The Giver of Fearlessness: Unafraid in Terror and Crisis

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 Kumārajīva)

Plain-language explanation

This passage follows the question of Akṣayamati Bodhisattva (無盡意菩薩). The Buddha first sums up: Guanyin Bodhisattva (Avalokiteśvara) 「成就如是功德」, and appears in various forms to liberate beings in every land.

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 of 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” (怖畏) is fear, “crisis” (急難) is an urgent calamity, “give” (施) is to bestow, and “fearlessness” (無畏) is not being afraid. The whole sentence means: at the moment when people are most afraid and in the greatest danger, Guanyin Bodhisattva (Avalokiteśvara) can give out “freedom from fear.” The scripture goes on to say that for this reason, this Saha world calls him 「施無畏者」. “Saha world” (娑婆世界) refers to this world in which we live.

“Giving fearlessness” (施無畏) is here a title, the name beings call him by. The scripture does not explain how he gives it, nor does it say that calamities will disappear because of it. To see how he gives it, one must read the verses later in the Universal Gate Chapter (〈普門品〉). The verses list various calamities such as water, fire, weapons and shackles, and all of them speak of 「念彼觀音力」.

Throughout the ages, commentaries have read this chapter with different emphases. Chengguan (澄觀) of the Huayan school held that the point of “Guanshiyin” (觀世音) lies in the sound that is contemplated; when body, speech and mind can all embrace and teach beings, this is called “Guanzizai” (觀自在, Avalokiteśvara). Zhanran (湛然) of the Tiantai school assigned the Universal Gate Chapter (〈普門品〉) to “function” (用), that is, the side of action and application. These two views are interpretations from past ages, not the 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 stops at the original meaning of the scripture: Guanyin Bodhisattva (Avalokiteśvara) has this title, and beings call him by it.

Key terms

施無畏者

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

怖畏急難

Terror (怖畏) is fear, and crisis (急難) is an urgent calamity. The scripture speaks of the moment when a person is most frightened and in the greatest danger, not of everyday small troubles.

摩訶薩

Short for “Bodhisattva-Mahasattva” (菩薩摩訶薩), meaning a great bodhisattva. This passage of the original text uses “觀世音菩薩摩訶薩” to refer to him.

供養

To offer and support with a respectful heart. The scripture says one should make offerings with “one mind” (一心); the point is a focused mind, not 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.