觀世音菩薩對一切的事也都看得破，放得下，無所執著了，所以他覺悟；不但自己覺悟，而且又能去覺悟其他一切沒有覺悟的眾生，所以這叫「觀世音菩薩」。
上宣下化老和尚講述
A Commentary by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua
今天我就給各位講一講「觀世音菩薩」這幾個字。
Today I will explain a little bit about the words "Bodhisattva Who Contemplates the Sounds of the World" (Guanshiyin Bodhisattva).
怎麼叫「觀」呢？觀就是一種觀智——能觀的智慧，世音就是所觀的境界；以這個能觀的智慧，觀這個所觀的境界，觀這個世間所有一切的境界，一切的音聲。這個音聲有苦聲，有樂聲，有善聲，有惡聲，有好聲，有壞聲；觀世音菩薩觀看這世界種種的音聲，他就遂心滿願。眾生無論向觀世音菩薩求什麼，觀世音菩薩一定就遂心滿願的。
What is contemplation? It refers to a contemplative wisdom, the wisdom that is able to contemplate. The sounds of the world are the state that is contemplated. The wisdom that is able to contemplate is used to contemplate the state that is contemplated-all the states within this world, all the sounds. The sounds include sounds of suffering, sounds of happiness, wholesome sounds, evil sounds, good sounds, bad sounds. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva observes all the various sounds of the world. He fulfills all wishes. No matter what living beings seek from Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, he will grant their wishes for sure.
「世」，有過去世、現在世、未來世，這三世。觀世音菩薩觀這一切眾生過去世的因緣，現在世的因緣，未來世的因緣，觀看他三世的因緣，然後應該用什麼方法去救度這個眾生，去教化這個眾生，觀世音菩薩就用他所修行成就的這種神通去救度眾生，所以這叫「觀世音」。
The Chinese character shi (世) for "world" also refers to "period of time," as in the three periodsods of time-past, present, and future. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva contemplates the past causes and conditions, present causes and conditions, and future causes and conditions of all living beings. Looking at the causes and conditions in the three periods of time for each living being, Guanshiyin Bodhisattva employs whatever method is suitable for saving and teaching that living being. He uses the spiritual penetrations he has accomplished through cultivation to rescue living beings. Thus, he is called the One Who Contemplates the Sounds of the World.
「菩薩」是半梵語，具足叫「菩提薩埵」，翻譯成中文「菩提」就是覺，「薩埵」就是有情，就叫「覺有情」——覺悟這一切的有情。又有一個講法，說是有情裡邊的一個覺悟者。什麼叫有情呢？就是一切有知覺性，有感覺，有氣血的這一些個有生命的東西都叫有情。觀世音菩薩他以前和我們是一樣的，就因為他不怕苦難去修行而覺悟了，是有情眾生裡邊的一個覺悟者；也就是他以他覺悟這種智慧，再來覺悟我們這一切的眾生，這叫菩薩。
Pusa is a partial transliteration of the Sanskrit word "Bodhisattva" in Chinese. The meaning is translated thus: "Bodhi" means enlightenment and "sattva" means sentient being, so it means "one who enlightens sentient beings," and also "an enlightened one among sentient beings." What is meant by "sentient being"? It refers to any living thing endowed with awareness, sentience, breath, and blood. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva used to be the same as all of us, but because he cultivated without fear of suffering or hardship and became enlightened, he is an enlightened one among sentient beings. Moreover, he uses the wisdom of his enlightenment to further enlighten all of us living beings.
菩薩又有一個名稱叫「大道心的眾生」，他這個道心最大的；有大道心的眾生這就叫菩薩，觀世音菩薩也就是這一類的眾生。
Such a one is called a Bodhisattva. Bodhisattvas have another name: They are called living beings with a great resolve for the Way. They have the greatest resolve for the Way. Living beings with a great resolve for the Way are called Bodhisattvas. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is a living being of this type.
在沒有成佛以前，所有的菩薩也都叫眾生，不過他是眾生裡邊的一個覺悟的眾生，而不是迷昧的一個眾生。迷昧的眾生遇到一切的境界就執迷不悟，遇到一切的事也都看不破，放不下。觀世音菩薩對一切的事也都看得破，放得下，無所執著了，所以他覺悟；不但自己覺悟，而且又能去覺悟其他一切沒有覺悟的眾生，所以這叫「觀世音菩薩」。這是觀世音菩薩大概的意思。
Before they become Buddhas, all Bodhisattvas are also called living beings, but they are enlightened living beings, not confused living beings. When confused living beings encounter any kind of state, they cling to it and fail to awaken. No matter what affair they come across, they cannot see through it and put it down. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is able to see through and put down all matters. He is not attached to anything, and so he is enlightened. Not only is he himself enlightened, he can also enlighten all other unenlightened living beings. Therefore, he is called Guanshiyin Bodhisattva. That's a general explanation of Guanshiyin Bodhisattva.
Editor's Note:
Copy from the Official Website (Chinese) of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association -
www.drbachinese.org