Junchi Hand (軍遲手): The Hand Holding a Water Flask, for Rebirth in Brahma's Heaven

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

Original text

若為生梵天者。 當於軍遲手。《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 covers the twenty-fourth hand, the Junchi Hand (軍遲手). The sentence pattern in the 《大悲心陀羅尼經》 is: those who wish to be born in Brahma's Heaven should practice the Junchi Hand. The sutra gives only this one sentence, with no further explanation.

The two characters 「軍遲」 are written 「軍持」 in another sutra, the 《千光眼觀自在菩薩祕密法經》. That sutra places this hand in the Lotus Division (蓮華部), under the practice of affection and respect (敬愛法). It says: those who wish to be born in Brahma's Heaven should practice the Junchi method.

The same sutra describes the main figure of this hand, named Meditation Avalokiteśvara (禪定觀自在菩薩). The left hand holds a water flask (軍持); the right hand takes a thinking posture: the right knee is raised, the right arm rests on the knee, and the palm is placed against the cheek and brow, as if quietly reflecting. This is that sutra's description of the image, not a practice taught in this lesson.

In the sutras, Brahma (梵天) is the name of a heavenly realm. Another ritual text, when describing the Brahma King, also mentions that one of his hands holds a water flask. So the water flask, Brahma and meditation are linked together in the sutra texts.

What follows is this site's modern reading, not the sutra's original meaning: this site's Compassion Map interprets this hand through the name of its main figure, Meditation Avalokiteśvara, and matches it to a settled mind and quiet reflection. The sutra speaks of the wish to be born in Brahma's Heaven; this site speaks of a settled mind. The two are not the same thing, so please keep them apart.

In our time, some volunteers lead breathing and quiet-mind exercises in shelters to help people settle their emotions. This site places such practices under the Junchi Hand as a modern comparison. This too is only one way of interpreting it.

In one sentence: the sutra speaks of rebirth in Brahma's Heaven; this site's modern reading is to become still.

Key terms

軍遲手

One of the Thousand Hands, ranked twenty-fourth. The 《大悲心陀羅尼經》 writes 「軍遲」, while one sutra of the Thousand Radiant Eyes lineage (《千光眼》) writes 「軍持」. They refer to the same hand.

生梵天

The sutra's stated purpose for this hand. Brahma's Heaven (梵天) is the name of a heavenly realm. This lesson follows the sutra's wording only and adds nothing to it.

One line to remember

若為生梵天者。 當於軍遲手。

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.