The Avalokiteśvara Contemplation Begins
The tenth contemplation turns from Amitābha himself to his attendant, and immediately marks what distinguishes him: a different bodily color, a crown-protuberance unlike the Buddha's own, a heavenly crown containing a transformation-buddha, and hands built specifically for compassion's own work.
A Body Distinct From the Buddha's Own
十、就觀音觀中，亦先舉，次辨，後結。即有其十五。一、從佛告阿難下，至菩薩已來，正明結成前真身觀，生後菩薩觀。二、從此菩薩身長下，至皆於中現已來，正明總標身相。即有其六。一明身量大小。二明身色與佛不同。三明肉髻與佛蠃髻不同。四明圓光大小。五明化佛侍者多少。六明身光普現五道眾生。
三、從頂上毘楞伽下，至二十五由旬已來，正明天冠之內化佛殊異。四、從觀音已下，正明面色與身色不同。五、從眉間下，至蓮華色已來，正明毫光轉變遍滿十方，化侍彌多更比紅蓮之色。即有其五。一明毫相作七寶色。二明毫光多少。三明光有化佛多少。四明侍者多少。五明化侍變現遍滿十方。
Tenth, within the Avalokiteśvara contemplation, the text likewise first raises the matter, next distinguishes it in detail, and finally concludes it. There are fifteen points in all.
First, from "the Buddha told Ānanda" down through "bodhisattva," this makes plain the conclusion of the true body contemplation described above, and opens the bodhisattva contemplation that follows.
Second, from "this bodhisattva's own body stands" down through "all appear within it," this makes plain the general marking out of this bodily form. There are six points within it. First, this makes plain the size of this body. Second, this makes plain that this body's own color differs from the Buddha's own. Third, this makes plain that his own fleshly crown-protuberance differs from the Buddha's own spiral crown. Fourth, this makes plain the size of his own halo of light. Fifth, this makes plain the number of transformation-buddhas and attendants present. Sixth, this makes plain that his own bodily light universally reveals the beings of the five destinies.
Third, from "upon the crown of his head, Vaidūrya" down through "twenty-five yojanas," this makes plain the distinctive splendor of the transformation-buddha within his own heavenly crown.
Fourth, from "Avalokiteśvara" onward, this makes plain that his own facial color differs from his own bodily color.
Fifth, from "between the brows" down through "the color of a lotus flower," this makes plain that the light from the curl of hair transforms and fills the ten directions, its transformation-attendants ever more numerous, its color surpassing even that of a red lotus. There are five points within it. First, this makes plain that this curl takes on the color of seven jewels. Second, this makes plain the number of rays of light this curl emits. Third, this makes plain the number of transformation-buddhas present within this light. Fourth, this makes plain the number of these attendants. Fifth, this makes plain that these transformation-attendants manifest and fill the ten directions.
Hands Built for Compassion's Own Work
六、從有八十億光明下，至莊嚴事已來，正明身服光瓔非眾寶作。七、從手掌作五百億下，至接引眾生已來，正明手有慈悲之用也。即有其六。一明手掌作雜蓮之色。二明一一指端有八萬印文。三明一一文有八萬餘色。四明一一色有八萬餘光。五明光體柔軟等照一切。六明以此寶光之手接引有緣也。
Sixth, from "possessing eighty koṭis of rays of light" down through "forming this very adornment," this makes plain that the light and jeweled ornaments upon his own body are not formed of any assortment of gems at all.
Seventh, from "his own palms take on the color of five hundred koṭis" down through "welcoming and guiding sentient beings," this makes plain that his own hands possess the very function of compassion. There are six points within it. First, this makes plain that his own palms take on the mingled color of lotus flowers. Second, this makes plain that each and every fingertip bears eighty thousand seal-marks. Third, this makes plain that each and every one of these marks bears over eighty thousand colors. Fourth, this makes plain that each and every one of these colors emits over eighty thousand rays of light. Fifth, this makes plain that the very substance of this light is soft and gentle, illuminating all beings equally. Sixth, this makes plain that, with these very hands of jeweled light, he welcomes and guides all those with whom he shares karmic affinity.
The cascading structure here — each fingertip bearing eighty thousand seal-marks, each mark bearing eighty thousand colors, each color emitting eighty thousand rays — is worth reading as a description of function rather than mere ornamental excess. Every layer of this multiplication culminates in the same single purpose named at the very end: hands whose entire elaborate structure exists "to welcome and guide all those with whom he shares karmic affinity." Avalokiteśvara's own body, unlike Amitābha's, is defined here almost entirely through active gesture — hands reaching, guiding, welcoming — consistent with his traditional role as the bodhisattva of compassion in action.
Part 62 Complete
This closes Part 62. Part 63 completes the Avalokiteśvara contemplation in full: his feet, the marks he shares in common with the Buddha, and the two specific points — his own crown-protuberance and unrivaled dignity — where he remains distinct, closing this tenth of the sixteen contemplations.
Continue to Part 63 — Closing the Avalokiteśvara Contemplation →