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Kuan Yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Mercy!
By Dr Joshua David Stone

The topic of Buddhism would not be complete without mentioning Kuan Yin. Kuan Yin carries very much the Goddess, and Divine Mother aspect of Buddhism. This Goddess and Divine Mother energy in Christianity is carried by the Virgin Mary. In the Egyptian mysteries it is carried by Isis. In Hinduism it is carried by Shakti, Parvati the wife of Shiva, Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu, Radha, the wife of Krishna, and Sita the wife of Rama.

There actually is not a lot of information that is available on Kuan Yin, and what I have been able to find will surprise you. Kuan Yin’s name in its proper form is Kuanshih Yin. What it means is, "She who harkens to the cries of the world." Kuan Yin is a translation of the Sanskrit name of her chief progenitor which is Avalokitesvara, also known as Avalokita. Avalokitesvara was her original name.

In Korea, Japan and China, however, she is called Kuan Yin. She might more accurately be called a Celestial Bodhisatva, in Buddhism. In Western terms most definitely an Ascended Master. One of Her jobs in the celestial spheres is to sit on the board of the Lords of Karma.

I, personally first got interested in Kuan Yin when I got involved with Johrei, which is Buddhist religion based on the teachings of a Japanese master by the name of Meishu-Sama. Meishu-Sama had an experience of being overshadowed by Avalokitesvara, much in the same way Lord Maitreya overshadowed Jesus Christ. They seemed to almost share the same body.

Avalokitesvara taught Meishu-Sama to channel divine light through his hands with His help. I say the word "His" because in the Avalokitesvara form, Kuan Yin is considered male. (I will discuss this more in a little while.) Meishu-Sama started to miraculously heal people with the help of Avalokitesvara. He was guided to teach all his followers to channel this divine light as part of their church service. Many of you may have seen their booth at the whole life expos. There is a six week class you have to take that is very inexpensive, where you are introduced to the Buddhist teachings of their church.

You are then initiated and given what looks like a thick golden coin with a sacred piece of paper inside it. The keeping of this locket in your pocket or as a necklace is supposed to activate the flow of this divine light from Avalokitesvara and their particular line of energy. The teachings are very beautiful and the people are very lovely who are in the church.

I became interested in Avalokitesvara and this most amazing story of Meishu-Sama, so I started to research all I could find on the subject. What I found out was very interesting. First, the Tibetans and Mongols worshipped a female form of Avalokitesvara called Tara. In ancient paintings, Kuan Yin and Tara look almost identical. The Chinese seemed to combine Avalokitesvara and Tara and called her Kuan Yin.

Kuan Yin is often depicted as a member of a trinity with the Celestial Buddha, Amitabha, in the center and Kuan Yin and "Tashih-Chih (A Bodhisattva Master) standing on either side. Kuan Yin is also worshipped independently by many millions of people.

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

By most Tibetans Avalokitesvara came to be recognized as Buddha’s earthly representative and as chief guardian of the Dharma (doctrine) until the advent of Maitreya Buddha. (This is very interesting, given the fact that the Maitreya Buddha is now here living in England. Buddha’s prophecy of His coming, has come true.)

Avalokitesvara and Kuan Yin are also considered to be embodi-ments of compassion. In Tibetan Buddhism, Kuan Yin is seen in her male form as Avalokitesvara. As a matter of fact, the current Dalai Lama is thought to be an incarnation of Avalokitesvara. It is thought that the female form of Avalokitesvara as Kuan Yin originated in the twelfth or thirteenth century in both China and Japan. The "Saddharma Pundarika Sutra" affirms that Avalokitesvara had 337 incarnations.

Tara is said to be born of a tear shed by Avalokitesvara in sorrow for the world. Tara, again, being the female form worshipped by the Tibetans but not in China or Japan.

Like Amitabha, Buddha Avalokitesvara is cherished for His vow to renounce Nirvana as long as there are sentient beings still lost amidst worldly bondage. This is just one of the reasons Kuan Yin is adored by millions.

In the Lotus Sutra it is said about Kuan Yin; "The mysterious sound of Kuan Yin’s name is holy like the ocean’s thunder No other like it in the world! The Lotus Sutra goes on to say; "Therefore should the mind be constantly fixed on Her." "She is imbued with supernatural power and wise in using skillful means. In every corner of the world she manifests her countless forms."

The supreme compliment to Avalokitesvara and Kuan Yin is given in the book, "Sutra of the Lotus Flower". This book is revered by millions of Buddhists as containing the core and culmination of the Buddha’s teaching. In a book I was able to obtain, called, "The Threefold Lotus Sutra" by Kosei, the Buddha has one whole chapter just on Avalokitesvara and/or Kuan Yin. I would like to quote from this book some passages from this chapter concerning Buddha’s opinion of Avalokitesvara (the regarder of cries of the world)!

"World-honored one! For what reason is the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara named "Regarder of the cries of the world?" "Good son! If there be countless hundred thousand myriad kotis of living beings suffering from pain and distress who hear of this Bodhisattva regarder of the cries of the world, and with all their mind call upon His name, the Bodhisattva will instantly regard their cries, and all of them will be delivered."

"If there be any who keep the name of that Bodhisattva regarder of the cries of the world, though they fall into a great fire, the fire will not be able to burn them, by virtue of the supernatural power of that Bodhisattva’s majesty. If any, carried away by a flood, call upon His name they will immediately reach the shallows."

"If, again, there be any man on the verge of deadly harm who calls upon the name of the Bodhisattva regarder of the cries of the world, the word of the attacker will instantly snap asunder and he will be set free."

"If any living beings much given to carnal passion, keep in mind and revere the Bodhisattva regarder of the cries of the world, they will be set free from their passion. If any much given to anger keep in mind and revere the Bodhisattva regarder of the cries of the world, they will be set from their anger."

"If any woman desiring a son worships and pays homage to the Bodhisattva regarder of the cries of the world, she will bear a son happy, virtuous and wise."

"If the living in an realm must be saved in the body of a Buddha, the Bodhisattva regarder of the cries of the world appears as a Buddha and preaches to them the law."

"He who bears Him unremittingly in mind, will be able to end the sorrows of existence."

Summation
I do not think the Buddha was lying when He said these things about Avalokitesvara, also known as Kuan Yin. I highly recommend that those who desire help call to beloved Kuan Yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion and Mercy, and Regarder of the Cries of the World. She cannot fail you, as Buddha has stated quite clearly.

For those of you who would like to learn more about Kuan Yin, do get the two books I mentioned above. The "Lotus Sutra" is called, "The All Sidedness of the Bodhisattva Regarder of the Cries of the World".

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