English
You need only with ' one heart' invoke the name of Kwan-shai-yin Bodhisatwa, who is able to give all creatures ' freedom from fear,' invoke but his name and you shall not be hurt by these dreadful robbers, but escape them all." The merchant men hearing these words forthwith rais- ing their voices, and saying : '' Glory to Kwan-shai-yin Bodhi- satwa," because they invoke that name shall find immediate delivei'ance. So great, Akchayamati, is the august spiritual power of Kwan-shai-yin Bodhisatwa, Mahasatwa. " If there be auy creature under the influence of lustful passion, by constant reverence and invocation (of Kwan-yin) Kwan-shai-yin Bodhisatwa will send and procure deliver- ance for such a being, and banish his lust ; and so if any one be subject to the dominion of anger, Kwan-shai-yin in answer to such an one's invocation and reverence will cause the dominion of this passion to be destroyed, and so also in the case of those under the influence of delusion (or un- belief), Kwan-shai-yin will in answer to the same religious exercises, cause all such delusion to disappear. Thus, Ak- chayamati, Kwan-shai-yin Bodhisatwa is able to exei'cise his eminent spiritual power for the advantage of all creatures. They, therefore, ought to invoke his name with their whole heart, and constantly. '' If, again, there be a woman, who has set herself to desire a man-child, and in furtherance of her desire resorts to wor- ship and sacrifice, Kwan-shai-yin Bodhisatwa will cause her to become the mother of a well-endowed and highly-gifted child. Or if she desires a female child, she shall become the mother of one extremely beautiful, possessed of every grace (sign), endowed with every gift, and beloved by all. So it is, Akchayamati, Kwan-shai-yin is possessed of every spiritual power. " And so, if there were a man who retained in his memory, the names of Bodhisatwas equal in number to sixty-two lakhs 392 A CATENA OF BUDDHIST of sands of the Ganges^ o.ud rendered to them every outward worship, and presented to them food, drink and clothes, sleeping materials and medicaments, the merits of such a man, would, doubtless, be very great. Extremely great ! replied Akchaymati. Buddha answered, if, on the other hand, there should be a man who retains in his raemor}^, the name of Kwan-shai-yin Budhisatwa, and if only for one hour (or, for once) render wor- ship to him and sacrifice, the merit of the two classes or per- sons above named, shall not be different ; so great,'' etc. Akchayamati addi'essing Buddha, spoke thus : " World honoured one ! Why is it Kwan-shai-yin continues to fre- quent this Sahalokadhatu, usiug every expedient to bring men (all flesh) to the due repetition of the law ? " Buddha i^eplied : Illustrous youth ! If there be a land (kshetra), whose inhabitants may be saved by the appearance of one in the form of Buddha, then Kwan-shai-yin forthwith assuming the outward appearance of a Buddha, goes to that land, and declares the law. If again thei'e be a land where Salvation may be secured by the appearance of a Pratyeka- Buddha, Kwan-shai-yin assuming the body of a Pratyeka- Buddha, goes to that land and delivers the law, [and so on, in the case of a similar possibility, as a Srawaka, a Brahma- rajah, Sakra-rajah, Ishwara-Deva, Maheshwara-deva, Maha- sena,^ Vaisramaua, a Rajah-desya, a nobleman (Arya-), a householder (Grihapati), a Minister, a Brahman, a Bhiskshu, or Bhikshuni, a Upasaka, or Upasika. The wife of a nobleman, or a householder, or a miuistei^, or a Brahman, as a young child, male or female, as a Deva, a Naga, a Yak- sha, a Gandharva, an Asura, a Kinnara, a Garuda, a Maho- riiga, a man or that which is not a man (fei-yiu is generally rendered a Kinnai^a)], in all these cases appearing in these several shapes, and declaring the law for the sake of the different classes of creatures named, not omittino- the case ' The Froiich gives "Sona-pati." - Cliaiig-che. Julien renders " Cluuig-che" by " Grihajiati"' (ui, p. 455). SCRIPTURES FROM THK CHINKSE. 893 of those who may be saved by the appearance of Vajrapani, in all these instanceSj Akchayamati, Kwan-shai-yin Bodhi- satwa, perfected with every merit, by assuming throughout every land these various forms, bi-ings deliverance to crea- tures of every form. You ought, therefore, with undivided heart (yih-sin), to adore and worship this Kwan-shai-yin Bodhisatwa, Mahasatwa, for it is he who in the midst of every fear-causing calamity is able to give security (fearless- ness), and therefore he is called throughout this Saha- lokadhatu, (the god) who gives perfect fearlessness (Abha- yaudada) . Then Akchayamati Bodhisatwa addressing Buddha said : World honoured one, let me now present an offering to this Bodhisatwa Kwan-shai-yin; then loosening from his neck an entire pearl necklace, of the value of a hundred thousand golden pieces, he presented it to the Bodhisatwa, and said : '^ Virtuous one ! receive from me this precious necklace as a religious offering."^ Kwan-shai-yin Bodhisatwa, declined to receive it. Akcayamati, addressing Kwan-shai-yin Bodhis- atwa, said : Virtuous one ! deign to receive this precious necklace, from a motive of pity to me, and to all ! Then Buddha, addressing Kwan-shai-yin Bodhisatwa, said : In pity tg this Akchayamati Bodhisatwa, and the four classes of hearers, (Bhikshus, Bhikshunis, Upasakas, Upasikas), as well as to Devas, Nagas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Asuras, Garudas, Kinnaras, Mahoragas, and Pretas ( jin-fei-jin), accept this necklace ! (yiug-lo)." Forthwith Kwan-shai-yin Bodhisatwa, in pity to the four classes, and the nine species of supernatural beings, accepted the necklace, and dividing it 3 into two parts, presented one part to Sakya-muni, and the other part to the Stupa of the Buddha Prabhutaratna. Thus it is, oh ! Akchayamati, the Bodhisatwa Kwan-shai- 1 Fah-shi. The meaning of this phrase is explained, Maha-pari- Nirvana-Sutra, Kiouen xxxv, p. 17. Vide also supra, p. 3, n. - Katnavali. 3 This differs from the version of Burnouf, as indeed many of the Gathas following do. 394 A CATENA OF BUDDHIST yiu, possessing this supernatural power of Iswara, makes liis appearance in the Sahalokadhatu. Then Akchayainati Bodhisatwa commenced the following gathaSj by way of query (or for the purpose of question) : — 1. World honoured one ! endowed with most excellent marks. I now again demand why that son of Buddha, and through what means, has received the name of Kwan- shai-yin. 2. The excellently endowed Bhagavat, in gathas replied to Akchayamati. Listen then to the conduct of Kwan-yin, as he illustriously manifests himself in every region of space. 3. That mighty oath of his, deep as the sea; the endless Kalpas, inconceivable in number, through which he has followed as many thousand myriads of Buddhas, aspiring to the accomplishment of his pure and holy resolution, 4. All this 1 now for your sake will briefly narrate : Hearing the name leading to the revelation of (his) body, the heart dwelling on the thought, not empty or vain, (but) able to destroy all the sorrows of existence. 5. Suppose one were sent with evil purpose to cast another into the great fiery lake, the power of invoking the name of that Kwan-yin would be sufficient to change com- pletely that lake of fire into a lake of water. G. (Suppose), again, a man were driven away into that forbidden sea, where Nagas dwell, and demons and eveiy danger [i.e., the dangers arising from Nagas and demons] . The force of the invocation of that Kwan-yin would be sufficient to prevent those seething floods from doing harm. 7. (Suppose), again, a man were placed upon a towering crag high as Sumeru, from which he were about to be hurled down by another, the force of invoking the name of that Kwan-yin, should arrest his fall, and make him stand in space, fixed as the sun.^ 8. If, again, a man were cast by some evil power, (or for his evil deeds), down upon the (knives of the) Diamond 1 So tlic Cliinosc renders it. Tlie version of Um-nouf is different. ■ SCKIPTUKES FROM THE CHINESE. 395 mountain, by the power of the invocation of that Kwan-yin, they should not hurt one hair (of his head). 9. If, again, a man should chance to be surrounded by robbers much to be feared, each holding his knife ready to murder him ; the force of the invocation of that Kwan-j'in, would be sufficient to produce in these murderers a loving heart. 10.