posted March 27, 2006 04:27 PM         

Goddess of the Compassion and Mercy

Linked with the Sixth Ray - Indigo Ray - Third Eye Chakra

For centuries, Kuan Yin has epitomized the great ideal of Mahayana Buddhism in her role as "bodhisattva (Chinese "p'u-sa)--literally "a being of Bodhi, or enlightenment," who is destined to become a Buddha but has foregone the bliss of Nirvana with a vow to save all children of God.

Quan Yin carries the Goddess and Divine Mother aspect of Buddhism. The same Goddess and Divine energy carried by the Virgin Mary in Christianity. In the Egyptian mysteries it is carried by Isis. In Hinduism it is carried by Shakti, wife of Vishnu, by Parvarti, wife of Shiva, by Radha, wife of Krishna, and by Sita, wife of Rama.

Quan Yin's name is a translation of the Sanskrit name of her chief progenitor which is Avalokitesvara, also known as Avalokita. In its proper form it is Kuanshih Yin, which means "She who harkens to the cries of the world."

In Korea, Japan, and China she is called Quan Yin. She is a celestial bodhisattva and an ascended master. One of her jobs in the celestial spheres is to sit on the board of the Lord of Karma.

Buddhist mythology tells of Avalokitesvara's being born from a ray of light that sprang from Amitabha Buddha's right eye. He immediately said, "Om Mane Padme Hum". This is one of the mantras by which he can be invoked in Buddhist tradition...

Avalokitesvara and Quan Yin are embodiments of compassion.

She is roughly equivalent to Green Tara in Tibetan Buddhism.

In Tibetan Buddhism Quan Yin is seen in her male form as Avalokitesvara. Some feel that the current Dali Lama is an incarnation of Avalokitesvara. It is thought that the female form of Avalokitesvara, Quan Yin, originated in the twelfth or thirteenth century in both China and Japan...

Quan Yin is one of the most universally beloved of deities in the Buddhist tradition. Also known as Kuan Yin, Quan'Am (Vietnam), Kannon (Japan), and Kanin (Bali), She is the embodiment of compassionate loving kindness. As the Bodhisattva of Compassion, She hears the cries of all beings. Quan Yin enjoys a strong resonance with the Christian Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the Tibetan goddess Tara.

In many images She is depicted carrying the pearls of illumination. Often Quan Yin is shown pouring a stream of healing water, the "Water of Life," from a small vase. With this water devotees and all living things are blessed with physical and spiritual peace. She holds a sheaf of ripe rice or a bowl of rice seed as a metaphor for fertility and sustenance. The dragon, an ancient symbol for high spirituality, wisdom, strength, and divine powers of transformation, is a common motif found in combination with the Goddess of Mercy.

Sometimes Kuan Yin is represented as a many armed figure, with each hand either containing a different cosmic symbol or expressing a specific ritual position, or mudra. This characterizes the Goddess as the source and sustenance of all things. Her cupped hands often form the Yoni Mudra, symbolizing the womb as the door for entry to this world through the universal female principle.

Quan Yin, as a true Enlightened One, or Bodhisattva, vowed to remain in the earthly realms and not enter the heavenly worlds until all other living things have completed their own enlightenment and thus become liberated from the pain-filled cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

There are numerous legends that recount the miracles which Quan Yin performs to help those who call on Her. Like Artemis, She is a virgin Goddess who protects women, offers them a religious life as an alternative to marriage, and grants children to those who desire them.

The Goddess of Mercy is unique among the heavenly hierarchy in that She is so utterly free from pride or vengefulness that She remains reluctant to punish even those to whom a severe lesson might be appropriate. Individuals who could be sentenced to dreadful penance in other systems can attain rebirth and renewal by simply calling upon Her graces with utter and absolute sincerity. It is said that, even for one kneeling beneath the executioner's sword already raised to strike, a single heartfelt cry to Bodhisattva Quan Yin will cause the blade to fall shattered to the ground.

The many stories and anecdotes featuring this Goddess serve to convey the idea of an enlightened being who embodies the attributes of an all pervasive, all consuming, unwavering loving compassion and who is accessible to everyone. Quan Yin counsels us by Her actions to cultivate within ourselves those particular refined qualities that all beings are said to naturally possess in some vestigial form.

Contemplating the Goddess of Mercy involves little dogma or ritual. The simplicity of this gentle being and Her standards tends to lead Her devotees towards becoming more compassionate and loving themselves. A deep sense of service to all fellow beings naturally follows any devotion to the Goddess.

The name Kuan Shih Yin, as she is often called, means literally "the one who regards, looks on, or hears the sounds of the world." According to legend, Kuan Yin was about to enter heaven but paused on the threshold as the cries of the world reached her ears.

Scholars believe that the Buddhist monk and translator Kumarajiva was the first to refer to the female form of Kuan Yin in his Chinese translation of the Lotus Sutra in 406 A.D. Of the thirty-three appearances of the bodhisattva referred to in his translation, seven are female. (Devoted Chinese and Japanese Buddhists have since come to associate the number thirty-three with Kuan Yin.)

Although Kuan Yin was still being portrayed as a male as late as the tenth century, with the introduction of Tantric Buddhism into China in the eighth century during the T'ang dynasty, the image of the celestial bodhisattva as a beautiful white-robed goddess was predominant and the devotional cult surrounding her became increasingly popular. By the ninth century there was a statue of Kuan Yin in every Buddhist monastery in China.

Despite the controversy over the origins of Kuan Yin as a feminine being, the depiction of a bodhisattva as both 'god' and 'goddess' is not inconsistent with Buddhist doctrine. The scriptures explain that a bodhisattva has the power to embody in any form--male, female, child, even animal depending on the type of being he is seeking to save. As the Lotus Sutra relates, the bodhisattva Kuan Shih Yin, "by resort to a variety of shapes, travels in the world, conveying the beings to salvation."

The twelfth-century legend of the Buddhist saint Miao Shan, the Chinese princess who lived in about 700 B.C. and is widely believed to have been Kuan Yin, reinforced the image of the bodhisattva as a female. During the twelfth century Buddhist monks settled on P'u-t'o Shan--the sacred island-mountain in the Chusan Archipelago off the coast of Chekiang where Miao Shan is said to have lived for nine years, healing and saving sailors from shipwreck--and devotion to Kuan Yin spread throughout northern China.

This picturesque island became the chief center of worship of the compassionate Saviouress; crowds of pilgrims would journey from the remotest places in China and even from Manchuria, Mongolia and Tibet to attend stately services there. At one time there were more than a hundred temples on the island and over one thousand monks. The lore surrounding P'u-t'o island recounts numerous appearances and miracles performed by Kuan Yin, who, it is believed, reveals herself to the faithful in a certain cave on the island...

The iconography of Kuan Yin depicts her in many forms, each one revealing a unique aspect of her merciful presence. As the sublime Goddess of Mercy whose beauty, grace and compassion have come to represent the ideal of womanhood in the East, she is frequently portrayed as a slender woman in flowing white robes who carries in her left hand a white lotus, symbol of purity. Ornaments may adorn her form, symbolizing her attainment as a bodhisattva, or she may be pictured without them as a sign of her great virtue.

Kuan Yin's presence is widespread through her images as the "bestower of children" which are found in homes and temples. A great white veil covers her entire form and she may be seated on a lotus. She is often portrayed with a child in her arms, near her feet, or on her knees, or with several children about her. In this role, she is also referred to as the "white-robed honored one." Sometimes to her right and left are her two attendants, Shan-tsíai Tung-tsi, the "young man of excellent capacities," and Lung-wang Nu, the "daughter of the Dragon-king."

Kuan Yin is also known as patron bodhisattva of P'u-t'o Shan, mistress of the Southern Sea and patroness of fishermen. As such she is shown crossing the sea seated or standing on a lotus or with her feet on the head of a dragon.

Like Avalokitesvara she is also depicted with a thousand arms and varying numbers of eyes, hands and heads, sometimes with an eye in the palm of each hand, and is commonly called "the thousand-arms, thousand-eyes" bodhisattva. In this form she represents the omnipresent mother, looking in all directions simultaneously, sensing the afflictions of humanity and extending her many arms to alleviate them with infinite expressions of her mercy.

Symbols characteristically associated with Kuan Yin are a willow branch, with which she sprinkles the divine nectar of life; a precious vase symbolizing the nectar of compassion and wisdom, the hallmarks of a bodhisattva; a dove, representing fecundity; a book or scroll of prayers which she holds in her hand, representing the dharma (teaching) of the Buddha or the sutra (Buddhist text) which Miao Shan is said to have constantly recited; and a rosary adorning her neck with which she calls upon the Buddha¹s for succor.

Images of Avalokitesvara often show him holding a rosary; descriptions of his birth say he was born with a white crystal rosary in his right hand and a white lotus in his left. It is taught that the beads represent all living beings and the turning of the beads symbolizes that Avalokitesvara is leading them out of their state of misery and repeated rounds of rebirth into nirvana.

Today Kuan Yin is worshipped by Taoists as well as Mahayana Buddhists--especially in Taiwan, Japan, Korea and once again in her homeland of China, where the practice of Buddhism had been suppressed by the Communists during the Cultural Revolution (1966-69). She is the protectress of women, sailors, merchants, craftsmen, and those under criminal prosecution, and is invoked particularly by those desiring progeny. Beloved as a mother figure and divine mediatrix who is very close to the daily affairs of her devotees, Kuan Yin's role as Buddhist Madonna has been compared to that of Mary the mother of Jesus in the West.

It is in truth the same soul.

http://www.crystalinks.com/quanyin.html

posted April 07, 2006 05:46 AM         

i learned of Quan Yin in the most personal and healing way....she's very powerful, and the epitome of divine love.

posted June 20, 2006 05:07 AM         

praise to the Lady.

posted August 12, 2006 02:19 AM         

lady of mercy and light

posted August 12, 2006 02:22 AM         

Kuan Yin

Kuan Yin is the Chinese Goddess of Mercy. She represents the virtues of compassion, mercy, forgiveness and faith. "She is the essence of mercy and compassion and is quick to answer pleas from her devotees for help(1)." Her name, Kuan Yin, means "the one who hears the cries of the world(1)."
Kuan Yin can be called upon when you are in danger. It is said that if you are in danger and you "concentrate on the powers of Kuan Yin," you will be saved. Another way in which Kuan Yin can help those in need is if your are in want of a child. If you pray to Kuan Yin for a child she will grant your wish.

Kuan yin has not always been worshiped as a women. Kuan Yin is considered to be the feminine form of the Indian Bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokitesvara, which is a male.(1) In the Sutra of the Lotus of the Wondrous Law, more commonly known as the Lotus Sutra, which is a Buddhist text written in Sanskrit, is a description of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. It says that his name means "the Lord who Regards the Cries of the World".(2)

In the Lotus Sutra, when translated into Chinese, the title Avalokitesvara becomes Kuan Shih Yin(2). There is still a lot of debate by Chinese scholars as to when Kuan Yin made the transition from male to female. From the 1st century AD to the early 8th century AD Kuan Yin was portrayed as a male. Around the mid 9th century statues of Kuan Yin began appearing as statues that were distinctly female(2).
Kuan Yin is not generally regarded as a goddess, but rather a Bodhisattva. A Bodhisattva, "is a being destined for full enlightenment and nirvana who, out
of compassion for the suffering of other beings, has taken a vow to postpone his or her entry into nirvana in order to remain in the world to help other beings(1)."

There are many poems about how Kuan Yin looks and helps her followers. The following poem describes the many different ways she is seen.

A mind perfected in the four virtues,
A gold body filled with wisdom,
Fringes of dangling pearls and jade,
Scented bracelets set with lustrous treasures,
Dark hair piled smoothly in a coiled-dragon bun,
And elegant sashes lightly fluttering as phoenix quills, Her green jade buttons
And white silk robe
Bathed in holy light;
Her velvet skirt
And golden cords
Wrapped by hallowed air,
With brows of new moon shape
And eyes like two bright stars,
Her jadelike face beams of natural joy,
And her ruddy lips seem a flash of red.
Her immaculate vase overflows with nectar from year to year,
Holding sprigs of weeping willow green from age to age.
She disperses the eight woes;
She redeems the multitude;
She has great compassion;
Thus she rules on the T'ai Mountain,
And loves at the South Sea .
She saves the poor, searching for their voices,
Ever heedful and solicitous,
Ever wise and efficacious.
Her orchid heart delights in green bamboos;
Her chaste nature loves the wisteria.
She is the merciful ruler of Potalaka Mountain,
The Living Kuan Yin from the Cave of Tidal Sound.

Kuan Yin has many different forms, she is shown dressed in white, while holding a willow branch, or she is shown with a thousand arms and a thousand eyes. She is also sometimes shown with swirling waters, leaping fish, and placid seas at her feet. She is also shown with a peacock, and with armor.

She is shown draped in white. Her head is covered in a cloak that hits the ground, covering her completely. In one hand she holds a rosary, and in the other she holds a vase. The vase represents the compassion she pours out for all her followers(2). She is sometimes shown with children all around her. She is known as the goddess who brings children and if anyone is having trouble becoming pregnant they can pray to her and they will become pregnant.

In some statues of Kuan Yin she is shown holding a willow branch. The willow branch symbolizes her compassionate concern for the people of the world. The willow is also an ancient Chinese symbol of femininity. Kuan Yin is also pictured with one thousand arms and eyes. This signifies her all encompassing compassion for the world and her constant gaze upon the suffering. Another reason she is pictured with a thousand arms and eyes is because in the legend of Miao Shan she helps her father by giving him her arms and eyes, and in return she was given a thousand arms and eyes.
A peacock is pictured with Kuan Yin to show her role as a protector of all creatures. Kuan Yin is also shown with armor all around her while holding a bow
and arrow this again is a sign of her protectiveness.

There are many different legends that pertain to Kuan Yin. The legend of Miao Shan is a story which emphasizes Kuan Yin's image as a female Bodhisattva. The legend goes as follows:

"Centuries ago in a kingdom bordering Myanmar and perhaps India, there lived a young princess by the name of Miao Shan. She was the youngest of three daughters. Unlike her sisters, she spurned the frivolous pursuits of children and the riches of the court. She devoted her time to meditation and the teachings of Buddha.
Their father, King Miao Chung had no heirs, so he wanted his daughters to marry and the
husband of greatest worth shall have the throne.

All married, except Miao Shan. Only she refused. All she wanted was to attain perfection under the teachings of Buddha and heal humanity of all its ills, equalize all the classes, put the rich and the poor on equal footing, to have a community of good without distinction of persons"". I will only marry a physician. In a rage, her father sent her to a nunnery. Day and night, she was put to the most menial of
tasks. Miao Chung sought to break her spirit. Miao Shan was adamant. Not only did she work without a word of complaint but she also had the help of the Gods and animals. Discovering this, the King had the nunnery burnt down. She was taken to the palace to be executed.

Many ways they tried, all failed. Finally, her father strangled Miao Shan with a silk cord. Just then, the Earth God, in the form of a tiger, leaped into the courtyard and carried her body away. She was taken to hell. The rulers of the underworld were curious of this mortal of such purity.
They to hear her prayers for it is said all that hears it will be at peace. The spirit of Miao Shan began to pray and all about her started to transform into a Paradise of Joy. Quickly a memorial was sent to Heaven. ""There must always be a Heaven and a Hell. This is the Law for only when
there are both there can be Justice. Send this soul back to Earth. No longer shall she stay in Hell, lest all of Hell become as Heaven.""

She was then returned to life to the Island of P''u T''o by the Buddha of the West. There she stayed, seeking perfection. Through all her ordeals, she was never angry with her father, only hoped that he will one day understand. Years later, word got to the Island of P''u T''o that King Miao Chung was struck with a mortal
illness. Only the eye and hand of the ""one without angry one"". Hearing this, Miao Chung allowed her eye to be gouged and her arm cut off. When the King was recovered and realized that it was his daughter that he owed his life to was full of remorse.

Weeping over her body, he begged his daughter for forgiveness. In that moment, the air was filled with a wonderful fragrance and the sky rained flowers. Miao
Shan was revealed as the thousand eye and arms Kuan Yin. Hovering over her parents, she bade them to rule justly under the precepts of Buddha. The King returned to his kingdom. Then, started an age of justice and peace. The King ruled with
compassion and mercy. When he died, it was said that the Heavens opened and Kuan Yin
welcomed her father home(4)."

Kuan Yin is the most cherished Chinese diety. If ever you are in trouble just remember to think of her and she will help.

http://www.purifymind.com/HearCry.htm