The Verses of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva's Vows

You probably have known quite a lot about Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, the Great Bodhisattva that represents Great Compassion in Buddhism. I also have some posts on this Maha Bodhisattva. Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva is called as Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa in Mandarin. He is actually a Buddha of the Past called Zheng Fa Ming Ru Lai. （I'm sorry that I can't provide the text in Mandarin).

This Buddha after viewing the suffering of sentient beings, vows to save all beings again by transforming himself and thus that's what we call "Avalokiteshvara", the Bodhisattva who listens the sounds/voices of the world. We usually see the image of this bodhisattva in female one, but in fact the Bodhisattva is in male body. Why? Because the bodhisattva who actually resides in Western Pureland and according to Sutra of Infinite Life (Wu Liang Shou Jing), that those who have reborn in the Western Pureland are actually reborn as male. That's why I said so.

But, as we know that Bodhisattvas have magnificent power and transformations, they can turn themselves to suit the situation on how they want to help sentient beings. This is especially clear for us when we have ever read the chapter of "The Universal Door of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva". It's stated that Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva will turn himself into any forms in order to save a sentient being. For example, one who should be saved using a king appearance, the Bodhisattva (Guan Yin Pu Sa) will transform himself into a king.

We also should know that every bodhisattva has their vows, and so does Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva. Those Buddhist followers who believe in this bodhisattva will also have to learn the verses of Vows which are used to strengthen our own vows and faith. The verses of the vows have also been made into Buddhist songs which is easier to learn or memorize. Let's listen to this Buddhist song which describes the vows of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva.

Guan Yin Pu Sa Ji (觀音菩薩偈 - The verse of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva)

This is a video of Chyi (齐豫 - Qi Yu) who sings "The verse of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva". She is one of the best singer who always sings great Buddhist songs. Her wonderful voice and the deep expression for the songs will always awaken us to understand Buddhism through music/song.

The verse of Avalokiteshvara (觀音菩薩偈) is one of my favorite Buddhist song. There's a lyric in the contents of the whole song which describes Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva (Guan Yin Pu Sa) will appear anywhere in respond to our prayers. Indeed, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva is one of all Bodhisattvas who has deep affinity to the sentient beings of this Saha World (娑婆世界).

The name Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa (觀世音菩薩) means "The Bodhisattva who Listens to the Voice/Sound of the Worlds".