Guanyin, whose real name is "Guanyin", was renamed "Guanyin" in order to avoid the ridicule of Li Shimin, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. In fact, it feels quite funny, the Bodhisattva still has to avoid the emperor's ridicule, who is older than the Bodhisattva or the emperor? In the West, which king did Jesus and God need to avoid? Which kingdom uses the Bible to prove that it is ordained by heaven? It can be seen that the Chinese monarchy has reached its peak, and religion must also obey the imperial power, which is in charge of the heavens, the earth, and the gods and Buddhas. Guanyin Bodhisattva is also often depicted as a thousand-armed and thousand-eyed image, and the thousand-armed thousand-eyes also symbolize Guanyin's ability to perceive all the sufferings and calamities of the ten worlds, and to respond to the needs of different beings and fulfill their various wishes.
Contemplation of the Bodhisattva
Xuanzang, the master of the Tang Dynasty, went to India to learn scriptures and found that the Sanskrit translation of "Guanyin" was wrong, which was a false rumor of the people, and should be called "Guanyin Bodhisattva", which is the meaning of Guanyin Freedom. Therefore, the beginning of the Heart Sutra translated by Master Xuanzang is: "When contemplating the Bodhisattva of Freedom and Practicing the Deep Prajnaparamita, he sees that the five aggregates are empty and overcomes all suffering." In the process of studying the scriptures, Tang Xuanzang discovered many translation errors related to Buddhist scriptures, one of the most famous of which was the translation of "Guanyin Bodhisattva". This article will explore in detail how Tang Xuanzang discovered that "Guanyin Bodhisattva" was a translation error, and further explain the true meaning of "Guanyin Bodhisattva" and its profound influence on Buddhism.
Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra
Tang Xuanzang traveled west to learn scriptures
Tang Xuanzang, commonly known as Chen Yi, a native of Luoyang, Henan, has been brilliant since childhood, proficient in Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. In the early years of the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism spread widely in China, but due to the uneven quality of Buddhist scriptures translation, it was difficult to accurately convey the original meaning of many scriptures. In search of more accurate Buddhist teachings, Tang Xuanzang decided to travel to India in pursuit of truth and wisdom. In 629 AD, Tang Xuanzang bid farewell to his hometown and began his long and arduous journey to the west to learn scriptures. The journey lasted 17 years, passing through the Taklamakan Desert, the north and south of the Tien Shan Mountains, the Green Mountains and other places, and finally arrived at Nalanda Temple, the center of Buddhism in India. There, Tang Xuanzang studied under Jiexian and other eminent monks, and systematically studied Buddhist scriptures and Sanskrit.
Bronze statue of Master Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty
Translation error: Guanyin Bodhisattva and Guanyin Bodhisattva
During his studies in India, Tang Xuanzang studied a large number of original Sanskrit texts in depth and had in-depth exchanges with local monks. He found that many of the scriptures in Chinese Buddhism were mistranslated in the process, which affected the accurate transmission of the teachings. One of the striking examples is the "Guanyin Bodhisattva".
In China, Guanyin Bodhisattva is one of the most popular and revered bodhisattvas and is widely believed and worshipped. The image of Guanyin Bodhisattva is compassionate, saving suffering and relieving suffering, and is loved by countless believers. However, Tang Xuanzang found in the original Sanskrit texts that "Guanyin" was not the original name of this bodhisattva, and the original name should be "Avalokiteśvara".
The word "contemplation" is derived from the Sanskrit word "Avalokiteśvara", "Avalokita" means "contemplation", and "Īśvara" means "self-being" or "master". Therefore, the name of the Bodhisattva can be understood as "Contemplation of the Dharma" or "Contemplation of the World". The "law" here refers to all people and things in the universe, that is, the subjective world and the objective world as the current philosophy says. This name emphasizes that the bodhisattva can observe everything in the universe and life with a clear understanding and freedom from hindrance, which is a kind of inner wisdom and enlightenment of the bodhisattva.
The Indian Buddhist image of the Bodhisattva of Meditation
The image of Guanyin Bodhisattva was first introduced to China around the Eastern Han Dynasty, when translators translated Sanskrit classics into Chinese, due to cultural background and language differences, they often faced the problem of difficult to accurately correspond to the meaning of the word. The Sanskrit name of Avalokiteshvara was simplified to "Avalokiteshvara" during the translation process. This translation highlights the image of a bodhisattva who listens to the voice of suffering in the world and offers help.
However, this translation ignores the meaning of "at ease" in the name of the Bodhisattva, and fails to fully reflect the wisdom and inner consciousness of the Bodhisattva. The compassionate image of Guanyin Bodhisattva is important, but the word "self-being" in the name of Guanyin Bodhisattva emphasizes the wisdom of the bodhisattva and the inner state of freedom. This kind of freedom is not only a relief from external suffering, but also an inner liberation and transcendence.
Nanhai Guanyin
The meaning of the Bodhisattva of Freedom
The name of the bodhisattva reveals two important qualities of the bodhisattva: contemplation and ease. First of all, the Bodhisattva of Avalokiteshvara takes "contemplation" as the main way of practice, and achieves the perfection of wisdom by contemplating the inner and observing external phenomena. Viewing is not just a simple look, but a deep understanding and awareness, an insight into the essence of things. The Bodhisattva of Avalokiteshvara attains a thorough understanding of the nature of the self and the universe through "contemplation", thereby attaining inner freedom. "Freedom" is another important quality of the Bodhisattva of Freedom in Mind. To be at ease means to transcend the troubles and constraints of the world and to achieve freedom and liberation of the mind. The Bodhisattva of Avalokiteshvara not only attains intellectual freedom, but also spiritually and emotionally transcends all suffering and attachment in the world. The state of freedom of the Bodhisattva of Freedom is not only personal liberation, but also compassion for all sentient beings.
Tang Xuanzang discovered the translation error of "Guanyin Bodhisattva" and proposed the correct translation of "Guanyin Bodhisattva", which not only corrected the mistranslation in the scriptures, but also enriched the teachings and practice methods of Chinese Buddhism by reinterpreting the connotation of Guanyin Bodhisattva. After Tang Xuanzang returned to China, he brought back a large number of Sanskrit classics, and presided over the translation work in Chang'an (now Xi'an), translating important Buddhist classics such as "The Great Prajna Sutra", "Heart Sutra", and "The Theory of Enlightenment". His translation work not only improved the accuracy of Buddhist scriptures, but also provided valuable materials for later generations of Buddhist studies.
Tang Xuanzang's contribution lies not only in correcting the translation errors of Guanyin Bodhisattva, but also in emphasizing the wisdom and inner consciousness of Guanyin Bodhisattva through his reinterpretation of Guanyin Bodhisattva. The transmission of this concept has made the development of Buddhism in China more comprehensive and profound.
Avalokiteshvara is not only an important figure in the Buddhist faith, but also a symbol of wisdom and enlightenment. Attaining "freedom" through "contemplation" is not only the respect and worship of the Bodhisattva, but also the pursuit of one's own spiritual practice. In modern society, the wisdom and spirit of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva provides a way for people to transcend worldly afflictions, a light of wisdom that transcends time and space.
The Three Western Sages of the Buddhist Elysium
epilogue
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, in fact, is one of the two protector bodhisattvas of the "Amitabha Buddha" in the Elysian World, a "Guanyin Bodhisattva" and a "Great Trend to the Bodhisattva", Guanyin Bodhisattva is also a disciple of Amitabha Buddha, and will inherit the mantle of Amitabha Buddha in the future. When Master Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty traveled west to learn scriptures, he found that the translation of "Guanyin Bodhisattva" was wrong, and proposed the correct translation of "Guanyin Bodhisattva", correcting the mistranslation in the scriptures and providing valuable information for the study of Buddhism in later generations. The wisdom and spirit of the Bodhisattva of Avalokiteshvara provide guidance and comfort to the soul. Through Tang Xuanzang's efforts, the true meaning of Guanzi Bodhisattva was conveyed, making the image of this Bodhisattva more comprehensive and profound in the hearts of Chinese believers.
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