Universal Door Chapter (Discourse on the Lotus of the Wonderful Dharma)

Buddha of ten thousand beautiful aspects,

may I ask you this question:

“Why did they give this bodhisattva

the name Avalokita?”

The World-Honored One, wonderfully adorned,

offered this reply to Akṣayamati: 

“Because actions founded on her deep aspiration 

can respond to the needs of any being in any circumstance.

“Her aspirations as wide as the oceans

were made for countless lifetimes.

She has attended to limitless Buddhas,

her great aspiration purified by mindfulness.

“When anyone hears her name or sees her image, 

if they give rise to right mindfulness 

they will be able to overcome

the suffering of all the worlds.

“When those with cruel intent

push us into a pit of fire,

as we invoke the strength of Avalokita,

the fire becomes a lotus lake.

“Adrift on the waters of the great ocean,

threatened by monsters of the deep,

as we invoke the strength of Avalokita,

we are saved from the storm waves.

“Standing atop Mount Meru,

if someone should push us down,

as we invoke the strength of Avalokita,

we dwell unharmed like the sun in space.

“Chased by a cruel person

down the diamond mountain, 

as we invoke the strength of Avalokita,

not even an eyelash will be in danger.

“Encircled and assaulted by bandits

holding swords to wound and to kill,

as we invoke the strength of Avalokita,

the bandits feel our suffering.

“Persecuted by kings and ministers,

about to be executed,

as we invoke the strength of Avalokita,

sword blades shatter into pieces. 

“Imprisoned or bound in iron chains,

with hands and feet placed in a yoke,

as we invoke the strength of Avalokita,

we are released into freedom.

“Poisons, curses, and bewitchings

putting us into danger,

as we invoke the strength of Avalokita,

harmful things return to their source.

“Attacked by a fierce and cruel yaksha,

a poisonous naga, or unkind spirit,

as we invoke the strength of Avalokita,

they will do us no harm.

“With wild animals all around

baring their teeth, tusks, and claws,

as we invoke the strength of Avalokita,

they run far away.

“Confronted with scorpions and poisonous snakes,

breathing fire and poisonous smoke, 

as we invoke the strength of Avalokita,

they depart, the air clears.

“Caught beneath lightning, thunder, and clouds,

with hail pouring down in torrents,

as we invoke the strength of Avalokita,

the storm ends, the sunlight appears.

“All living beings caught in distress,

oppressed by immeasurable suffering

are rescued in ten thousand ways

by the wonderful power of her understanding.

“Miraculous power with no shortcoming,

wisdom and skillful means so vast —

in the ten directions of all the worlds,

there is no place she does not appear.

“The paths to realms of suffering,

the pain of birth, old age, sickness, and death,

hells, hungry spirits, or animals

are gradually purified.

“Look of truth, look of purity,

look of boundless understanding,

look of love, look of compassion —

the look to be always honored and practiced.

“Look of immaculate light and purity,

the sun of wisdom destroying darkness,

master of fire, wind, and disaster

illuminating the whole world.

“Heart of compassion like rolling thunder,

heart of love like gentle clouds,

water of Dharma nectar raining upon us,

extinguishing the fire of afflictions.

“In the courtroom, the place of lawsuits,

on the fields in the midst of war,

as we invoke the strength of Avalokita,

our enemies become our friends.

“Sound of wonder, sublime sound,

sound of one looking deeply into the world,

sound of the rising tide, the sound that surpasses worldly sounds, 

the sound of which we should always be mindful.

“With mindfulness, free from doubts,

when facing catastrophe and death, 

Avalokita is the pure and holy one 

in whom we need to take refuge. 

“We bow in gratitude to the one

who has all the virtues,

regarding the world with compassionate eyes,

an ocean of merit beyond measure.”