Verses: Guanyin's Wondrous Power of Wisdom

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

Original text

眾生被困厄，無量苦逼身，觀音妙智力，能救世間苦。具足神通力，廣修智方便，十方諸國土，無剎不現身。種種諸惡趣，地獄鬼畜生，生老病死苦，以漸悉令滅。《妙法蓮華經・觀世音菩薩普門品》 (Lotus Sutra, Universal Gate Chapter of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva; translated by Kumarajiva)

Plain-language explanation

This lesson reads one passage from the verses of the Universal Gate Chapter (〈普門品〉).

First, the opening four lines: 「眾生被困厄，無量苦逼身，觀音妙智力，能救世間苦。」 The first two lines describe the condition of beings: trapped, with suffering pressing in from every side. Only the last two lines speak of Guanyin's “wondrous power of wisdom.” The power pointed to here is wisdom, not compassion alone. Only by seeing clearly where suffering comes from can one know how to respond.

Next it says: 「具足神通力，廣修智方便，十方諸國土，無剎不現身。」 “Spiritual power” is ability, and “skillful means of wisdom” is method. With both fully present, there is no place in the ten directions where Guanyin does not appear. The text is written this way to mean that Guanyin's rescue is not limited by place.

Then further: 「種種諸惡趣，地獄鬼畜生，生老病死苦，以漸悉令滅。」 The sufferings listed here run from the evil destinies of hell, hungry ghosts and animals all the way to birth, old age, sickness and death. Note the two words “以漸” (gradually). The text speaks of suffering being extinguished step by step, slowly, not disappearing all at once.

How have commentators of past generations read it? Chengguan of the Huayan school held that in the Universal Gate Chapter, “Guanshiyin” (觀世音) emphasizes the sound that is contemplated; when the guidance of the three karmas of body, speech and mind is complete, it is called “Guanzizai” (觀自在, the One Who Contemplates Freely). Zhanran of the Tiantai school assigned the Universal Gate Chapter to “function” (用), the side of action and application. The two views differ; here they are simply set side by side.

This site's modern reading: there is an order in these verses worth noticing. They speak first of wisdom and skillful means, and then of the extinguishing of suffering. A reader may take this as a reminder: when facing difficulty, first see the situation clearly, then think about how to proceed. This is this site's way of reading, not the original meaning of the text.

Key terms

妙智力

The power of Guanyin's wisdom. The verses place “wisdom” before “rescue”: first the wisdom to see suffering clearly, then the means to respond to it.

智方便

“Skillful means” (方便) refers to well-fitted methods. It means responding in a way that suits the person, not treating everyone in the same way.

惡趣

The destinations of heavier suffering. Here the text lists hell, ghosts (hungry ghosts) and animals. “Destination” (趣) means the place to which beings turn in the cycle of rebirth.

以漸

Step by step, gradually. The text says the suffering of birth, old age, sickness and death is extinguished “gradually” (以漸), which means the process is progressive, not completed all at once.

One line to remember

觀音妙智力，能救世間苦。

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.