The Goddess Kuan Yin
Kuan-yin is the goddess associated with compassion, and is known as the Goddess of Mercy. Her name is short for Guanshi'yin which means "Observing the Cries of the World". She is generally regarded by many as the protector of women (especially mothers) and children. By this association she is also seen as a fertility goddess capable of granting children. She is also seen as the champion of the unfortunate, the sick, the disabled, the poor, and those in trouble. In recent years there have been claims of her being the protector of air travelers. She is supposed to have the supernatural power of assuming any form required to relieve suffering.
Kuan Yin may be shown either in a standing or in a sitting position. In her hands she may hold a willow branch, a vase with water, or a lotus flower. The willow branch is used to either heal the ill or to grant requests and the water symbolizes cleansing so that all living things are blessed with physical and spiritual peace. Her right hand often points downward, with the palm facing outward, the posture of granting a wish. In many images she also carries the pearls of illumination. She holds a sheaf of ripe rice or a bowl of rice seed to denote fertility and the dragon, an ancient symbol for wisdom and strength is associated with her. Dressed in flowing white robes she is sometimes adorned with ornaments to denote her great virtue. She is usually depicted looking or glancing down, symbolizing that she continues to watch over the world. A popular form depicts her with a thousand eyes and a thousand hands. The thousand eyes let her see the suffering creatures in this world, and the thousand hands allow her to reach out to help them.
Some observers have commented on the similarity between Kuan Yin and the Blessed Virgin Mary of Christianity, the mother of Jesus Christ. Among the Roman Catholics in the Phillipenes, some people regard Kuan Yin as the equivalent to the Virgin Mary. During the Edo Period in Japan, when Christianity was banned and punishable by death, some underground Christian groups venerated the Virgin Mary disguised as a statue of Kuan Yin; such statues are known as Maria Kannon. Many had a cross hidden in an inconspicuous location.
She is generally seen as a source of unconditional love and more importantly as a savior. Kuan Yin promises to answer the cries and pleas of all beings and to liberate all beings from their own karmic woes. Through her saving grace even those who have no chance of being Enlightened can be Enlightened, and those deep in negative karma can still find salvation through his compassion. Even among those who do not venerate her as a goddess, Kuan Yin is still highly regarded. Instead of being seen as an active external force of unconditional love and salvation, the personage of Kuan Yin is highly revered as the principle of compassion, mercy and love.
One story describes Kuan Yin as the daughter of a cruel king who wanted her to marry a wealthy but uncaring man. According to the story, after the king asked his daughter Miao Shan to marry the wealthy man, she told him that she would obey his command, so long as the marriage eased three misfortunes. The king asked his daughter what were the three misfortunes that the marriage should ease. Miao Shan explained that the first misfortune the marriage should ease was the suffering people endure as they age. The second misfortune it should ease was the suffering people endure when they fall ill. The third misfortune it should ease was the suffering caused by death. If the marriage could not ease any of the above, then she would rather retire to a life of religion forever. When her father asked who could ease all the above, Miao Shan pointed out that a doctor was able to do all these. Her father grew angry as he wanted her to marry a person of power and wealth, not a healer. He forced her into hard labor and reduced her food and drink but this did not cause her to yield.
Every day she begged to be able to enter a temple and become a nun instead of marrying. Her father eventually allowed her to work in the temple, but asked the monks to give her very hard chores in order to discourage her. The monks forced Miao Shan to work all day and all night, while others slept, in order to finish her work. However, she was such a good person that the animals living around the temple began to help her with her chores. Her father, seeing this, became so frustrated that he attempted to burn down the temple. Miao Shan put out the fire with her bare hands and suffered no burns. Now struck with fear, her father ordered her to be put to death.
As the executioner tried to carry out her father's orders, his axe shattered into a thousand pieces. He then tried a sword which likewise shattered. He tried to shoot Miao Shan down with arrows but they all veered off. Finally in desperation he used his hands. Miao Shan, realising the fate the executioner would meet at her father's hand should she fail to let herself die, forgave the executioner for attempting to kill her. It is said that she voluntarily took on the massive karmic guilt the executioner generated for killing her, thus leaving him guiltless.
It is because of this that she descended into the Hell-like realms. While there she witnessed firsthand the suffering and horrors beings there must endure and was overwhelmed with grief. Filled with compassion, she released all the good karma she had accumulated through her many lifetimes, thus freeing many suffering souls back into Heaven and Earth. In the process that Hell-like realm became a paradise. It is said that the King of Hell sent her back to Earth to prevent the utter destruction of his realm, and that upon her return she appeared on Fragrant Mountain.
The Legend of Miao Shan usually ends with Miao Chuang Yen, Miao Shan's father, falling ill with jaundice. No physician was able to cure him. Then a monk appeared saying that the jaundice could be cured by making a medicine out of the arm and eye of one without anger. The monk further suggested that such a person could be found on Fragrant Mountain. When asked, Miao Shan willingly offered up her eyes and arms. Miao Chuang Yen was cured of his illness and went to the Fragrant Mountain to give thanks to the person. When he discovered that his own daughter had made the sacrifice, he begged for forgiveness.
The story concludes with Miao Shan being transformed into the Thousand Armed Kuan Yin, and the king, queen and her two sisters building a temple on the mountain for her. She began her journey to heaven and was about to cross over into heaven when she heard a cry of suffering from the world below. She turned around and saw the massive suffering endured by the people of the world. Filled with compassion, she returned to earth, vowing never to leave till such time as all suffering has ended.
The compassion of Kuan Yin can transform us. We learn the blessing of mercy in the arms of a mother and, with our own eyes and hands, we can help others.
