 Kwan
Yin is known as the Chinese Goddess of Compassion, or "she who hears
the cries of the world". Some
religious historians have compared her to Mary, the mother of Jesus in the
Christian belief system. She is
also compared to the Tibetan saint, Tara.
She is widely known and very popular throughout the Buddhist
community in Asia but depending on the country, Kwan Yin will be referred to
variously as Guanyin, Kannon (Japan), Kwan Um (Vietnam), Chenrezig (Tibet)
and Avalokitevara (Sanskit).
We
often see her depicted as a beautiful Asian woman holding a small vase or
bowl that represents growth. Historians
tell us that Kwan Yin has been shown in female form since the Tang Dynasty.
Prior to that in India, the figure was depicted as the Buddha of
Compassion, a male figure. Kwan
Yin has a home in China on Potala Mountain, near the city of Ningpo,
in Chechiang Province on the East China Sea.
One legend exists in which a Japanese monk took a statue of Kwan Yin
from central China to bring back with him to Japan, but near this island,
his boat stopped moving and he took this as a sign that the statue should
remain in China. Today, the
island of Potala is dotted with temples dedicated to Kwan Yin.
What
do we know about the role of this famous figure in the Buddhist tradition?
In the Buddhist tradition, the role of Kwan Yin is as a bodhisattva,
which is a being who has delayed her own enlightenment and who has vowed to
continue in the cycle of birth, death, and re-birth until all beings are
enlightened. Her goal is to
liberate all beings and to end suffering.
It is common to see another symbol for wisdom, strength,
transformation and deep spirituality - the dragon - pictured along with Kwan
Yin.
Kwan
Yin has long been one of the most popular goddess figures in the eastern
world. There is a popular
Chinese saying goes: "Everyone knows how to chant Amitabha Buddha, and
every household worships Kwan Yin."
The growing interest in
Eastern spirituality, coupled with the women's movement and interest in
goddess-centered spirituality have brought the figure of Kwan Yin to the
west.
Kwan
Yin is an accessible figure and there is not much dogma or ritual associated
with developing a relationship with the Queen of Mercy, as she is also
known. One of the reasons she
may be so popular is that she is depicted in female form and is reminiscent
of the feminine qualities of compassion, empathy and unconditional love of a
mother. She is the embodiment
of pure, perfect compassion for every being, everywhere without exception.
There are many stories and anecdotes of people who have simply called
upon her for help - and have received her blessings in the form of
assistance with the life issues they were dealing with.
Kwan
Yin has the ability to transform herself into any form - a child or a monk
or a king if the occasion merits it! She
is said to take the form that will make it easiest for us to relate to her,
so she can teach us and guide us along the path to liberation.
It is said that any living being who calls her name will be free from
fear and danger. Additionally,
Kwan Yin will awaken a person's spiritual awareness within them.
What Kwan Yin provides us, among other things, is an example of how
we can better treat each other. There
is a saying in Buddhism, "First you cultivate compassion, and then
compassion cultivates you." Kwan
Yin calls out to that part in all of us that aspires to treat our neighbors
as we ourselves would like to be treated.
Compassion for our fellow man is a concept that is universal and
found in all religious doctrines but owned by none.
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