登泰山观天下

山东泰安县城北。高四十里之东岳泰山。乃五岳名山之一。亦为历代圣帝明君。登此山祭祀上帝玉皇。因陀罗王之地。山上古迹名胜不可胜数。有观世音菩萨庙〈俗呼娘娘〉。香会甚盛。

宣化偈曰：

云台朝罢登泰山。天下苍生颠倒颠。
惟请观音哀摄授。揭谛揭谛到彼岸。

Climbing Mount T'ai and observing the world

North of the cities of T'ai An (Peaceful) County, Shan Tung (Eastern Mountain) Province, lies the forty-li high Eastern range, or T'ai Mountain, one of the well known five sacred mountains of China. Through the ages, the emperors and enlightened rulers ascended this mountain and made their sacrifices to Lord God - the Jade Emperor, the God Indra - for this was where they offered up sacrifices. The ancient ruins on the mountain and the famous beautiful spots are uncountable many. There is the Temple of Avalokiteshvara (Kuan Yin) Bodhisattva - who is commonly referred to as a goddess - where many people come to offer incense.

The gatha says:
Having made a pilgrimage to Cloud Terrace Mountain, he ascended Mount T'ai.
Millions and millions of living beings are pitifully upside-down.
He sought the response of Avalokiteshvara to compassionately gather them in.
Gate, gate, Paragate, arrival at the other shore.