Fearlessness-Giving Hand: Giving Others Freedom from Fear

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

Original text

若為一切處怖畏不安者。 當於施無畏手。《千手千眼觀世音菩薩廣大圓滿無礙大悲心陀羅尼經》 (translated by Bhagavaddharma of the Tang dynasty, T1060)

Plain-language explanation

This lesson's scripture is a single line: 「若為一切處怖畏不安者，當於施無畏手。」It means: a person who feels afraid and uneasy everywhere should rely on this hand.

First, the record of this hand. This site's Compassion Map lists it under the Buddha division, for the purpose of calming calamities. The 《千光眼觀自在菩薩祕密法經》 says the main deity of this hand is Guanyin Who Removes Fear, and the image is 「舒右手垂五指現掌」, that is, the right hand hanging down with the palm facing outward. This is what the scripture says about this hand.

Next, the term 'fearlessness-giving' (施無畏). After listing the many sufferings Guanyin relieves, the 〈普門品〉 (Universal Gate Chapter) concludes: 「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。」It means that when people are most afraid, what Guanyin gives is freedom from fear, and so the world calls Guanyin the Giver of Fearlessness. The 《楞嚴經》 and the 《請觀世音菩薩消伏毒害陀羅尼呪經》 carry the same title. Sacred images draw this meaning as a gesture: this hand hanging down with the palm outward.

In Buddhism, giving is of three kinds: giving of wealth, giving of the Dharma, and giving of fearlessness. Giving of wealth offers material things, giving of the Dharma offers teaching, and giving of fearlessness offers a sense of safety.

Now this site's modern explanation. The Compassion Map matches the Fearlessness-Giving Hand to 「安撫恐懼、危機陪伴」 (calming fear and accompanying someone in crisis). In situations of hostile intrusion such as threats and bullying, this hand is also listed. Concrete ways of acting, such as staying with a frightened person, letting someone who is threatened feel that someone stands on their side, and harming no one, are all ways of giving fearlessness. This is a later interpretation, not a word-for-word rule of the scripture.

One thing needs to be made clear: the scripture speaks of Guanyin's merit and the origin of the title. It does not promise that anyone who calls the name will never again meet anything frightening. This lesson explains what the Fearlessness-Giving Hand is saying; it does not guarantee that fear will go away.

Key terms

怖畏不安

The situation the scripture names: feeling afraid and uneasy everywhere. This hand is aimed at that state of mind.

施無畏手

The right hand hanging down with the palm facing outward. The scripture describes the image as 「舒右手垂五指現掌」, meaning giving others freedom from fear.

One line to remember

若為一切處怖畏不安者

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.