The Origin of Kwan Yin
There are many legends about the origin of Kwan Yin (Japanese, Kwannon). This in one of the most popular. In 7th century China, a king had three daughters. The youngest was named Miao-Shan. At the time of Miao-Shan's birth, the earth trembled, a wonderful fragrance spread, and flowers sprang up all around the land.Many locals said they could see the signs of a holy incarnation (avatar) on her body. Unfortunately, while the king and queen were amazed by this blessing, they were corrupt. They saw little value in a child who appeared pure and kind.
When Miao-Shan got older, the king wanted to find a husband for her. However, she told her father that she would only marry if doing so would help her alleviate the suffering of humankind.
The king became enraged to hear of her devotion to helping others. He forced her to slave away at menial tasks. Her mother and her two sisters admonished her but all to no avail.
In desperation, the king decided to let her pursue her religious calling in an abbey. But it was a trick: He ordered the nuns there to treat Maio-Shan so badly that she would change her mind. She was therefore forced to collect wood and water and cultivate a garden for use by the kitchen.
The nuns thought this would be impossible because the land around the abbey was barren. To everyone's amazement, the garden flourished, even in the cold season. And a spring welled up out of nowhere next to the kitchen. When the king heard of these miracles, he decided to kill Miao-Shan. After all, the nuns who were supposed to torment her not sing her praises.
But as his henchmen approached the abbey, a spirit emerged from a fog bank and carried her away to the safety of a remote island. She lived there on her own for many years, pursuing a life of spiritual dedication. Several years later, her father became seriously ill. He was unable to sleep or eat. His doctors were certain he would die very soon.
As he was about to pass away, a monk came to visit the king. The monk told the king he could cure the monarch. But to do so he would have to grind up the arms and eyes of one free of hatred as ingredients in the medicine.
The king was at first delighted but his hopes were dashed when he learned of this special ingredient. He thought it would be impossible to find. But the monk assured him that there was a bodhisattva (being dedicated to the enlightenment of everyone) living in the king's domain who would gladly surrender those items if asked.
The king sent an envoy to find this unknown bodhisattva, who turned out to be Maio-Shan. When the envoy made the request on the king's behalf, Miao-Shan gladly cut out her eyes and severed her arms.
The envoy was stunned but returned with the ingredients for the monk to make the medicine. The king took it and instantly recovered.When the king thanked him, the monk chastised the king in return saying: "You should thank the one who gave her eyes and arms!"
Suddenly, the monk disappeared. The king believed that it had been divine intervention [extraterrestrial help from akasha-devas]. He ordered his coach to be prepared and headed off with his family to find and thank the unknown bodhisattva.
When the royal family arrived at the location the envoy directed them, they realized it is was Miao-Shan who had made the sacrifice.
Miao-Shan spoke up, "Mindful of my father's love, I have repaid him with my eyes and arms."
With eyes full of tears and hearts full of shame, the family gathered to hug Miao-Shan. As they did so auspicious clouds formed around her. The Earth trembled, flowers rained down, and a radiant manifestation of a Thousand Eyes and a Thousand Arms appeared hovering in the air.
The bodhisattva was gone. To honor Miao-Shan the royal family built a shrine on that very spot, which came to be known as Fragrant Mountain.
What are Bodhisattvas?
The Bodhisattva ("being-bent-on-enlightenment") is how the Buddha Shakyamuni referred to himself prior to attaining supreme enlightenment.
He had delayed his realization of nirvana for the sake of becoming not simply a liberated saint but one capable of liberating others.
This took countless lives. He was reborn again and again in various realms, in various states, as an ascetic, a king, a worker, an animal, a deity, suffering greatly at times, and enjoying celestial delights at others (all as a result of his karma).Altruistically, motivated by compassion, he took his final rebirth as a human -- the only kind of world where it is possible to achieve full realization and make the Dharma known again to the worlds of devas, humans, and other beings.
He vowed to find an end to suffering and make it known at a time when he had all the requisites to attain realization and enter nirvana (literally, be nirvanered since it is not in any way a place or state one enters). Bodhisattvas, ordinary people attempting to fulfill the same vow the Buddha had, are key figures in Mahayana Buddhism.
How to call on Kwan Yin
To call on Kwan Yin for help, mercy, compassion, or healing, this mantra may be sung or chanted:
Namo Guan Shih Yin pusa
This blended Sanskrit-Chinese hymn literally translates as Namo (Sanskrit, "Homage" or "Refuge" in) Guan (Chinese, "observe" or "care") Shih (Chinese, "world"), Yin (Chinese, "sound" or "voice"), Pusa (Sanskrit, "Bodhisattva").
- Japan's nuclear disaster: committeetobridgethegap.org
