Calamity of Enemies and Bandits: The 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。《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 lesson reads the Calamity of Enemies and Bandits (怨賊難), one of the seven calamities in the Universal Gate Chapter (〈普門品〉). The scripture first sets the scene: in 「三千大千國土」 there are 「怨賊」 everywhere, 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 bestow 「無畏」 (fearlessness) on living beings. He says that if you recite the name, you will be freed from these enemies and bandits.

Finally, the merchants, having heard this, 「俱發聲言」, all together saying 「南無觀世音菩薩」. The scripture says that because they recited this name, they were freed.

Two points in this passage are worth noting. First, the one who calls out is written in the scripture as 「其中一人」, and it does not say he is the merchant leader. Second, the people opened their mouths at the same time and recited the name together; the scene is that of a group.

A distinction should also be made here. What is above is the original meaning of the scripture, which speaks of reciting the name and being freed. As for how this passage corresponds to today, that is this site's modern account: the Compassion Map (慈悲地圖) matches the Calamity of Enemies and Bandits to the vulnerable in situations of robbery, fraud and danger. This is a modern interpretation, not the words of the scripture itself. The Compassion Map lists hands that can correspond: one is the Halberd Hand (寶戟手), protecting community safety; the other is the Side Shield Hand (旁牌手), protecting others from harm. This too is this site's correspondence.

This lesson only covers what the scripture says; it is not a guide for handling personal safety. In real danger, please first call the police or seek help from a professional agency.

Key terms

怨賊

Refers to thieves who harm and rob people. The scripture says they are 「滿中」, filling the whole land, an exaggeration used to describe how dangers are everywhere.

商主

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

無畏

Without fear. The scripture 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.

稱名

Reciting the name aloud. The scripture 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.