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Art. X.—An Attempt to Translate from the Chinese a Work known as the Confessional Service of the Great Compassionate Kwan Yin, possessing 1000 Hands and 1000 Eyes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

Samuel Beal
Affiliation:
Royal Navy

Extract

It is reported that Kwan Tseu Tsai Bodhisattva, prompted by her great compassionate heart has engaged herself by a great oath to enter into every one of the innumerable worlds, and bring deliverance to all creatures who inhabit them.

For this purpose she has enunciated the Divine sentences which follow, which, if properly recited, will render all creatures exempt from the causes of sorrow, and by removing them, render them capable of attaining Supreme Reason.

And if the virtuous man, who has already attained the happiness consequent on True Wisdom, still continue to recite these sentences, and by his correct line of conduct induce others who believe not to follow his example, and to accept the Truth and believe in it—how great his happiness!

Type
Original Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal Asiatic Society 1866

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References

page 403 note 1 I have followed the usual mode of considering Kwan Yin as a female.

page 404 note 1 So, at least, I understand the expression in the original.

page 407 note 1 In all Buddhist Temples incense is continually burning before the various objects of worship.

page 407 note 2 The phrase “in close communion” is an adaptation from the original, which is “one heart” This phrase “one heart” is explained in an appendix of the present work to signify that worshippers and the object of worship are both “one”

page 408 note 1 The expression “ku tsuh“ is explained in the commentary on the twentieth section of the Kin-kong Sûtra.

page 408 note 2 Miau fah, i.e. saddharma.

page 408 note 3 I need not say that in the translation of such passages as the above I can only hope to attain to some obscure idea of the meaning of the original.

page 410 note 1 The word “Heart” probably corresponds to the Sanscrit Âtmâ.

page 411 note 1 Namo ching-fah-ming-Ju-lai.

page 411 note 2 The mark in the original probably denotes a change of tone in the recitation of the chant.

page 411 note 3 Lit. “the three vehicles.”

page 418 note 1 Vide the end of the Translation for the form of this oath.

page 418 note 2 Called in Chinese the “One Heart,” yih sin.

page 418 note 3 Schlagintweit, , p. 39.Google Scholar

page 421 note 1 Introduction to Indian Buddhism, p. 226, note.Google Scholar

page 423 note 1 Schlagintweit, , p. 65 n.Google Scholar