Guanyin Bodhisattva has many names. Master Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty once pointed out that Master Kumarajiva's translation of " Avalokitesvara " was an error, and the new translation was " Guanyin ". So, is Master Kumarajiva's translation of "Avalokitesvara" really wrong?
That is not absolutely the case!
Text/Master Xinping
Japanese scholar Goto Daiyong found after research that this may be related to the text used by the two masters in translation. The text translated by Master Kumarajiva was introduced to the Han Dynasty from Kucha , and the text translated by Master Xuanzang was brought back from India.
What are the translation names of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva after arriving in China? According to the chronological order of the translation of the Tripitaka, the translated names of Guanyin Bodhisattva are:
"Guanyin"
In 185 AD, Zhi Yao of the Later Han Dynasty translated "The Sutra of Chengju Guangming Determination", which was the earliest translation of "Guanyin".
"Peeping Sound"
In 223 AD, Wu Zhiqian of the Three Kingdoms Dynasty translated " Vimalakīrti Sutra ", which was the earliest translation of "Peeping Sound".
"Avalokitesvara"
In 252 AD, Three Kingdoms Cao Wei Kang Sengkai translated " Infinite Life Sutra " and "The Sutra Asked by Elder Yu Jia", which was the earliest translation of "Avalokitesvara".
"Guangshiyin"
In 286 AD, Western Jin Dynasty Zhu Fahu translated the ten-volume "Zhengfahua Sutra", which was the earliest translation of "Guangshiyin".
"Existing Sound"
In 291 AD, Wu Luocha of the Western Jin Dynasty translated "The Radiant Prajna Sutra", which was the earliest translation of "Extending Sound".
"Viewing the world at ease"
In 508 AD, Bodhiliuchi of the Later Wei Dynasty translated the Lotus Sutra, which was the first translation of "viewing the world at ease".
"Avalokitesvara"
In 663 AD, Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty translated " Prajna Paramita Heart Sutra ", which was the earliest translation of "Avalokitesvara".
Shandong Boshan Zhengjue Temple Thirty-two-armed Guanyin Guanyin
Guanyin Bodhisattva has immeasurable merits. In the classics, there are also many names:
"Zhengfa Mingwang Tathagata"
Guanyin Bodhisattva is the holy name of the past Buddha. Seen in " Great Compassion Dharani Sutra ".
"The King of All Light and Merit, Buddha"
is mentioned in the "Hua Sutra of Compassion" as the name of Guanyin Bodhisattva who will become a Buddha in the future.
"Universal Light Merit Mountain King Tathagata"
is the name of Guanyin Bodhisattva who will become a Buddha in the " Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Prophecy Sutra".
"The Holy One of Great Compassion"
is in the "Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Prophecy Sutra", showing that Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is compassionate and saves all living beings.
"He who gives fearlessly"
is found in "Lotus Sutra·Pumenpin" and "Surangama Sutra", which symbolizes the majestic merits of Guanyin Bodhisattva to save people from disasters.
"Master Yuantong"
In the "Surangama Sutra", it is recorded that Guanyin Bodhisattva can hear the voices of all living beings by practicing the method of perfecting the ears. It is named after the round ears.
"The Great Merciful Lord"
appears in the Avalokitesvara ritual.
"Grand Master of the South China Sea"
Chinese Buddhists live in Mount Putuo in the South China Sea , so it is called Guanyin Bodhisattva.
「Master Cihang」
Guanyin Bodhisattva can save people from dangers at sea. The sea of suffering often serves as a boat to save people, so it is called it.
"Thousand Hands and Thousand Eyes"
is recorded in the Secret Dharma Sutra of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva with Thousand Light Eyes: The Great Compassionate Avalokitesvara has hundreds of thousands of hands, and its eyes are also rekindled. As a parent in the world, he can grant the wishes of all living beings. Thousand represents immeasurable and perfect meaning. The thousand hands symbolize the immeasurable expediency of Guanyin Bodhisattva's great compassion and altruism, and the thousand eyes symbolize the complete and unobstructed wisdom of observing the opportunity to guide the transformation of objects.
"Common Gate"
Guanyin Bodhisattva relies on the power of Yuantong to manifest various images to save all living beings, so it is called.
The Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara Statue in the ancestral hall of Donglin Temple in Lushan, Jiangxi
Although it has many names, "Avalokitesvara" and "Avalokitesvara" have been passed down to this day and are the most accepted and familiar to the public.
According to the verses of the Lotus Sutra: Universal Gate: "The view of true purity, the view of vast wisdom, the view of compassion and the view of loving-kindness", Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's method of saving sentient beings has many wonderful uses. Master Jie Huan in the Song Dynasty "The Essential Explanation of the Lotus Sutra" explains that the reason why Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva can "rescue suffering, be able to show fearlessness, and show up to save lives" is all because of the practice of the "Five Universal Views".
Among them, "True View" is used to stop all delusions, " Pure View" is used to treat the contamination of the five desires and six dusts in all worldly laws, and "Extensive Wisdom View" is used to eliminate all doubts and ignorance. "Pessimism" eradicates the physical and mental pain of all living beings, and "loving kindness" gives all living beings happiness and peace.
In Mahayana Buddhism, the most important thing in practicing the Bodhisattva path is to generate bodhicitta. The root of bodhicitta lies in practicing great compassion. Great compassion is the most important and fundamental in practicing Buddhism. Only with great compassion can we save all living beings, so All the names and merits of Guanyin Bodhisattva quoted above are nothing more than teaching everyone to have great compassion and uphold great compassion.
Therefore, the universal appearance of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, the model for practicing Bodhisattva path, provides everyone with the most unique and important method.
Content source | "Mahayana World" public account
Picture source丨Ten Wish Encyclopedia
Photography丨Miao Chuan, Yao Hong, Wang Wenju
