Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Hand: What the Scripture Says About Abundance

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

Original text

若為富饒種種珍寶資具者。當於如意珠手。《千手千眼觀世音菩薩廣大圓滿無礙大悲心陀羅尼經》 (Tang dynasty, translated by Bhagavaddharma, T1060)

Plain-language explanation

This lesson is about the first of the Forty Hands: the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Hand. The original sentence in the 《大悲心陀羅尼經》 (Great Compassion Dharani Sutra) reads 「若為富饒種種珍寶資具者。當於如意珠手。」 It means: for those who wish for a life of abundance and for their provisions to be complete, the scripture places this wish under the Wish-Fulfilling Jewel Hand.

On this site's Map of Compassion, this hand belongs to the “Mani division.” Its practice is the “practice of increase” (增益法), and its principal deity is named Wish-Granting Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva (與願觀自在菩薩). “Increase” means growth and fullness. That is the scripture's original meaning: it is a category of wishes that may be sought, not a claim that any result is guaranteed.

Next, the 《千光眼觀自在菩薩祕密法經》 (Secret Dharma Sutra of the Thousand-Light-Eyed Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva). This sutra divides the Forty Hands into sections, one hand at a time. For the first hand it says 「若人欲得富饒財寶者，應修摩尼法如意珠之手也」. The same section says that this Wish-Granting Avalokiteśvara holds a mani jewel in the left hand at the level of the heart, the jewel being the color of vaiḍūrya; the right hand makes the wish-granting gesture, the arm bent and raised. What is described here is the form of the image: one hand holding the jewel, one hand granting wishes. As for the methods, mudras and mantras in that section, this lesson does not go into them.

Another ritual text, when it describes the thousand hands of the Thousand-Hand Guanyin, also lists the hand 「左理如意珠」. So the wish-fulfilling jewel is one of the objects held in the thousand hands that appears consistently.

After listing the Forty Hands, the 《大悲心陀羅尼經》 has a closing line: 「如是可求之法有其千條。今粗略說少耳。」 That is, the Forty Hands are only examples, a rough account, not the whole.

This site's modern reading: this hand corresponds to economic support and material aid. Placed in today's world, “abundance” can be read as this: in society there are people lacking provisions and supplies, and someone needs to reach out a hand to fill the gap. This is this site's own compilation, not the words of the scripture.

This lesson only covers what the scripture says. It does not discuss how to increase wealth, and it gives no investment or financial advice.

Key terms

如意珠手

The first of the Forty Hands, answering the wish for abundant treasures and provisions. In images, this hand holds a mani jewel.

富饒種種珍寶資具

The wish sentence in the original text. 「資具」 means the tools and supplies needed for daily life, not only gold and jewels.

One line to remember

若為富饒種種珍寶資具者

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.