KUAN YIN, GODDESS OF MERCY

Among the numerous gods and goddesses that make up the Chinese pantheon, one stands out as the epitome of Mayahana Buddhism and the embodiment of the maternal Chinese virtues of loving kindness and compassion. This goddess, born on the 19th day of the second lunar moon, is Kuan Shih Yin Pu Sa or, more simply, Kuan Yin. The goddess, Kuan Yin is claimed as a patron deity by both the Taoists and the Buddhists and her image is to be found in most temples in Asia. She is worshipped by women seeking offspring, seafarers, farmers, travelers and merchants. In fact, the name "Kuan Yin" shows the universality of her influence as it means, "One Who Sees and Hears the Cry from the Huamn World."
The Chinese legend concerning Kuan Yin tells the story of the king of a small country, located in southwestern China, circa 300 B.C., who had three daughters, Kuan Yin being the youngest. As Kuan Yin, whose mortal name was Miau Chan, grew up she showed extraordinary talent in studying the mystery of the universe and exhibited a great compassion for all living things. Her gifts were lost on her father, however, as he planned to marry her off to some distinguished man in the hope of their son becoming the future king. Miau Chan absolutely refused to be married and, at length, received her father's permission to enter the Nunnery of the White Bird in Lungshu Hsien. Her father, although having given his permission, was none too pleased with the idea of his daughter becoming a nun. He, therefore, commanded that she be given the most difficult and degrading tasks to do. Miau Chan's determination to pursue the religious life, instead of being weakened by these tasks, became even stronger. Her father, in his anger and frustration, ordered that she be executed. When the executioner struck Miau Chan with his sword, the sword broke into a thousand pieces. Seeing this, her father ordered her to be strangled, thus succeeding in her murder. Reaching hell, her soul not only did not suffer the anguish of the netherworld, but rather, because of her goodness, changed hell into paradise. Yama (the king of hell), not wishing his realm to be destroyed, immediately sent her back to life and had her transported, on a lotus flower, to the island of P'ootoo, near Ningpo. Here Miau Chan lived for nine years perfecting herself, healing disease and saving mariners from shipwreck. It was during this time that her father was stricken by a mortal illness which could only be cured by the hand and eye of the "Never Angry One." Miau Chan, on hearing this, allowed her hand to be cut off and her eye gouged out. Reduced to an ointment, these parts immediately effected a cure. The king, discovering that he owed his life to his daughter, long thought to be dead, left his kingdom to his chief minister and adopted Buddhism. Sacrifices to Kuan Yin consist only of fruit and vegetables as it would be blasphemy to offer her meat or wine.
If you are at a temple when she is being worshipped, you will hear her devotees solemnly and lovingly chanting her name, over and over again. She is said to be able to protect people from danger and to grant children to those who pray to her. It is as a patron of love, conception and children that she is most well-known. To see how important these qualities are to the Chinese let us look at the "Sutra on the Great Love of Parents." "At this time the Buddha Preached the Law as follows: All ye good men and good women, Acknowledge your debt for your father's compassion, Acknowledge your debt for your mother's mercy. For the life of a human being in this world Has karma as its basic cause, But parents as its immediate means of origin. Without a father, the child is not born. Without a mother, the child is not nourished. The spirit comes from the father's seed; The body grows within the mother's womb. Because of these relationships, The concern of a mother for her child is without comparison in this world. From the time when she receives the child in her womb, During the passage of nine months, Going, coming, sitting, sleeping, She is visited by suffering. She ceases to have her customary love for food or drink or clothing And worries solely about a safe delivery. The months are full, and the days sufficient. At the time of birth, the winds of karma hasten it on, Her bones are racked with pain. When the child is born and dropped upon the grass, The boundless joy of the father and mother Match that of a woman Who has found the omnipotent magic jewel. When the child utters its first sounds, The mother feels that she herself is born anew. Her chest becomes the child's place of rest; Her knees, its playground, Her breasts, its source of food. Her love, its very life. Without its mother, the child cannot dress or undress. Though the mother hungers, She takes the food from her own mouth and gives it to her child. Without the mother, the child cannot be nourished ...."
Images usually portray Kuan Yin seated on a lotus, holding a case. The case symbolizes harmony and Kuan Yin's hands are said to cantain the Dew of Compassion. Stories tell of her appearing at the bedside of the seriously ill and sprinkling a few drops of this nectar on their heads. This has always resulted in a miraculous cure. The lotus has been used by the Chinese as an emblem of summer and fruitfulness for centuries. With the advent of Buddhism, it took on the additional symbolism of purity because it grows out of the mud but is not soiled by it. The petals of the flower are seen as the spokes of the wheel of continued existence to which all unenlightened beings are bound until they reach the stage of awakening and pass into Nirvana. Kuan Yin's birthday is celebrated without the continual explosions of firecrackers that accompany the birthdays of the other gods. This is due to the fact that Kuan Yin is so pure that it is unnecessary to ward off evil spirits, as none would dare to approach her.