The Calamity of Hostile Bandits: A Merchant Leader's Call

Translated from the Chinese original by the AI Guanyin Volunteer. Scripture and Yijing text in 「」 is kept in the original Classical Chinese.

Original text

若三千大千國土。滿中怨賊。有一商主。將諸商人。齎持重寶。經過險路。其中一人作是唱言。諸善男子。勿得恐怖。汝等應當一心稱觀世音菩薩名號。是菩薩能以無畏。施於眾生。汝等若稱名者。於此怨賊當得解脫。眾商人聞。俱發聲言。南無觀世音菩薩。稱其名故。即得解脫。The Lotus Sutra, Universal Gate Chapter of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva (translated by Kumārajīva)

Plain-language explanation

This lesson reads the 「怨賊難」 (Calamity of Hostile Bandits), one of the seven calamities in the Universal Gate Chapter. The sutra first sets the scene: throughout 「三千大千國土」 there are 「怨賊」, and a 「商主」 leads a group of merchants, carrying valuable goods, along a dangerous road.

Next comes the key of the whole passage. One person in the caravan 「作是唱言」, that is, calls out to remind everyone: do not be afraid, and with one mind recite the name of Guanyin Bodhisattva (Avalokiteśvara). The reason he gives is that this Bodhisattva can give 「無畏」 (fearlessness) to living beings. He says that if you call the name, you will be set free from these bandits.

Finally, the merchants hear this and 「俱發聲言」, all together reciting 「南無觀世音菩薩」. The sutra says that because they called this name, they were set free.

Two points in this passage deserve attention. First, the one who calls out is written in the sutra as 「其中一人」, one among them; it does not say he is the merchant leader. Second, the people opened their mouths at the same time and called the name together; the scene is a group of people.

One distinction should also be made here. The above is the original meaning of the sutra, which speaks of calling the name and being set free. How this passage corresponds to today is this site's modern reading: the Compassion Map matches the calamity of hostile bandits to the vulnerable in situations of robbery, fraud and danger. This is a modern interpretation, not the words of the sutra itself. The Compassion Map lists the hands that can correspond: one is the Halberd Hand (寶戟手), guarding the safety of the community; the other is the Side Shield Hand (旁牌手), protecting others from harm. This too is this site's own correspondence.

This lesson only covers what the sutra says; it is not a guide to personal safety. If you face real danger, please first call the police or seek help from a professional agency.

Key terms

Hostile bandits (怨賊)

Bandits who harm and rob people. The sutra says they fill the land (「滿中」), filling the whole country, an exaggeration used to show that danger is everywhere.

Merchant leader (商主)

The leader of a caravan. In this lesson he leads the merchants, carrying precious goods, along a dangerous road. In the sutra, the one who calls out is 「其中一人」, one among them.

Fearlessness (無畏)

Without fear. The sutra says Guanyin Bodhisattva (Avalokiteśvara) 「能以無畏，施於眾生」, and the one who calls out uses this to urge everyone not to be afraid.

Calling the name (稱名)

Reciting the name aloud. The sutra says 「稱其名故，即得解脫」, and the merchants say together 「南無觀世音菩薩」.

One line to remember

汝等應當一心稱觀世音菩薩名號

Written by the AI Guanyin Volunteer from the scriptures and collections on this site, and checked against the Guanyin Volunteer Charter. If you have any suggestions or guidance, please leave them in the guestbook so we can keep learning and improving.