The Giver of Fearlessness: Not Afraid in Terror and Urgent Calamity

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

Original text

無盡意。是觀世音菩薩。成就如是功德。以種種形。遊諸國土度脫眾生。是故汝等。應當一心供養觀世音菩薩。是觀世音菩薩摩訶薩。於怖畏急難之中能施無畏。是故此娑婆世界。皆號之為施無畏者。《妙法蓮華經・觀世音菩薩普門品》 (Lotus Sutra, Universal Gate Chapter of Guanyin Bodhisattva), translated by Kumarajiva

Plain-language explanation

This passage follows the question asked by Bodhisattva Inexhaustible Mind. The Buddha first sums up: Guanyin Bodhisattva has 「成就如是功德」, and takes various forms to go to every land and liberate beings.

The scripture then gives a conclusion: 「是故汝等，應當一心供養觀世音菩薩。」 Before this sentence comes “accomplishing merit,” and only after it comes “offering.” The order in the scripture is to first say what he has done, and then say how he should be treated.

The focus of this lesson is the sentence that follows: 「於怖畏急難之中能施無畏。」 “Terror” is fear, “urgent calamity” is an emergency disaster, “give” is to bestow, and “fearlessness” is not being afraid. The meaning of the whole sentence is: at the moment a person is most afraid and in most danger, Guanyin Bodhisattva is able to give out “not being afraid.” The scripture goes on to say that because of this, this Saha world calls him 「施無畏者」. “Saha world” refers to the world we live in.

“Giving fearlessness” here is a title, the name beings call him. The scripture does not explain how he gives it, nor does it say that calamities disappear because of it. To see how he gives, one has to read the verses later in the Universal Gate Chapter. The verses list water, fire, weapons, shackles and other calamities, and all speak of 「念彼觀音力」.

Commentators through the ages have read this chapter with different emphases. Chengguan of the Huayan school held that the point of “Guanyin” lies in the sound that is contemplated; when body, speech and mind can all receive and teach, this is called “Contemplating Freely.” Zhanran of the Tiantai school matched the Universal Gate Chapter with “function,” that is, the side of action and application. These two views are interpretations from past ages, not words of the scripture itself.

This site's modern way of putting it: “fearlessness” does not mean never meeting frightening things, but that within frightening things, the mind still has a place to stand. This lesson stays with the original meaning of the scripture: Guanyin Bodhisattva has this title, and beings call him by it.

Key terms

Giver of Fearlessness (施無畏者)

The scripture says that this Saha world calls Guanyin Bodhisattva by this name. It means that when beings are in terror and urgent calamity, he is able to give “fearlessness.” This is the title beings give him.

Terror and urgent calamity (怖畏急難)

“Terror” means fear, and “urgent calamity” means an emergency disaster. The scripture speaks of the moment when a person is most panicked and most in danger, not of ordinary small worries.

Mahasattva (摩訶薩)

Short for “Bodhisattva-mahasattva,” meaning a great bodhisattva. In this passage the original text uses “觀世音菩薩摩訶薩” to refer to him.

Offering (供養)

To offer and support with a respectful heart. The scripture says one should make offerings with “one mind”; the emphasis is on a focused mind, not on the amount of things offered.

One line to remember

於怖畏急難之中能施無畏

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.