Also known as CHUAN-YIN, KUAN-YIN, KWAN-YIN
GUAN-YIN: Goddess of Compassion and Caring, and one of the Four
Supreme BODHISATTVAs of Chinese Buddhism.
GUAN-YIN's mission is Victim Support. She supports the distressed
and hungry, rescues the unfortunate from peril, and gives comfort
and aid wherever it is needed. GUAN-YIN's work would put many a
charity to shame and she doesn't ask for donations.
Otherwise known as AVALOKITESVARA in India, she had finally
attained Enlightenment after much non-struggling with non-things.
She was just about to enter Heaven to join the other BUDDHAS when
she heard the cries of the poor unsaved souls back on Earth.
Her heart touched by pity, she vowed never to rest until every
single soul was brought to Buddhahood. The magnitude of
contemplating this task made her head explode into a thousand
pieces, but she was perfectly fine after BUDDHA gave her a few
Aspirin Sutras.
Turning aside from Heaven, GUAN-YIN went to the sacred island of
Potuoshan and embarked on her new career. This selfless sacrifice
brought her much credit, and reverence which persists to this
day.
As a deity often called upon to appear in the most unusual and
difficult situations, GUAN-YIN has the ability to transform into
any living thing. In fact she's better known in India as a male.
But she often appears in female form to avoid gossip and because
she likes it. Like her Japanese equivalent KANNON, GUAN-YIN is
known as a female deity, and has taken on a modest amount of
fertility work. Childless women pray to her for offspring. In this
respect she is also a Goddess of Rice, filling it with her own milk
to give nourishing tit-bits.
The Bodhisattva who saves us from the Three Calamities and the
Eight Disasters, GUAN-YIN is always on call, and has appeared in
many a Chinese tale to help the likes of MONKEY out of tricky
situations. His or her peaceful benevolence has soothed many a
worried brow. We are full of admiration.
VITAL STATISTIX
Area or people: n/a
Location : China
Gender : Female
Category : Deity
Pronunciation : Goo-arn Yeen
Alternative names : CHUAN-YIN, KUAN-YIN, KWAN-YIN
Attributes : Coming soon
Mystic number : 2909 (a)