Kuan Yin By Aurora Dawn

Kuan ShihYin Kwan Yin Buddhist Goddess of Compassion Kannon Sung-Tzu

By Aurora Dawn

This Buddhist goddess of beauty and compassion is arguably the most popular and beloved of the Eastern goddesses. She is a goddess of the people, accessible to the lowliest and poor, and is the very embodiment of beauty, grace, love, truth, and most importantly compassion. Images and statues of Kuan Yin can be found in many homes and temples throughout China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan where she is known as “Kannon”. Hidden caves, ocean cliffs, mountain tops, and other remote locations are all sacred places where statues of her can be found, and it is here where offerings such as flowers and incense are left in devotion and love for her. Her name translates as “She who hears the cries of the suffering world”.

She is often depicted sitting on a lotus flower and holding a willow branch in one hand. The lotus flower symbolizes enlightenment. Her other symbols include black tea, a rainbow, fish, rice, and a peacock. One legend about her says that she was borne to heaven in human form upon a rainbow and from there she hears and answers the cries of the suffering world. This goddess was born as a human girl on February 9th, princess Miao Shan, at the mountain of Hsiang Shan, and lived a life of compassion and simplicity, eating only rice and vegetables and wearing simple robes. At the moment of Miao Shan’s conception her mother the Queen dreamt that she swallowed the moon and it filled her belly, impregnating her. Miao Shan’s compassion became legendary, and much to the anger of her father she completely renounced palace life and all its luxury saying that “those things are mere bubbles of illusion, and I seek what is eternal and substantial.” Miao Shan achieved enlightenment, but sacrificed it, stating that as long as even one person on earth suffered and remained unenlightened she would remain between heaven and

earth in order to help them. She became Kuan Yin and declared it her sacred duty to relieve suffering and guide each and every person towards enlightenment. She is aided in her duty be her sacred animal the peacock. Seeing the immense need of the creatures on earth and realizing that she can not be everywhere at once she called forth the peacock, originally a dull and plain looking bird, and placed upon its feathers one hundred eyes to serve as her eyes on earth.

Kuan Yin is non-judgmental and offers everyone a fresh start. She does not wipe out the past, rather she brings forth what is already inherent in the person. Women pray to her during childbirth, sickness, financial hardship, and to ease any other kind of suffering. Primarily a woman’s goddess, Kwan Yin will not punish or place blame nor take justice into her own hands. Her powers lie in kindness, health, fertility, magic, children, and compassion.

Teachings of Kuan Yin
These are words spoken by the goddess herself

“A man should not look down on his wife because she is not a beauty, and a woman should not look down on her husband because he is poor.”
“Women should avoid gossiping, so as not to attract troubles.”
“Living together in peace through thick and thin, even when the weather is cold outside, will ensure plenty of warmth in your heart.”
“Siblings are sprung from the same roots; therefore do not fight among each other.”

Invoking Kwan Yin

Kuan Yin can be invoked simply by saying her name out loud. In China it is believed that saying this compassionate goddesses name aloud is the ultimate protection against evil and harm.

Here are some other invocations to be used during prayer, ritual, or spell casting:

“Great goddess of compassion, beauty, and grace
With your rainbow light fill this sacred space
Grant me your wisdom and magical power
As I work this ritual for ----------- in this planetary hour”

“I invoke thee, Kuan Yin, great goddess of beauty and grace
Align yourself with me as I work in this sacred space”

“Mother goddess of compassion and kindness
Fill my heart with strength and love
Guide me through the day and protect me from blindness
So that I may see truth from ground below to heaven above
Kuan Yin Kannon Sung-Tzu
Be with me this day
Shine your light of truth and show me the way
Kannon Sung-Tzu Kwan Yin”

Original invocations by Aurora Dawn
Photos courtesy of IsisDownUnder

Bibliography

Web pages
http://www.geocities.com/isisdownunder1/index.html
http://backgroundcity.com
http://images.google.ca
Books
Kuan Yin: Myths and Prophecies of the Chinese goddess of compassion Author Martin Palmer ©1991
The Witches’ Goddess Authors Janet and Stewart Farrar © 1987
365 Goddess author Patricia Telesco ©1998
The Goddess Companion Author Patricia Monoghan © 2000

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