolent! Please accept such giving of Buddha-law, the treasures, and necklaces of jades and pearls. At that time, Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving did not accept it. Endless-Meaning told Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving again and said:”The Benevolent! To pity us, please accept these necklaces of jade and pearls.” 

 

At the time, the Buddha told Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving: “ You should accept the necklaces of jades and pearls to pity Bodhisattva Endless-Meaning, the four congregations, and heaven or dragon or Yaksha or Gandharva or Asura or Garuda or Rahula or Kinnara or human resembling but not like human.” In a timely manner, the Pusa World-Sounds-Perceiving accepted the necklaces of jades and pearls to pity all four congregations, the heaven, dragon, human resembling but not like human, and so on. It divided them into two parts. One part was provided to the Buddha Sakyamuni. The other part was provided to many-treasures-Buddha Stupa. “Endless-Meaning! The Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving owns the free-spirituality power as these, to tour the Saha World.”  

                                      

At the time, the Bodhisattva Endless-Meaning used verses to ask and say: 

World Honored One has the miraculous appearance.

I now ask him again.

The Buddhist disciple is by which cause and condition,

To be named as World-Sounds-Perceiving.

 

The Lord Buddha completely has the miraculous appearance,

To reply Endless-Meaning by verse.

You listen to the behavior of World-Sounds-Perceiving.

It skillfully responds to all places well.   

 

Its vast vows are deep like the sea,

Even throughout the times of eons, it is inconceivable.

It serves more than one hundred billion Buddha,

And makes the great and pure vows from the heart.

 

I tell you in a brief.

When you hear its name and see its form or body,

It shouldn't be missed in your heart and thought,

It can extinguish all the suffering.

 

If a thought was arisen to harm you 

And would push you into a pit of big fire,

To think of those sounds-perceiving power,

The pit of fire would turn into a pool.

 

Or, you drifted into a vast sea,

And you met the difficulties from dragons, fishes and all ghosts,

To think of those sounds-perceiving power,

The wave could not drown you.

 

Or, you were in the Sumeru,

And were pushed by others and falling,

To think of those sounds-perceiving power,

You would dwell on the sky like the sun.

 

Or, you were chased by the evil people,

And were falling into the Vajra Mountain,

To think of those sounds-perceiving power,

A single hair of you could not be damaged. 

 

Or, you were surrounded by the hatred thieves,

You might be hurt by each holding knife,

To think of those sounds-perceiving power,

All of them would have the heart of compassion immediately.

 

Or, you were encountering the suffering from the disaster of a King,

And you were facing the penalty and your life would be ended,

To think of those sounds-perceiving power,

Each knife would be badly broken into pieces.

 

Or, you were imprisoned with shackles,

Your hands and feet were cuffed,

To think of those sounds-perceiving power,

All are relieved and you would be liberated.

 

Or, there were the curse and all poisonous herbs,

Which wanted to harm your body.

To think of those sounds-perceiving power,

All back to the self-evil person.

 

Or, you were facing the evil Raksha,

Poisonous dragon, all ghosts and so on,

To think of those sounds-perceiving power,

They would not dare to harm you. 

 

Or, you were surrounded by evil beasts,

And you were scared by their sharp teeth and claws,

To think of those sounds-perceiving power,

All beasts quickly run far away.

 

Or, there were the viper and poisonous insect,

The toxic gas and burned smoke.

To think of those sounds-perceiving power,

They would follow their sounds and go back by self.

 

Or, there were cloud and thunder drumming to pull the lightning,

Falling hail and timely raining heavily,

To think of those sounds-perceiving power,

All would dissipate in time.

 

Sentient beings are trapped by distresses.

Unlimited hardships oppress their bodies.

World-Sounds-Perceiving has the wondrous-wisdom power,

Which can rescue them from the worldly suffering.

 

It is full of the power of spiritual connecting,

And broadly practices the convenience of wisdom.

All countries of ten directions,

Without world which it could not appear.

 

The various evil-goings

Which are hell, ghosts and animals,

As well as the suffering of birth, aging, sickness and death,

All are eliminated gradually.

     

It is full of the true and clean perceiving,

The wide-wisdom perceiving,

The sympathetic and benevolent perceiving,

All sentient beings are frequently willing to look at it with reverence constantly.

 

Undefiled and clean light,

The wisdom sun breaks through all darkness,

Can subdue calamities of wind or fire,

And universally shine the world .

 

The precept by the compassionate body is like thunderstorms.

The benevolent mind is as miraculous as large clouds.

The honeydew of Buddha-law raining down in time is like rain.

Those extinguishes the flame of affliction.

 

You contested a lawsuit through the court.

You were terrified in the battlefield.

To think of those sounds-perceiving power,

All the hatred would retreat.

 

Wondrous sounds is World-Sounds-Perceiving,

As like the Sanskrit sounds and sea-tide sounds,

Which is beyond all worldly sounds,

We thus should recite it constantly. 

 

Recite it in each thought without doubt,

World-Sounds-Perceiving is the pure saint.

In the difficulties of suffering, trouble and death,

It can be depended and protect us. 

  

It has the all merit and virtue,

It looks at the sentient beings with benevolent eyes,

Its bliss is accumulated as if immeasurable sea,

Thus, we should salute it.

 

At the time, the Bodhisattva Land-Holding stood up from the seat and forward told Buddha: ”World Honored One! If any sentient beings heard the free behavior of Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving Chapter, and the wondrous-spirituality power manifested by the universal door, we shall know that this person has not less merit and virtue.” When the Buddha said the universal door chapter, the eight-four thousand sentient beings in the congregation vowed to have the supreme-equality-awaken-wisdom heart.  

Instruction and Explanation: 

1. Bodhisattva World-Sound-Perceiving  is shortly and generally called Guanyin in Chinese culture. 

2. Guanyin is Guanshiyin, which  is Chinese pronunciation. Guanshiyin means to perceive the world's sounds and is translated into World-Sound-Perceiving by Tao Qing Hsu in this blog.

3. World-Sound-Perceiving means to perceive the world's sounds. It is also means that Bodhisattva World-Sound-Perceiving to perceive the worldly suffering sounds and to rescue them from suffering. 

4.  In Sanskrit, Guanyin is Avalokitasvara. There are 32 incarnations of Guanyin. 32 is a rough number. This means that Guanyin can be transformed into various forms and bodies and not only 32 incarnations. Therefore, don't be bound by the image of Guanyin in Chinese culture or in Tibetan culture. 

5. Bodhisattva is Sanskrit pronunciation. Bodhisattva is also to be translated and transliterated into Busa or Pusa in Chinese. Pusa and Busa  is also used in this blog. 

6.  Buddha-law means Dharma.

7. Bodhisattva Endless-Meaning is a person who has realized and proved that the all meaning is endless in the nature of emptiness. That is why it is named as Endless-Meaning and become Bodhisattva. 

8.  Bodhisattva Land-Holding is a person who diligently paves the pothole land to be flat in the beginning and has thus realized and proved that the equality originally exists in everyone's mind of emptiness. That is why it is named as Land-Holding and become Bodhisattva. 

9.  Upasaka is Sanskrit. Upasaka means man who is not Buddhist monk but studies and listesn to the Buddha's teaching.  In other word, Upasaka can work and have a marriage in the worldly life. Upasaka can achieve the Buddhahood and become Buddha after practicing the Buddha-law and being enlightened. The image of Guanyin in Tibetan culture and in the earlier Chinese culture is Upasaka. In this Chapter, Bodhisattva Endless-Meaning and Bodhisattva Land-Holding is the image of Upasaka. 

10  Upasika is Sanskrit. Upasika means woman who is not Buddhist nun but studies and listens to the Buddha's teaching. In other word, Upasika can work and have a marriage in the worldly life. Upasika can achieve the Buddhahood and become Buddha after practicing the Buddha-law and being enlightened. The image of Guanyin in current Chinese culture is Upasika.  

11. Buddhist Layman is the general Buddhist disciple who studies and listens to the Buddha's teaching without departing from the family. 

12. Brahman, heaven or dragon or Yaksha or Gandharva or Asura or Garuda or Rahula or Kinnara or human resembling but not like human are one of the images in Indian culture. 

13. Pratyeka-Buddha and Sravaka is Sanskrit. They have some foundations for their enlightenment in the Dharma, but they have not yet reached the Buddha's fruition.

14. Brahma King, Sakra, Mahesvara, the great general of heaven and Vaisravana is the beings in heaven in Buddhism. They have some special power in spirituality that is beyond the ability of humans. Meanwhile, they are good beings in heaven as well as in humans. Brahma, Sakra, Mahesvara and Vaisravana is Sanskrit. 

15. Sumeru is Sanskrit. Sumeru is a high mountain and located in the middle of the world in legend. 

16.  This Chapter is updated by Tao Qing Hsu on May 2, 2021.  

17. This Chapter with Chinese and English can be found in this blog. Bodhisattva World-Sounds-Perceiving in Universal Door Chapter (In Chinese and English)

 

The related article that you might be interested:

1. Let heart in peace, no fear and affliction any more
2. The god of benevolence and wisdom to liberate people from suffering (updated on 2019/07/16)