Q4: How does Bodhisattva Guanyin rescue sentient beings?

Having traveled and educated sentient beings in the ten directions while possessing different kinds of supernormal powers and skillful means, Bodhisattva Guanyin (Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, in Sanskrit) holds the meritorious functions of the Five Contemplations and the Five Sounds, as pointed out in the gathas from the Universal Gate Chapter. The Five Contemplations and Five Sounds are incredible Dharma treasures that are utilized by the Bodhisattva as vehicles to ferry different kinds of sentient beings to safety and liberation.
 
The Five Contemplations include the Contemplation of Truth, the Contemplation of Purity, the Contemplation of the Vast and Greater Wisdom, the Contemplation of Compassion, and the Contemplation of Kindness. In the "Essentials of the Lotus Sutra," Master Jie Huan from the Song Dynasty explained how Bodhisattva Guanyin is able to "extricate the suffering of the sentient beings in the world by contemplating on their cries for help, encouraging them, and manifesting in person to deliver them through the powerful functions of the Five Contemplations. The Contemplation of Truth eradicates delusions, the Contemplation of Purity counteracts defilements, the Contemplation of the Vast and Greater Wisdom resolves doubts, the Contemplation of Compassion extricates sentient beings from their suffering, and the Contemplation of Kindness offers sentient beings peace and joy.
 
In parallel with the Five Contemplations, the Five Sounds are mentioned in the following quote from the Universal Gate Chapter, Guanyin has "a wondrous voice, a heavenly voice, an ocean-tide voice—one which surpasses all worldly voices." Master Kui Ji explained the functions of the Five Sounds in "Commentary on the Lotus Sutra," "Wondrous sounds offer joy; Guanyin extricates suffering; heavenly sounds are deep and pure; ocean-tide voices are to be borne; extraordinary voices appear in the world." The Five Sounds indicate that Bodhisattva Guanyin's Dharma voice purifies sentient beings' minds and naturally extinguishes their desires. When the Bodhisattva expounds the Dharma, he never misses any opportunity to deliver sentient beings. Bodhisattva Guanyin will manifest in whatever form is appropriate and expound whatever Dharma is needed to save the sentient beings. Just as the tides nourish the land wherever they go, Bodhisattva Guanyin will go forth to deliver all sentient beings wherever he travels.

Extended reading:

Q1: Why is Guanyin known as "Guan-shi-yin" in Chinese Buddhism?

Q2: From which kinds of suffering does Bodhisattva Guanyin liberate us from?

Q3: How does Bodhisattva Guanyin hear sentient beings' cries for help?

Q4: How does Bodhisattva Guanyin rescue sentient beings?

Q5: How do sentient beings resonate with Bodhisattva Guanyin?

Q6: Why does Bodhisattva Guanyin often manifest into a female form, if he has a myriad amount of manifestations?

Q7: Is it especially efficacious to pray and ask Bodhisattva Guanyin for a child?

Q8: Why didn't Bodhisattva Guanyin accept Bodhisattva Inexhaustible Intent's offerings?

Q9: What is the meaning of the term "Universal Gate" from the Lotus Sutra's Universal Gate Chapter on Bodhisattva Guanyin?

Resource: Humanity Magazine #386 (人生雜誌第386期)
Translation: Ariel Shen (沈純湘)
Edited by: Keith Brown, Ven. Yan Hsiang (演香法師)
Photo: Quan Tsai (蔡全)