CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

 THE UNIVERSAL GATE OF BODHISATTVA KANZEON

     At that time the bodhisattva Inexhaustible Intent immediately rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, pressed his palms together and, facing the Buddha, spoke these words: World Honored One, this Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World’‘‘s Sounds-- why is he called Perceiver of the World’‘‘s Sounds?

The Buddha said to Bodhisattva Inexhaustible Intent: Good man, suppose there are immeasurable hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, millions of living beings who are undergoing various trials and suffering. If they hear of this Bodhisattva Perceiver of the Word’‘‘s Sounds and single-mindedly call his name, then at once he will perceive the sound of their voices and they will all gain deliverance from their trials.

If someone, holding fast to the name of bodhisattva perceiver of the world’‘‘s sounds, should enter a great fire, the fire could not burn him. This would come about because of this bodhisattva’‘‘s authority and supernatural power. If one were washed away by a great flood and call upon his name, one would immediately find himself in a shallow place.

Suppose there were a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, a million living beings who, seeking for gold, silver, lapis lazuli, seashell, agate, coral, amber, pearls, and other treasures, set out on the great sea. and suppose a fierce wind should blow their ship off course and it drifted to the land of rakshasas demons. If among those people there is even just one who calls the name of Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World’‘‘s sounds, then all those people will be delivered from their troubles with the rakshasas. This is why he is called Perceiver of the World’‘‘s Sounds.

If a person who faces imminent threat of attack should call the name of Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World’‘‘s sounds, then the swords and staves wielded by his attackers would instantly shatter into so many pieces and he would be delivered.

Thought enough yakshas and rakshasas to fill all the thousand-million-fold world should try to come and torment a person, if they hear him calling the name of Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World’‘‘s Sounds, then these evil demons will not even be able to look at him with their evil eyes, much less do him harm.