Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva

Guan Shi Yin (Avalokiteshvara) Bodhisattva* has a great affinity with living beings in the Saha World*. There is a saying in China, “Guan Shi Yin in every household, Amitabha* in every place”. This shows that everyone knows Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva and Amitabha (the name means “Limitless Light” and “Limitless Life”) Buddha, that their compassion has deeply entered people’s hearts. Guan means “contemplate”; Shi means “world”; Yin means “sounds”. Thus the name means “Contemplating the World’s Sounds”.

Within Buddhism, Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva holds a very important position. Some people say that Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva is Chinese and some say he is a Westerner; some say the Bodhisattva is male and some say female. But now I am informing all of you that Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva is neither Chinese nor Western, neither male nor female. Well, then, where does he come from? He fills empty space and pervades the Dharma Realm; he is in every place and yet not in any place. He appears according to what kind of body is needed to save each particular category of beings. He manifests in whatever physical form is appropriate to speak Dharma for beings; thus his identity is flexible. Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva appears in the form of a Buddha to save those who are ready to become Buddhas. He appears as a Bodhisattva to save those who should become Bodhisattvas. He appears as a heavenly king to speak Dharma for beings in the heavens.

Within Buddhism, Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva is one who goes about everywhere teaching and transforming living beings, inspiring them to bring forth the Bodhi mind. He first sees what a particular being likes and then makes them happy with what they like. Once they are happy, they will like to listen to the Dharma he speaks and gradually he will be able to rescue them. That’s why I say that Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva is not necessarily male or female; he could be male or he could be female. In any case those are just transformations. As to Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s own body, he is in a state of unmoving Suchness. He is just like the Buddhas. Anyway, Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva already became a Buddha a long time ago, by the name of Right Dharma Brightness. He simply appears as a Bodhisattva in order to teach and transform living beings.

Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva uses kindness, compassion, joy, and giving to save all living beings. He saves beings from the seven difficulties, responds to two kinds of seeking, has fourteen kinds of fearlessness, speaks Dharma in nineteen ways, and has thirty-two response bodies. If childless people seek sons or daughters, their wishes will be granted. These are the two kinds of seeking.

Therefore, in a Guan Yin recitation session, any vow can be fulfilled and any result can be obtained, because Guan Yin Bodhisattva responds to all requests. You may seek to leave the home-life, to remain a layperson, or to become a Buddha. Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva has great kindness and compassion, and will not disappoint you no matter what you ask for. He’ll definitely fulfill your wishes. Therefore, during the Guan Yin session, you may seek whatever you like. Whether you seek a son, a daughter, wealth, or long life, you will be able to obtain them. But these are forms of happiness subject to “outflows”; you ought to seek the non-outflow happiness of Buddhahood. Worldly riches, honor, and glory all come to an end, but non-outflow happiness is endless and infinite. Let’s recite Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s name more in order to realize an everlasting fruition.

- A dharma lecture by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua (www.drba.org)

He Neutralises the Three Poisons and Resolves All Difficulties

Why should we recite Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s name? It’s because he made vows in the past that if people have much greed, much anger, or much stupidity, and if they constantly recite his name and worship him, their greed, anger, and stupidity will disappear even before they realize it. They will forget about these poisons and think instead of samadhi and precepts. And so, if we constantly recite and venerate Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva, not only will our greed, anger, and stupidity vanish, but we will be safe from all disasters. If we enter a blazing fire, we will not be burned. If we fall into deep waters, we won’t drown. That’s how incredibly powerful his name is! If we can recite Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s name for a full seven days, we will gain inconceivable merit and escape all misfortunes.

Even though Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva can protect you from being burned by fire or drowned by water, you must have total faith in him to obtain such a response. If you have doubts: “That’s what they say, but is it for real?” then even the true will become false. If you have no doubts, then the false can become true. The response occurs in your own mind, not on Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s side.

If you encounter something troublesome, just recite “Namo Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva” and the trouble will go away. Troubles fear Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva, because he can contemplate them and find their cause; as soon as he discovers their cause, the troubles go away. This is a most wonderful method, the best way to solve problems. You say, “Okay, I’ll recite Guan Yin’s name next time.” But when the time comes and you are faced with a problem, you fret and worry and forget all about this method.

The chapter on “Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s Universal Door” in the Lotus Sutra* says very clearly that “Those with much greed and desire,” people who have heavy sexual desire, should constantly and reverently recite the Bodhisattva’s name. Emotional people are easily flustered by problems. When you encounter trouble, don’t get nervous. Calm down and recite “Namo Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva, Namo Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva.” You don’t have to shout the name, just recite it in your mind. Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s ear can pick up the voice in your mind. He’ll hear you and say, “This poor child can’t control his emotions and he’s asking me for help.” Then he helps you to calm your emotions.

The Sutra also says “Those with much anger and hatred,” people with big tempers, should recite. If you are about to lose your temper, hold on! Before you explode, first recite “Namo Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva” in your mind a few times. When you have done so, you won’t be able to find your anger anymore. It’ll be gone. Now wouldn’t you say this is wonderful Dharma? Wonderful it may be, but you didn’t understand it before. Now that I’ve told you, you think, “These are great responses!” Actually, there are even greater ones. “Those with much stupidity” can get rid of it by constantly reciting Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s name.

Shakyamuni Buddha spoke this chapter of the Lotus Sutra to praise Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva. Now, would the Buddha praise him if he didn’t possess such awesome spiritual powers? No, the Buddha wouldn’t casually say, “Such and such a Bodhisattva has such merit and virtue, such practices, such powers,” unless it were true. Because Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva really does have such powers and bestows such responses, the Buddha introduced him to us, giving us this method to handle the problems we cannot solve on our own.

Now I’ve explained this method to you so clearly and simply that you should be able to apply it. “But I’m pretty fond of my greed, anger, and stupidity,” you say, “so I don’t want to recite Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s name.” Then you can recite your own name. Figure out who you are, and then you’ll recognize Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva. We recite Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s name simply because we don’t recognize ourselves. We are not troubled by our greed, anger, and stupidity, so we don’t want to recite. But our very unwillingness to recite is itself trouble.

Now, if you’re not afraid of trouble, then you don’t have to learn anything. If you fear trouble, then you should study the Buddhadharma and learn to recite Guan Yin’s name. If you don’t want to recognize yourself and you say, “I’m a nobody, so I don’t need to be mindful of the Buddha*, the Dharma*, and the Sangha*,” then you’ll soon turn into a ghost, since you don’t want to be a person. At that time you can still recite Guan Yin’s name. Guan Yin Bodhisattva doesn’t abandon you when you become a ghost. Ghosts can recite Guan Yin’s name, and so can animals. If you’re in the hells, you can recite his name as well. You can recite in any of the three evil paths*, so don’t think you’ll be doomed. That’s why it’s called the Wonderful Dharma. Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s state is inconceivable. If you recite his name in the three evil paths, you will leave suffering and attain bliss. All of you should go home and cross over your own hell-beings, hungry ghosts, and animals. If you can cross over the suffering beings in your own home, you are practicing the Bodhisattva Way. “Do such beings exist in my home?” you ask. By your home, I mean your own mind. Your greedy thoughts, angry thoughts, and stupid thoughts are living beings in the three evil paths.

- A dharma lecture by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua (BTTS Texts)

*GLOSSARY :

• The Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha are the Triple Jewels (or Triple Gems). They are Buddhism’s greatest treasures.
• Buddha : Buddha means “awakened” or “enlightened one”. It is a title which is applied to those who have reached perfect enlightenment (Sanskrit term : anuttarasamyaksambodhi) and who have perfect wisdom and universal compassion. The Buddha of the present historical period is known as Shakyamuni Buddha. There were also Buddhas prior to his time; and there will be Buddhas in the future.
• Dharma : This is the teachings of the Buddha.
• Sangha : It is a Sanskrit word meaning “community” and in Buddhism refers to the monastic community of monks and nuns. They are the transmitters of the tradition and the teachers of the lay community. Fully ordained members of the Sangha adhere to a large number of moral precepts, including celibacy, as a guide for their behaviour.
• Amitabha : The Buddha Amitabha is the Buddha of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss*. He is known as Amitabha (”infinite light”) and Amitayus (”infinite life”).
• Bodhisattva : (bodhi = enlightenment + sattva = being) - It is a Sanskrit word which can be interpreted in two ways. The Bodhisattva is an enlightened one among sentieng beings, and he also enlightens sentient beings. A Bodhisattva is someone who has resolved to become a Buddha and who is cultivating the Path to becoming a Buddha.
• Saha World : The name of the world we live in, which means “can be endured”. The suffering in our Saha World is not so severe as to make it unbearable.
• Sutra : Discourse spoken by Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, or other qualified sages.
• Three Evil Paths : Animals, Ghosts and Hell-dwellers.
• Western Land of Ultimate Bliss : Amitabha Buddha’s pure land. By the power of his vows, Amitabha Buddha leads all beings to rebirth in his land, where they realise Buddhahood. This power attracts living beings to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, just as a magnet attracts iron fillings.