Heavenly Forms: Devas, Nagas, Yakshas and the Eight Classes, People and Non-humans

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

Original text

應以天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽、人、非人等身得度者。即皆現之而為說法。《妙法蓮華經・觀世音菩薩普門品》

Plain-language explanation

The scripture passage for this lesson is the longest single line among the thirty-three forms of the Universal Gate Chapter (〈普門品〉). It lists ten categories in one breath: devas, nagas, yakshas, gandharvas, asuras, garudas, kinnaras, mahoragas, and then people and non-humans.

The first eight are traditionally called together the Eight Classes of Devas and Nagas (天龍八部). They began as gods and spirits in ancient Indian tradition and were later taken into Buddhism as protectors and listeners of the Dharma. The sutra uses the same sentence pattern as for the other forms: for those who are to be saved by such-and-such a form, Guanyin Bodhisattva (Avalokiteśvara) appears in that form and teaches the Dharma. Here the forms are not treated one by one but gathered into a single line with 「即皆現之」, meaning: of all the kinds above, whichever form is needed, that form appears.

“People and non-humans” closes the line. “Non-humans” is the general term in Buddhist texts for beings other than humans, and the sutra does not name them one by one. So the range of this line is very wide: from the heavens to spirits, from people to non-humans, and those who receive the teaching are not limited to humans.

One thing to keep in mind: the names in this line are read in this lesson only according to the sutra text itself. The sutra gives a list and a sentence pattern. It does not describe how each kind of being looks, and it does not explain in detail how each is guided. Later esoteric ritual manuals did give images to some of these forms; for example, the Naga form, Yaksha form, Gandharva form and Garuda form are all placed in the directions of the mandala, each described with its own dress and implements. That is the way of ritual manuals, and it is a separate matter from the text of the Universal Gate Chapter (〈普門品〉).

Another point that is easily confused is the number thirty-three. The manifested forms listed in the Universal Gate Chapter (〈普門品〉) are later called the thirty-three forms. The Japanese sets of thirty-three Guanyin paintings, and the pilgrimages of thirty-three sites in Saigoku and Luoyang, are two other things and should not be mixed with it.

In addition, the 《大乘莊嚴寶王經》 (Mahayana Adornment Jewel King Sutra) has a similar pattern of appearing in forms to teach beings according to their needs, but the forms it lists are not the same; for example, it has the Sun Deva, the Moon Deva, the Fire Deva, the Water Deva, the Wind Deva and so on. This shows that different sutras each have their own list. This lesson follows the text of the Universal Gate Chapter (〈普門品〉) and reads only this one line.

Key terms

天、龍、夜叉、乾闥婆、阿修羅、迦樓羅、緊那羅、摩睺羅伽

The eight classes of beings the sutra lists one by one, traditionally called together the Eight Classes of Devas and Nagas (天龍八部). They began as gods and spirits in ancient Indian tradition, and in Buddhism they became a company of those who listen to the Dharma and protect it.

人、非人

“Non-humans” is the general term in Buddhist texts for beings other than humans. The sutra does not divide them further. Placed at the end of the line, these two characters bring in everything beyond the eight classes before them.

即皆現之

This means that Guanyin Bodhisattva (Avalokiteśvara) appears in whichever of the above forms is needed. It sums up the ten kinds in one sentence rather than describing each in turn.

而為說法

The closing line shared by all thirty-three forms in the Universal Gate Chapter (〈普門品〉). After each form comes the teaching of the Dharma. The purpose of appearing is to teach the Dharma, not to display supernatural powers.

One line to remember

即皆現之而為說法

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.