Friday, 6 November 2020

高王觀音經 The High King Avalokitesvara Sutra – A bilingual edition

 高王觀音經

THE HIGH KING AVALOKITESVARA (GUAN YIN) SUTRA –

A bilingual edition


This scripture is quite widely spread in China, but is seldom discussed in the west. Continuing in my series of bilingual editions, I have reproduced it here. 


The Chinese text of this edition is Taisho tripitaka No. 2928; It is accessible here 

http://tripitaka.cbeta.org/T85n2898_001 


The "Original preface" to the sutra-- which shows how the scripture was revealed to the mortal world is translated here: https://edwardwhite123.blogspot.com/2021/05/the-original-preface-to-high-king.html  In brief, a person wrongly accused of a capital offence had a dream-vision, wherein a monk revealed this Scripture to him. After chanting it a thousand times, the executioner's sword shattered to pieces, saving him. The astonished king who sentenced him to death freed him, and ordered the sutra to be promulgated. 


However, it is precisely because of this revelation, that some buddhists consider it to be an apocryphal sutra偽經. The Taisho Tripitaka puts it under "doubtful sutras 疑似" . For more on this subject  see this post https://edwardwhite123.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-high-king-guanyin-sutra-as.html


Despite these doubts, this sutra was fairly popular in China, as can be evidenced by the numerous editions of this text-- and indeed, one translation into the now-extinct Tangut language. Links to copies of the old sutra will be given at the end of this introduction. 

*** *** *** 


I shall feature two translations of this sutra. Both of them are anonymous. The first translation, which I shall call translation A, can be accessed here: 

http://tbsn.org/english2/sutra.php?id=4&keyword=&page=0 

This translation is bilingual.  the Chinese being placed there in pinyin (printed in CAPITALS). This translation is here printed in blue. 


The second, equally anonymous translation I shall call translation B. It  is accessible here https://www.fodian.net/world/2898.html . It is printed in black. 


*** *** *** 

 Some of these old woodblock editions can be seen here: 





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高王觀音真經
GAO WANG GUAN SHI YIN ZHEN JING:
THE TRUE SUTRA OF THE HIGH KING GUANYIN :



南無佛。
NA MO FO,
A: Homage to the Buddhas,
B: Namo Buddha-yah.

南無法
NA MO FA,
A; Homage to the Dharma,
B/ Namo Dharma-yah

南無僧。
NA MO SENG,
A/ Homage to the Sangha.
B/ Namo Sangha-yah

佛國有緣。佛法相因。
FO GUO YOU YUAN, FO FA XIANG YIN,
A/ An affinity with the Pure Lands opens the Dharma Doors,
B/ Due to the great relationship with Buddhas' Worlds,
and the interlinked great causes, There comes the Buddha's Dharmas,


常樂我淨。有緣佛法。
CHANG LE WO JING, YOU YUAN FO FA.
A/ By engaging permanence, bliss identity and purity, one is blessed with the Dharma
B/ which is Eternal, Bliss, Self, and Pure;
And we have become the relations of the Buddha-Dharmas.



南無摩訶般若波羅蜜。是大神呪。
NA MO MO HO BO RE BO LUO MI SHI DA SHEN ZHOU.
A/ Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, a great spiritual mantra.
B/ Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, the great sacrosanct mantra;


南無摩訶般若波羅蜜。是大明呪。
NA MO MO HO BO RE BO LUO MI SHI DA MING ZHOU
A/ Namo Maha Praina Paramita, a great wisdom mantra.
B/ Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, the great brilliant mantra;



南無摩訶般若波羅蜜。是無上呪。

NA MO MO HO BO RE BO LUO MI SHI WU SHANG ZHOU.
A/ Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, a supreme mantra.
B/ Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, the unsurpassed mantra;

南無摩訶般若波羅蜜。是無等等呪
 NA MO MO HO BO RE BO LUO MI SHI WU DENG DENG ZHOU.
A/ Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, an unequalled mantra.
B/ Namo Maha Prajna Paramita, the unequaled mantra.


南無淨光祕密佛。
NA MO JING GUANG MI MI FO,
A/ Namo the Pure Light Secret Buddha,
B/ Namo Pure Light Secret Buddha,


法藏佛。
FA ZANG FO,
A/ the Dharma Treasury Buddha,
B/ Dharma Treasury Buddha


師子吼神足由王佛。
SHI ZI HOU SHEN ZU YOU WANG FO,
A/ the Tranquil King Buddha with Lion's roar and divine speed,
B/ , the Tranquil King Buddha with Lion's roar and divine speed, 


佛告須彌登王佛。
FO GAO XU MI DENG WANG FO,
A/the Sumeru Light King Buddha announced by Buddha,
B/ the Sumeru Light King Buddha announced by Buddha,


法護佛。
FA HU FO,
A/the Dharma Protector Buddha,
B/ Dharma Protector Buddha,


金剛藏師子游戲佛。
JIN GANG ZANG SHI ZI YOU XI FO,
A/ the Vajra Treasury Roaming Lion Buddha,
B/ Vajra Treasury Roaming Lion Buddha,

寶勝佛。
BAO SHENG FO,
A/ the Precious Victory Buddha,
B/ Precious Victory Buddha,

神通佛。
SHEN TONG FO,
A/the Supernatural Power Buddha,
B/Supernatural Power Buddha,


藥師琉璃光王佛。
YAO SHI LIU LI GUANG WANG FO,
A/the Medicine Crystal Light King Buddha,
B/Medicine Master Crystal Light King Buddha,


普光功德山王佛。
PU GUANG GONG DE SHAN WANG FO,
A/the Universal Light Merit Mountain King Buddha,
B/Universal Light Merit Mountain King Buddha,

善住功德寶王佛。
SHAN ZHU GONG DE BAO WANG FO,
A/the Merit Retaining jewel King Buddha,
B/ Merit Retaining Jewel King Buddha,

過去七佛。
GUO QU Ql FO,
A/the Seven Past Buddhas,
B/the seven past Buddhas,

未來賢劫千佛。
WEI LAI XIAN JIE QIAN FO,
A/the Future Thousand Buddhas of this fortunate eon,
B/the coming one thousand Buddhas of the Fortunate kalpa,

千五百佛。
QIAN WU BAI FO,
A/the Fifteen Hundred Buddhas,
B/ the fifteen hundred Buddhas, 


萬五千佛。
WAN WU QIAN FO,
A/the Fifteen Thousand Buddhas,
B/the fifteen thousand Buddhas, 



五百花勝佛。
WU BAI HUA SHENG FO,
A/the Five Hundred Flower Victory Buddhas,
B/ the five hundred Flower Victory Buddhas, 


百億金剛藏佛。
BAI YI JIN GANG ZANG FO,
A/ the Ten Billion* Vajra Treasury Buddhas,
B/ the one hundred billion* Vajra Treasury Buddhas

*The number described in the Chinese is unambiguously  百億, that is to say, 100 x 100,000,000=10 000 000 000, or a 1 with 10 zeroes behind it. The modern English usage calls this number “10 Billion” (a Billion is 1 with 9 zeroes behind it). I know not why translation B uses translates this as “one hundred Billion”—E. W. 


定光佛。
DING GUANG FO,
A/ and the Fixed Light Buddha,
B/, and Samadhi Light Buddha.


六方六佛名號。
LIU FANG LIU FO MING HAO:
A/The Buddhas of Six Directions:
B/ The Buddhas of Six Directions:.


東方寶光月殿月妙尊音王佛。

DONG FANG BAO GUANG YUE DIAN YUE MIAO ZUN YIN WANG FO,
A/To the East the Precious Light Moon Palace Venerable Wonderful Voice King Buddha,

B/To the East the Precious Light Moon Palace Venerable Wonderful Voice King Buddha,

南方樹根花王佛。
NAN FANG SHU GEN HUA WANG FO,
A/to the South the Tree-Root Flower King Buddha,
B/ To the South the Tree-Root Flower King Buddha,

西方皂王神通焰花王佛。
XI FANG ZAO WANG SHEN TONG YAN HUA WANG FO,
A/ to the West the Spiritual Power Flower Blazing King Buddha,
B/ To the West the Spiritual Power Flower Blazing King Buddha,


北方月殿清淨佛。
BEI FANG YUE DIAN QING JING FO,
A/to the North the Moon Palace Purity Buddha,
B/ To the North the Moon Palace Purity Buddha,

上方無數精進寶首佛。
SHANG FANG WU SHU JING JIN BAO SHOU FO,
A/ Above, the countless Vigor jewel Crown Buddhas,
B/ Above, the countless Vigor Jewel Crown Buddha,


下方善寂月音王佛。
XIA FANG SHAN JI YUE YIN WANG FO.
A/ Below, the Tranquil Moon Sound King Buddha.
B/ Below, the Tranquil Moon Sound King Buddha

無量諸佛。
WU LIANG ZHU FO,
A/ All the countless Buddhas,
B/ All the countless Buddhas,


多寶佛。
DUO BAO FO,
A/ Many Jewels Buddha,
B/ Prabhuta-ratna(Many Treasures) Buddha,

釋迦牟尼佛。
SHI JIA MOU NI FO,
A/Shakyamuni Buddha,

B/ Sakyamuni Buddha,

彌勒佛。
MI LE FO,
A/ Maitreya Buddha,
B/ Maitreya Buddha,


阿閦佛。
AH CHU FO,
A/ Akshobhya Buddha,
B/ Akshobhya Buddha,

彌陀佛。
MI TUO FO.
A/ Amitabha Buddha.
B/ Amitabha Buddha,

中央一切眾生。
ZHONG YANG YI QIE ZHONG SHENG,
A/All beings in the Central Realm,
B/All beings in the Central Realm,

在佛世界中者。
ZAI FO SHI JIE ZHONG ZHE,
A/ and those in the Pure Lands,

B/ and those in the Pure Lands,

行住於地上。及在虛空中。
XING ZHU YU DI SHANG, JI ZAI XU KONG ZHONG
A/ while moving upon the Earth and through the Heavens,
B/ while moving upon the Earth and in the Heavens,

慈憂於一切眾生。
Cl YOU YU YI QIE ZHONG SHENG,
A/ shower limitless compassion upon all living beings,
B/ continually shower compassion upon all living beings,

各令安穩休息。
GE LING AN WEN XIU XI
A/ affording them equanimity and peace,
B/ affording them equanimity and peace,

晝夜修持。
ZHOU YE XIU CHI
A/ that they might cultivate day and night.

B/ that they might cultivate day and night.

心常求誦此經。
XIN CHANG QIU SONG Cl JING
A/ By constantly invoking this sutra,
B/ By constantly invoking this sutra,

能滅生死苦。消伏於毒害。
NENG MIE SHENG SI KU, XIAO CHU ZHU DU HAI,
A/ one is liberated from the suffering of birth and death, and freed from all the many kinds of suffering.
B/ one is liberated from the pain of death and birth, and freed from all the many kinds of suffering.

那摩大明觀世音。
NA MO DA MING GUAN SHI YIN,
A/ Homage to the great wisdom Kuan Yin,
B/ Namo the Great Wisdom Avalokitesvara,

觀明觀世音。
GUAN MING GUAN SHI YIN,
A/ the observant Kuan Yin,
B/ the Observant Avalokitesvara, 


高明觀世音。
GAO MING GUAN SHI YIN,
A/ the noble Kuan Yin,
B/ the Noble Avalokitesvara,

開明觀世音。
KAI MING GUAN SHI YIN,
A/ the expansively-minded Kuan Yin,
B/ the Expansively-Minded Avalokitesvara,

藥王菩薩。
YAO WANG PU SA,
A/ the Medicine King Bodhisattva,
B/ the Medicine King Bodhisattva,

藥上菩薩。
YAO SHANG PU SA,
A/ the supreme Medicine Bodhisattva,
B/ the Supreme Medicine Bodhisattva,

文殊師利菩薩。
WEN SHU SHI LI PU SA,
A/ Manjusri Bodhisattva,
B/ Manjusri Bodhisattva,


普賢菩薩。
PU XIAN PU SA,
A/ Samantabhadra Bodhisattva,
B/ Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, 

虛空藏菩薩。
XU KONG ZANG PU SA,
A/ Akasagarbha Bodhisattva,
B/ Akasagarbha Bodhisattva, 

地藏菩薩。
DI ZANG WANG PU SA,
A/ Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva,
B/ Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva,

清涼寶山億萬菩薩。
QING LIANG BAO SHAN YI WAN PU SA,
A/ the billions of Clear Cool Treasure Mountain Bodhisattvas,
B/ the billions of Clear Cool Treasure Mountain Bodhisattvas, 


普光如來化勝菩薩。
PU GUANG WANG RU LAI HUA SHENG PU SA,
A/ the Universal Light Venerable King Tathagata Bodhisattva.
B/ the Universal Light Venerable King Tathagata Bodhisattva,

念念誦此經*。
NIAN NIAN SONG Cl JING*,
A/ Chanting this sutra* continually,
B/ Chanting this sutra continually,
* The Taisho text has偈“Gatha“ instead of  經 “Sutra” —E.W.

七佛世尊。即說呪曰。
Ql FO SHI ZUN, JI SHOU ZHOU YUE:
A/ the Seven World-Honored Buddhas recite this mantra:
B/ the Seven World-Honored Buddhas, recite this mantra:

[This Mantra has since become known as the Seven Buddhas' Sin Extinguishing mantra【七佛滅罪真言】-- E.W. ]

離波離波帝。求訶求訶帝。陀羅尼帝。尼訶羅帝。毘離尼帝。摩訶迦帝。真靈虔帝。娑婆訶。
LI PO LI PO DI, QIU HE QIU HE DI, TUO LUO NI DI, NI HE LA DI, BI LI NI DI, MO HE QIE DI, ZHEN LING QIAN DI, SUO HA.


A/ Lee-poh-lee-poh-deh, kyo-ho-kyo-ho-deh, toh-loh-nee-deh, nee-ah-la-deh, pee-lee-nee-deh, mo-ho-kya-deh, jen-len-chen deh, so-ha (7 times)

Note: This is a non-standard romanization found in translation A; pronouncing this sentence using the english pronunciations of the letters gives a fairly good approximation of the mantra as it is recited in Mandarin. You can hear a video of the mantra recited here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhft2p05lEQ  —E.W.  


十方觀世音　
SHI FANG GUAN SHI YIN
A/ Avalokitesvaras of the ten directions
B/ All the transformation bodies of Avalokitesvara

一切諸菩薩　
YI QIE ZHU PU SA
A/ and all Bodhisattvas
B/ and all the bodhisattvas


誓願救眾生
SHI YUAN JIU ZHONG SHENG
A/ have vowed to save sentient beings.
B/ have vowed to liberate every being in samsara,

稱名悉解脫　
CHENG MING XI JIE TUO
A/ All beings will be liberated when calling their names.
B/ and to cleanse all sufferings when called upon.

若有智慧者　
RUO YOU ZHI HUI ZHE
A/ To ones with wisdom
B/ One who has non-dual faith in Buddha

慇懃為解脫
YIN QIN WEI JIE SHUO
A/ expounds it diligently.
B/ will be greatly blessed with guidance.

但是有因緣　　
DAN SHI YOU YIN YUAN
A. One with the affinity,
B/ By keeping intact the root of virtue

讀誦口不綴
DU SONG KOU BU CHUO
A/ recite it at all times.
B one will be able to practice this,

誦經滿千遍
SONG JING MAN QIAN BIAN
A/ Recite the sutra 1,000 times
B/ and with one thousand recitations,

念念心不絕
NIAN NIAN XIN BU JUE
A/ and keep it in mind constantly.
B/ the practice blends into one's mindstream.

火焰不能傷
HUO YAN BU NENG SHANG
A: Flame cannot harm one.
B: Then one remains unharmed by fire 

刀兵立摧折
DAO BING LI CUI ZHE
Knives and weapons will break instantly.
or weapons,

恚怒生歡喜
HUI NU SHENG HUAN XI
A: Turn anger to happiness.
B: and anger is transformed into happiness.

死者變成活
SI ZHE BIAN CHENG HUO
A: Change death into life.
B: Even those who are left for dead
returns thereby to life.

莫言此是虛
MO YAN CI SHI XU
A: Do not say these are false.
B: One must not doubt this,

諸佛不妄說
ZHU FO BU WANG SHUO
A: The words of the Buddhas are not fabricated.
B: for it is the word of Buddha.

[1425c11] 佛說高王觀世音經
The Buddha Speaks of the High King Guanyin Sutra:

高王觀世音　　
GAO WANG GUAN SHI YIN
A: High King Avalokitesvara
B: The High King Avalokitesvara

能救諸苦危
NENG JIU ZHU KU E
A: can alleviate sufferings.
B: In truth removes all obstacles.

臨危急難中
LIN WEI JI NAN ZHONG
A: Faced with a fatal crisis,
B: Even in the most grave plight

死者變成活
SI ZHE BIAN CHENG HUO
A: the doomed shall live.
B: One is saved from death.

諸佛語不虛
ZHU FO YU BU XU
A: The words of buddhas are always true
B: This is the truth all Buddhas announce,

是故應頂禮
SHI GU YING DING LI
A: and therefore we pay homage to the Buddhas.
B: Therefore pay them homage.

持誦滿千遍
CHI SONG MAN QIAN BIAN
A: By reciting it 1000 times
B: By reciting this praise one thousand times,

重罪皆消滅
ZHONG ZUI JIE XIAO MIE
A: all one's heaviest sins shall be eradicated.
B: One purifies the most negative of karmas.

薄福不信者
HOU FU JIAN XIN ZHE
A: Those with great merit and unwavering faith
B: Those fortunate ones endowed with indestructible faith

　專貢受持經
ZHUAN GONG SHOU CHI JING
A: single-mindedly chant the sutra.
B: Are to always uphold this sutra.

< In translation A, along with a few other editions, this section occurs at the very top. It is shifted below in this edition, to bring it in line with the Taisho text:>

念八大菩薩名號。
FENG QING BA DA PU SA MING HAO:
A: Sincerely invoke Eight Great Bodhisattvas:
B: Recite the name of the Eight Mahasattvas:

南無觀世音菩薩摩訶薩。
NA MO GUAN SHI YIN PU SA MO HE SA
A/ Namo Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
B: Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Mahasattva

南無彌勒菩薩摩訶薩。
NA MO MI LE PU SA MO HE SA
A: Namo Maitreya Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
B: Namo Maitreya Bodhisattva Mahasattva,

南無虛空藏菩薩摩訶薩。
NA MO XU KONG ZANG PU SA MO HE SA
A: Namo Akasagarbha Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
B: Namo Akasa-garbha Bodhisattva Mahasattva,

南無普賢菩薩摩訶薩。
NA MO PU XIAN PU SA MO HE SA
A: Namo Samantabhadra Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
B: Namo Samanta-bhadra Bodhisattva Mahasattva,

南無金剛手菩薩摩訶薩。
NA MO JIN GANG SHOU PU SA MO HE SA
A: Namo Vajrapani Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
B: Namo Vajra-pani Bodhisattva Mahasattva,

南無妙吉祥菩薩摩訶薩。
NA MO MIAO JI XIANG PU SA MO HE SA
A: Namo Manjusri Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
B: Namo Manjusri Bodhisattva Mahasattva,

南無除蓋障菩薩摩訶薩。
NA MO CHU GE ZHANG PU SA MO HE SA
A: Namo Nivaranaviskambin Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
B: Namo Sarva-nivaraNaviskambhin Bodhisattva Mahasattva,


南無地藏王菩薩摩訶薩。
NA MO DI ZANG WANG PU SA MO HE SA
A: Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Mahasattva,
B: Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Mahasattva,

南無諸尊菩薩摩訶薩。
NA MO ZHU ZUN PU SA MO HE SA
A: Namo all venerable Bodhisattva Mahasattvas.
B: Namo all venerable Bodhisattva Mahasattvas.

　願以此功德　　
YUAN YI CI GONG DE
A: Dedicate the merit
B: May these merits and virtues
　普及於一切
PU JI YU YI QIE
A: to the entire universe.
B: be spread universally to everything.
　誦滿一千遍　　
SONG MAN YI QIAN BIAN
A: Recite 1,000 times.
B: Fully recite this one thousand times,

　重罪皆消滅
ZHONG ZUI JIE XIAO MIE
A: All serious sins are eradicated.
B: And serious sins will be purified.

佛說高王觀世音經(終)
GAO WANG GUAN SHI YIN ZHENG JING ZHONG
The end of High King Avalokitesvara Sutra.

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This is a picture of the complete sutra: 

http://tripitaka.cbeta.org/T85n2898_001 
You can hear the sutra recited here 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2itGiUOLQw&feature=emb_logo 

To 

 To L.c.----- F.O. -----X -- FB mm, TH ah cl bt,ol lyr,ggwl CC CH AB JRR JL LGS tch scc 

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