The Calamity of Blades and Staffs: Scripture for When Violence Is Near

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

Original text

若復有人臨當被害……彼所執刀杖，尋段段壞《妙法蓮華經・觀世音菩薩普門品》

Plain-language explanation

The fourth calamity listed in the Universal Gate Chapter is the Calamity of Blades and Staffs (刀杖難). The scripture says: 「若復有人臨當被害……彼所執刀杖，尋段段壞」. It means: when someone is about to be harmed and calls the name of Guanyin Bodhisattva (Avalokiteśvara), the blades and staffs in the attacker's hands break apart piece by piece.

First, the original meaning of the scripture. This passage speaks of a moment between life and death. The scripture's point is that even in the most frightened and helpless moment, a person can still call the name with one mind, and the scripture says Guanyin hears such a call.

Next, how it has been read through the ages. Some read it as protection in actual events, others as liberation of the mind; both readings exist. The same chapter also brings outer calamities back to the inner mind: the scripture says that those with much desire, anger and delusion, if they constantly recite and revere Guanyin Bodhisattva, will be freed from desire, anger and delusion. Following this reading, “blades and staffs” can also point to hatred and aggression within the heart. There is also the 《請觀世音菩薩消伏毒害陀羅尼呪經》, which speaks of people entering battle or about to be harmed who call and recite the name, and 「如鷹隼飛即得解脫」. This is how another sutra speaks of a similar situation.

This site's modern wording: the Calamity of Blades and Staffs corresponds to “violence and harm” today. The Compassion Map links this calamity to two hands: the Vajra Pestle Hand (金剛杵手), corresponding to resolving conflict and mediating opposition; and the Side Shield Hand (旁牌手), corresponding to protecting others from harm. This is this site's own arrangement, used to show what compassion can look like in this situation. It is not a line from the scripture.

A note on boundaries: the scripture is an expression of faith, and this site does not guarantee any outcome on the Bodhisattva's behalf. If you face real violence or danger, please first call 110 for help and protect yourself, and only then turn to anything else. This lesson is about what the scripture says. It is not a way of handling danger.

Key terms

臨當被害

Refers to the moment when someone is about to be harmed. The scripture chooses the most urgent moment, the one with no way out, to show that calling the name can be done even then.

刀杖

Originally the weapons in the hands of the one doing harm. In this site's modern wording it corresponds to violence and those who inflict harm; some readings also take it as hatred and aggression within the mind.

段段壞

The weapons breaking apart piece by piece is the scripture's way of describing harm coming to nothing. Through the ages some have read it as protection in actual events, others as the dissolving of harm within the mind.

One line to remember

彼所執刀杖，尋段段壞

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.