Kwan Yin

the Goddess of Mercy

Gentle Protectress, Bodhisattva of Compassion, even the savior of seamen and fishermen, she holds many titles. The spelling of her name varies, but it is not so much the arrangement of letters as it is the effect that her spoken name produces on those with a Buddhist background, similar to a reaction in the West when one is speaking of the Virgin Mary. In both cases, it invokes the feeling of compassion and unconditional love. Indeed, her force is compared to Mother Mary in the West, Green Tara in the Tibetan culture, the Virgin of Guadeloupe in Mexico, and many other ancient goddesses, the matriarchy of old. You might call her the Buddhist Madonna.

By her own words, she is a singular soul, but also a complex energy presence or archetype, similar to The Christ Force. Thus when I ask her about her incarnations as "Kwan Yin," this involves many persons that have embodied and reflected this energy in their lives on earth, as far as I can understand. The name "Kwan Yin" is a derivation of a Chinese name for the goddess that is this energy of motherly compassion. There seems to be no one name for her final physical incarnation.

Being one of the "mother" goddesses, she is especially connected to those in need of any kind of help, be they sick, lost, frightened or simply in unfortunate circumstances. She is a great protector and benefactor of the weak, the ill and especially the children and the babies. Many erect alters to Kwan Yin, the "bestower of children" -- the one who hears the prayers of anyone wanting to conceive a child -- to increase their fertility. There is a connection with the care of souls, both during birth and after death. Taoists invoke her presence to free newly departed souls from the judgment of the underworld. She guards the souls of the newborn and guides them to their new parents.

Her range of influence is vast, from China to Korea and Japan, all the way down into Malaysia. She has superceded her Buddhist traditions and jumped into the realm of a more universally venerated goddess, now known to those of many different faiths and sects. Her image can be found on most any alter of worship in temples, homes, schools, shops, restaurants, out of the way grottos and even on the dashboards of taxis.

Entwined in the faith of Buddhism, her first real appearance in literature seems to be around 400 AD. By that time, Buddhism had been around for nearly 1000 years, spreading from its birthplace in India to China, and subsequently to Korea, Japan and Tibet. Devotees of Avalokitesvara, or Avalokita, Bodhisattva of Compassion of Indian Buddhism, brought the concept of Avalokita to China. There, Avalokita, or Kwan Yin, was adopted as a god in the male form and later was gradually changed by some to resemble a female, lending a rather androgynous element to her. By 1200 AD she was definitely a female portrayed in flowing robes.

Avalokita is depicted with many arms, hands and heads, sometimes with an eye in each palm representing the ever watchful omnipresent mother, ready to immediately reach out in any direction to alleviate suffering. In Buddhist mythology, it states that Avalokita was born from Amitabha Buddha's right eye, after which he proclaimed, "Om Mani Padme Hum" -- the jewel in the lotus -- a sentiment of her preciousness to him. Some believe she is actually an incarnation of Amitabha Buddha. The Chinese translation of the Sanskrit Avalokita is Kuanshih Yin, the full form of the shortened Kuan Yin, or Kwan Yin.

It is said in ancient writings that she was embodied as Miao Shan (whose name means "wonderfully kind one"), a Chinese princess who lived about 700 BC. This legendary Buddhist saint is said to have spent nine years living on an island off the coast of China, healing, meditating and saving sailors from shipwreck. This island became a place of worship and pilgrimage for many, especially in one of the caves there, which was transformed into a shrine dedicated to Kwan Yin.

She is called a Bodhisattva, literally a "being of bodhi, or enlightenment." Bodhi is the spiritual energy that produces an urge for enlightenment, emanating Wisdom and Compassion. The Buddhas are the primary stream from this energy, the secondary stream from the Buddhas being the Bodhisattva. A Bodhisattva is any soul which has attained enlightenment and has freed itself from the karmic cycle of rebirth, but which has forgone the bliss of Nirvana, the merging with the Creator, in order to help all the rest attain their enlightenment. This is their vow. It is said that as she was about to enter heaven, she paused at the threshold as the cries of the world reached her ears, and she returned to help them. She is also called an Ascended Master, which essentially means that one has learned all their lessons, transmuted their karma, and is not compelled to experience being reborn into a physical body if they do not desire it.

The term "goddess" always summons up images of myth, and although some may see her as a mythical goddess, many on this planet worship her as a living presence. To me, gods and goddesses, angels, Ascended Masters and Bodhisattvas are all individual parts of the whole of the God Force which permeates everything. I have no problem with labels as such.

I asked Kwan Yin about her name and she said: "Kwan Yin is, 'hears the cries of the people', The goddess of Mercy and Compassion." In all instances this seems like an accepted interpretation. Although there are variations, the feeling is the same. She responds to the heartfelt needs and anguish of the people of earth regardless of background or belief.

In depictions she is shown with pearls of illumination in one hand; and with the other she pours out "sweet dew", the nectar of Wisdom and Compassion from a small vase, blessing all with physical and spiritual peace. Her cupped hands are a symbol of the womb and the universal feminine principal. She sometimes holds a sheaf of ripe rice, a metaphor for sustenance supplied. The dragon is often seen with her, a symbol of wisdom, strength, and the power of divine transformation. A Divine Mother, always there are children around her or being held by her. There are two small attendants that show up periodically, a "young man of excellent capacities" and the "daughter of the Dragon King," both related to the legendary Miao Shan. As reference to fishermen, sailors and water, she can be seen on a boat or a lotus flower crossing the sea. Other things related to her are a dove, a scroll of prayers which are the teachings of Buddha, a rosary of white crystal beads showing the rounds of rebirth, and a willow spray with which she sprinkles the divine nectar of life.



The real Kwan Yin

WAS KWAN YIN A REAL PERSON?
Oh, yes. Many times the Kwan Yin energy comes to the planet and is also known as many other embodiments, from Bodhisattva and from embodiments of other beings of higher vibration that have much knowledge, much wisdom, much compassion. I have been to the planet, and I have done my work. Is not so excellent and special to be a Kwan Yin. Is just a part of self...that trusts; that trusts, loves and has compassion for all.

DID YOU INCARNATE AS MIAO SHAN, THE CHINESE PRINCESS?
No, I am not the whole body. [She means, not incarnate in Miao Shan's body.]

BUT THERE WAS A PERSON NAMED THAT?
Yes. Like someone would sit and meditate and need a great energy, and the energy comes through and then manifested on the planet. It's not like "embodiment." I come and I am represented, and mostly I am one of those Great Ones; one that does not need to have the body now. I am related to, however, an image, a personalized image. Therefore little ones say, "Tara is this. . .," but never once is a little one raised up to be a Great One. It is always a Great One that comes in to be a little one.

SO, YOU DID NOT INCARNATE AS THIS PERSON, MIAO SHAN?
No. I would say that the energy of Kwan Yin was very strong, "who hears the cries of the people," Goddess of Mercy and Compassion. Lots of mercy, lots of compassion, hearing the cries of the people, and presenting self with total love. And therefore in the embodiment, you can almost see it on her face. It is as though she has the same frame of reference in the consciousness, frame in the face, frame in the body.

WHEN WAS KWAN YIN LAST ON EARTH IN A PHYSICAL BODY?
500 years before Jesus was born.

THAT WAS AROUND THE TIME OF BUDDHA. DID SHE KNOW BUDDHA?
As Kwan Yin, she was as a follower. It is not just a physical representation; it is a spiritual representation. It is an understanding beyond this reality. So, the Kwan Yin is not a physical being. Kwan Yin is a representation of the energy. Just like you have on the cover of you book. When we talk to Stefani in the beginning about this, we say it's like a constellation. And it's true, we are a constellation of stars and we are everywhere.

I am also an energy that comes from everywhere. I come from everywhere. In ancient India, I was there. In Tibet, I was there, but I still am. I am just an image in the physical. Remember that the energy is a thought form brought forward by a design and desire to experience.

SO YOU LEFT THE PHYSICAL BODY 500 YEARS BEFORE CHRIST?
Yes, but not called a Kwan Yin, understand? When Jesus was on the planet, he saw maybe 500 people; and yet he lives forever in the hearts and minds. This is like the Kwan Yin. I see, when I was in the body, 300, 600 people. This influences people. But it is mostly for me, in the body, to become realized. Once one becomes realized, it is as if you shed enough light so that you can be of service to the others.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR NAME SPELLED?
Good question! We want you to spell it at least three ways for people to get the idea. So, as we say with Kwan Yin, it is because you write the book because you know Stefani, that she spells it with a K, and we pick that: K-W-A-N Y-I-N, because it's more friendly. It's not so distant. Now, Q-U-A-N is also a good way. There's also K-U-A-N. And there are many other spellings of the name, but it's not necessary. Any one that tunes in and understands that they are going to be interested in this particular energy -- it's not any different than the other energy. It's all the same. Just the spelling is a little different.

The Origin of Kuan Yin: There are many legends about the origin of Kuan Yin, but this in one of the most popular. In 7th century China, a king had three daughters, the youngest named Miao-Shan. At the time of Miao-Shan’s birth, the earth trembled and a wonderful fragrance and flower blossoms sprang up around the land. Many of the local people said they saw the signs of a holy incarnation on her body. While the king and queen were amazed by this blessing. Unfortunately, they were corrupt and 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. She told her father she would only marry if by so doing she would be able to help alleviate the suffering of all mankind. The king became enraged when he heard of her devotion to helping others, and forced her to slave away at menial tasks. Her mother, the queen, and her two sisters admonished her, all to no avail. In desperation, the king decided to let her pursue her religious calling at a monastery, but ordered the nuns there to treat her so badly she would change her mind. She was forced to collect wood and water, and tend a garden for the kitchen. They thought this would be impossible, since the land around the monastery was barren. To everyone’s amazement, the garden flourished, even in winter, and a spring welled up out of nowhere next to the kitchen. When the king heard about these miracles, he decided that he was going to kill Miao-Shan. After all, the nuns who were supposed to have tormented her. But as his henchmen arrived at the monastery, a spirit came out of a fog of clouds and carried her away to safety on a remote island. She lived there on her own for many years, pursuing a life of of religious dedication. Several years later, her father became seriously ill. He was unable to sleep or eat; his doctors believed he would certainly die soon. As he was about to pass, a monk came to visit the king. The monk told the king he could cure the monarch, but he would have to grind up the arms and eyes of one free from hatred to make the medicine. The king thought this was impossible, but the monk assured him that there was a Bodhisattva living in the king’s domain who would gladly surrender those items if asked. The king sent an envoy to find this unknown bodhisattva. When the envoy made the request, Miao-Shan gladly cut out her eyes and severed her arms. The envoy returned and the monk made the medicine. The king instantly recovered. When the king thanked the monk; he chastised the king by saying, "You should thank the one who gave her eyes and arms." Suddenly, the monk disappeared.

The king believed this was divine intervention and after ordering a coach prepared headed off with his family to find and thank the unknown bodhisattva. When the royal family arrived they realized it is was their daughter, 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 Miao-Shan. The earth trembled, flowers rained down, and a holy manifestation of the Thousand Eyes and Thousand Arms appeared hovering in the air. And then, the bodhisattva was gone. To honor Miao-Shan the royal family built a shrine on the spot, which is known as Fragrant Mountain. BODHISATTVA (also spelled Bodhisattva): Literally means "enlightened being"; a soul who, through compassion and altruism, has earned the right to leave this world of suffering and enter nirvana, but has chosen instead to stay on Earth to instruct others to until all beings are enlightened. A Bodhisattva acts as the key figure in Mahayana Buddhism.