"She Who Hears the Cries of the World"
Therefore should the mind be constantly fixed on her - Lotus Sutra
Kuan Yin [Quan Yin, Guanyin], more appropriately known as Kuan-shih-yin, is one of the most revered masters of Asia, the god [goddess] of compassion. The people of Japan know her as Kannon and in Tibet the people pray to her a Chenrezi. Her name has been translated to mean "one who regards looks on, or hears the sounds of the world."
Though often associated with Buddhism, he/she is not confined to one religion.
She is most often depicted in feminine form, but there are also sculptures and paintings of Quan Yin in masculine form. She is similar to Avalokiteshvara and Chenrezig, Buddhist deities of compassion.
Statues of her can be found in many homes, for while she is a Buddhist embodiment of the highest spiritual attainment, Kwan Yin also enjoys the wide popularity of a folk goddess.
Among Buddhist statues exhibited in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, is an 11th/12th-century C.E. polychrome wooden Avalokiteshvara, Seated Gaunyin Bodhisattva, internationally heralded as the finest sculpture of its kind outside China.
She is a "Water and Moon" Kuan Yin.
What You'll Find Here
- Kuan Yin - Nelson-Atkins Museum
- Kuan Yin Stuff on CafePress
- Who is Kwan Yin?
- Read more about Kwan Yin
- Kuan Yin
- Kuan Yin Stuff on eBay
- Kuan Yin on Amazon
- What is your interest in Kwan Yin?
- Resources
- Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva
- The Following Mantra is Associated with Kwan Yin
- The History of Kwan Yin
- Guanyin of Moon and Water
- Kuan Yin Video
- Kuan Yin Images
- Blog Posts about Kuan Yin
- The Teachings of the Lotus Sutra
- Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
- Please add your thoughts here!
- Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City
- Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
Kuan Yin - Nelson-Atkins Museum
Kuan Yin Stuff on CafePress
Who is Kwan Yin?
From Sandy Boucher
She is, first of all, the pre-eminent goddess in all of Asia. You find her in China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Burma, Thailand and other countries. Then, in the Buddhist tradition, she is the Celestial Bodhisattva of Compassion. What is a bodhisattva? That is someone who does spiritual practice with the goal of achieving full enlightenment, but just before she arrives at that point, she turns back into the world and says, "No, I will not achieve liberation until all beings have been set free." Then she steps into the world and works to alleviate suffering and to awaken beings to their true nature.One of the most interesting elements of Kwan Yin's story is how she transformed from a male figure into a female one. She was brought to China in the fifth century as the male bodhisattva Avalokitesvara; in the next three hundred years she mysteriously transformed into the female Guan Shih Yin or Kwan Yin. How did that happen! Well, she came into the world embodied in actual flesh-and-blood women. There would be a child who was particularly kind and sweetly accepting, she would grow into a compassionate woman who did many good deeds for others; sometimes she would even sacrifice her life to save others. Then, after her death, through various magical signs, it would be understood that this had not been an ordinary woman but was a sacred being, the goddess Kwan Yin. Many stories in China relate this history, and that is why there are so many different forms of the Chinese Kwan Yin or Guan Shih Yin.
Read more about Kwan Yin
The Bodhisattva of Great Compassion
The Sanskrit name "Avalokiteshvara" means "the lord who looks upon the world with compassion".
Translated into Chinese, the name is "Kuan Shih Yin"or Quan Yin.
Kuan: observe
Shih: the world / the region of sufferers
Yin: all the sounds of the world, in particular, the crying sounds of beings, verbal or mental, seeking help
Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva is the embodiment of great compassion. He has vowed to free all sentient beings from suffering.
Discovering Kwan Yin, Buddhist Goddess of Compassion
Amazon Price: $11.90 (as of 07/25/2008)
Opening the Lotus: A Woman's Guide to Buddhism
Opening the Lotus is a primer on the basic Buddhist concepts, with some discussion of the kinds of questions asked by women, and some directions for beginning practices.
Amazon Price: $13.50 (as of 07/25/2008)
Turning the Wheel: American Women Creating the New Buddhism
Turning the Wheel presents an overview of the whole phenomenon of American women's participation in Buddhist practice, including eighty interviews and photographs.
Amazon Price: $21.00 (as of 07/25/2008)
Hidden Spring: A Buddhist Woman Confronts Cancer
Amazon Price: $16.95 (as of 07/25/2008)
Kuan Yin: Myths and Revelations of the Chinese Goddess of Compassion (Chinese Classics)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/25/2008)
Kuan Yin
Kuan Yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, is shown here in the aspect of Universal Mother.When a child plays on her lap, or children at her feet, they symbolize not only newborn and /or spiritual life, but also Mother Nature whose mysterious powers continually produce, sustain, destroy and renew life throughout the universe.
In China, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva is represented in female form and is known as Kuan Yin. Probably because of Kuan Yin's great compassion, a quality which is traditionally considered feminine, most of the bodhisattva's statues in China since the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618 - 907) have appeared as female figures. In India, however, the bodhisattva is generally represented as a male figure.
Kuan Yin Stuff on eBay
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Kuan Yin on Amazon
Kuan Yin Box: Divine Giver of Compassion (Personal Retreats)
Amazon Price: $17.90 (as of 07/25/2008)
Bodhisattva of Compassion: The Mystical Tradition of Kuan Yin (Shambhala Dragon Editions)
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 07/25/2008)
What is your interest in Kwan Yin?
Actually, anyone can be like Kuan Yin. You may say that you don't have a thousand eyes or a thousand arms or that you lack skilful means, but it is your compassion that can transform you into a Kuan Yin. With your eyes and hands, you can help others. With your compassion, you can bring peace and tranquility to this world.
Resources
- Asian Art Forums - Detail List
- Asian Art Forums Message Old Kuanyin or Kannon ( China & Japan ) Apr 07, 2006
- KUAN-YIN LINEAGE OF REIKI, Origins and Meaning.
- Official Site KuanYin Reiki (TM)
KUAN-YIN Lineage of Reiki EssentialReiki is Light and Harmony within and through all planes of being/reality. Origins of hands-on healing practices go back to the beginnings of spiritual culture, across most traditions: Egypt, India, Greece, - *** Quan Yin Virtual Altar ***
- B le s s Y o u, Q u a n Y i n!
This page is a Virtual Altar dedicated to Quan Yin, Goddess of Mercy and Compassion. It serves to both honor Quan Yin and, as we believe she brought us together, to commemorate our marriage. In bringing us together Quan Yin has saved both our lifes, - Meeting Kwan Yin by Sandy Boucher (SpirituallyFit.com)
- Meeting Kwan Yin from Opening the Lotus: A Womans Guide to Spirituality by Sandy Boucher On First Meeting the Celestial Bodhisattva of Compassion, Kwan Yin
Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva
In Buddhist art, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva is sometimes shown with eleven heads, 1000 hands and eyes on the palms of each hand (Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva). The thousand eyes allow the bodhisattva to see the sufferings of sentient beings, and the thousand hands allow her to reach out to help them.Sometimes, he is represented with one head and 4 arms. This is the Four-Armed Avalokiteshvara, worshipped by all Tibetans as "Chenrezig", the Holder of the White Lotus. It is in the male form which has two hands in the praying gesture while the other two hands hold his symbols, the Crystal Rosary and the Lotus Flower.
The Following Mantra is Associated with Kwan Yin
The Mantra of Universal Protection
OM MAH-NEE Pud-MAY HOOM
Om - The jewel in the lotus
Hum - Hail [to the jewel in the lotus]
The History of Kwan Yin
- The Creation of the Goddess
- The Creation of the Goddess - Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara/Guanyin occupies a unique place in the Mahayana Buddhist pantheon. Buddhist sutras speak of several bodhisattvas but it is Avalokitesvara/Guanyin who is revered and adored by followers of both Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism and by all art lovers. He/she has acquired a status equal to the Buddha and sometimes his importance surpasses even the Buddha's. The Westerners know the deity as the Chinese goddess of love and compassion. If Buddhism has been the greatest contribution of India to world religions, the transformation of Indian Avalokitesvara to Guanyin-the Goddess of Mercy -is the creation and contribution of China to the Buddhist world. Despite three major setbacks suffered by Buddhism in Chinese history, the symbol of Guanyin, the goddess of mercy however had continued to prosper and flourish and has rightly been called the "cult of half Asia"
Guanyin of Moon and Water
Shuiyue Guanyin
"Floating in water,
Clean and pure,
As if hiding
In the white light.
When I set my sight
All egos are vanishing.
Your disciple Bai Juyi
With devotion under your feet.
You are my cynosure
Life after life forever."
- Guanyin of Moon and Water
- Shuiyue Guanyin
Kuan Yin Video
Thousand-Hand Guan Yin
As long as you are kind and there is love in your heart A thousand hands will naturally come to your aid As long as you are kind and there is love in your heart You will reach out with a thousand hands to help others .Guan Yin is the bodhisattva of compassion, revered by Buddhists as the Goddess of Mercy. Her name is short for Guan Shi Yin. Guan means to observe, watch, or monitor; Shi means the world; Yin means sounds, specifically sounds of those who suffer. Thus, Guan Yin is a compassionate being who watches for, and responds to, the people in the world who cry out for help. http://www.taoism.net/ikuantao/guanyin/home.htm
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Kuan Yin Images
In her hands, Kuan Yin may hold a willow branch, a vase with water or occasionally, a lotus flower.
The willow branch is used to heal people's illnesses or bring fulfillment to their requests.
The water ( the dew of compassion) has the quality of removing suffering, purifying the defilements of our body, speech and mind, and lengthening life.
Quan Yin
Goddess Of Mercy in...
Kuan Lin
bodhisattva of compa...
Guan Yin
Kek Lok Si
Thousand Hands and E...
Kuan Yin
Guan Yin , Kanzeon (...
Blog Posts about Kuan Yin
- Jason added website to StumbleUpon favorites
- Cheat Sheets for Front-end Web Developers StumbleUpon Favorites submitted by Jason.
- Jason added website to StumbleUpon favorites
- Open source software news. Open source news. StumbleUpon Favorites submitted by Jason.
- Jason added website to StumbleUpon favorites
- NETTUTS - Submit A Form Without Page Refresh using jQuery StumbleUpon Favorites submitted by Jason.
The Teachings of the Lotus Sutra
Sakyamuni Buddha confirmed Kuan Yin's vow: "If a suffering being hears the name of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva and earnestly calls out to the bodhisattva, Avalokitesvara will hear the call and redeem that being from his suffering" ("Universal Gateway," Lotus Sutra).
Nam-myoho-renge-kyo
Chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo one is able to reveal the state of Buddhahood in one's life, experienced as the natural development of joy, increased vitality, courage, wisdom and compassion.
- Nam Myoho Renge Kyo
- The title of the Lotus Sutra.
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eccles1
I love this lens I got more reading to do Posted May 22, 2008 |
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BaiNiangZi
The compassionate Kwan Yin! I love this lens! 5* Posted May 19, 2008 |
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spirituality
great lens! Posted April 09, 2008 |
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RinchenChodron
Did you know that HH The Dalai Lama is one emmanation of Quan Yin? Nice job. He stands for wisdom and compassion also. Posted January 17, 2008 |
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CRLyceum
Beautiful page. We're new here, but hope to add to our own lens as time goes by. Thank you and Goddess Bless! Posted September 19, 2007 |
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Zenmagic
Namo Ta Che Ta Pei Kuan Shi Yin Phu Sa! A really wonderful lens. Thanks a lot for the great informations about Kuan Yin Bodhisattva. Posted July 02, 2007 |
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Intuitive
Fabulous lens! I love Kwan Yin! Posted February 16, 2007 |
Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
- Nelson-Atkins Museum
- Nelson-Atkins Museum in Kansas City
