|
Shop
| Dream Analysis
| Books
| Altars
| Numerology
| Articles
Kuan
Yin
Epitome of
Compassion
Color -
rainbow
Symbols
- lotus, fresh fruit
Aspects
- compassion, health, children, good fortune
Suggested Offerings
- fruit, flowers, rice,
black tea, lotus incense
Let me tell you a story.
Kuan Yin, known
as Miao Shin while on earth, had a real problem with her father. He insisted on
forcing her to marry an older, wealthy man so that he (the father) could have
everlasting security. Miao Shin had no interest in marrying this man or
preparing for the wedding and spent all of her time praying and meditating. To
punish her, Miao Shin's father sent her to a convent to spend her days in
silence with nuns. Little did he know that Miao Shin had her greatest desire
met, as spending her days in prayer and meditation, in silence, with others like
her was more than she could ever ask. She lived there happily for many years.
When her father
found out how happy she was he had her removed and taken into the forest to be
slashed to death with the swords of her father's guards. Miao Shin was so
beloved, even by the guards, this was a terrible thing to ask of even them.
Being loyal to Miao Shin's father, they carried out the task. But right before
the swords struck her, a fierce tiger snatched her up in his mouth and carried
her off to a far away mountain cave. Miao Shin thinking that her fate was now
worse than before, prepared herself for death, as she knew the tiger would
certainly devour her. Just as she had this thought, the tiger vanished, leaving
her alone in the mountain cave.
The next thing
she knew, the cave literally dissolved and she was floating, just like a feather
caught by the wind. When she landed she found herself in a dark place, much
darker than the mountain cave the tiger had brought her to. Had she died? She
wondered this because ghosts were swishing by on all sides of her. As she looked
up, a man with fire shooting out of his head and eyes appeared. It was Yen Lo
Wang, ruler of the dead. Why was she in his realm? She wondered.
As Miao Shin
looked around she was saddened by the trapped souls who would never have the
chance to reincarnate. Never would they be given the opportunity to settle their
karma or seek enlightenment. It was at that moment that Miao Shin realized why
she had come there. She was there to perform her miracles. Straightening up,
standing tall, with a wise woman expression on her face Miao Shin confronted Yen
Lo Wang.
She asked why he
kept the souls there with him like he did and explained how important it is that
they have the chance to be reborn again to Earth. How they needed and deserved
the opportunity to work off the evil they had done in their former lives. She
told him he had no right to keep these souls in his realm in misery, where they
will never have a chance for salvation.
Kuan Yin is
definitely a woman after my own heart. Standing in her power.
Well, of course
this really ticked off Wang. Flames shot out of his head higher than before, yet
Miao Shin stood before him glowing as only a saint can glow. Wang, for sure, did
not want saints in his realm. Heaven forbid! (Pardon the pun.) And Miao Shin
wasn't about to back down. She wanted answers!
Finally, when
Yen Lo Wang was about to curse Miao Shin and raise his hand to her a strange
peace came over him. He had never felt that before. He looked at Miao Shin
standing there. Meditating. Calm. Her light shining so brightly that it was
almost blinding. All of the souls were drawn to her light and came near to her.
Yen Lo Wang,
seeing this, realized he had no power over such a holy woman and told her to
leave and take the souls with her. Yen Lo Wang was no longer angry, he just
wanted them all to leave him alone.
Miao Shin
blessed each of the souls, one by one, and as she did, they drifted up and out
of the deep, dark cave and slipped into new bodies as babies. Ready to live
again and correct the mistakes they had made in previous lifetimes in order to
balance their karma.
Before Miao Shin
knew what hit her, she found herself standing before the Buddha and looking into
his kind and happy face. "Miao Shin", he said. "You have attained
enlightenment. You are very near to becoming a manifestation of all that is
divine. But, your father wants to stop you. So you must hide. Go to the holy
island of Polata. There you will find the silence you need to become perfectly
holy." Ready for further enlightenment, Miao Shin went on her way. Miao
Shin spent many years on the Holy Island of Polata and became even more holy
than ever. To the point that she glowed from within. The absolute beauty of her
soul shone right through her skin. On the island she became a bodhisattva
(almost a Buddha) and possessed loving kindness and magical powers like no one
had ever known before. Miao Shin helped as many people as she possibly could
during this time.
She rescued
drowning sailors, gave food to those who were starving and assisted all who had
been wronged in some way. Miao Shin had the ability to see and hear all things
in the world and could even feel the pain of homeless children and could hear
the crying sobs of each one of them. Because she could fly, she flew to their
side and helped each one.
Once Miao Shin
was pure enough and strong enough to face her father, she went back home. She
found her father dying and fearful of her brilliance. After assuring him she had
come to heal and not hurt him she showed him the little place in his heart that
still had a smidgen of love and told him about the path to enlightenment.
By saving her
father in this way, after all the harm he had tried to do to her, Miao Shin
became as holy as the Buddha and found herself beginning to disappear into the
spiritual realms and out of the world. Forever. She was finally on her way to
eternal light and peace, which was always her life's most intense desire. It was
all she could do to resist.
"I do not
wish it," she told the Universal Light. She explained how so many people
were still unhappy and unenlightened and how, everywhere she looked, she saw
starvation and suffering, wars and misery of all kinds. "Everyone is
holy," she said. "But they do not yet know it." Miao Shin gave up
Buddhahood so that she could help others. Her desire was to do good on behalf of
the people of the Earth.
Immediately a
prayer was heard from a child who had just been badly mistreated. "Kuan Yin
Pu'sa," the little girl prayed. Meaning "O holy Kuan Yin." These
words had never before been spoken out loud. The very instant Miao Shin made the
decision to stay and help the people of the Earth, a new prayer formed in the
minds of all those who lived on the Earth. The prayer was a petition to the
newest Buddhist saint, a goddess like never before.
Miao Shin became
Kuan Yin whose name means "she who listens to the sounds (cries and
prayers) of the world". Kuan Yin has been worshipped ever since as a
Chinese goddess of compassion and mercy.
Kuan Yin's
vibrational imprint is still among us. Present with us to this day. Kuan Yin can
still be summoned for help of any kind.
Say it out loud
slowly and softly, "Kuan Yin." Simply saying her name is a magical act
that brings hope to difficult situations and comfort to those who call on her.
Walking
with the Goddess
The next time
you feel overwhelmed by worries of any kind, spend some time in nature. If you
don't have a yard or a garden, go to a park and find a quiet place among the
trees. Take a small offering of fruit or a flower for Kuan Yin.
It is Kuan Yin's
sacred commitment and great pleasure to relieve pain and suffering and encourage
enlightenment amongst humans. As the most beloved of all the Eastern goddesses,
Kuan Yin freely gives her unending sympathy and magical insights for love and
healing to all.
Walk around. The
act of purposeful walking is a symbol for the passage of time. As time passes,
so will your troubles. Even the difficult ones. Then sit and quietly release all
of your troubles and heartaches to Kuan Yin. You may do this to yourself or out
loud. But be sure and say Kuan Yin's name out loud remembering that, by doing
this, peace will come to your troubled heart. When you are finished, leave your
offering and give thanks.
I wish you peace
my friend.
Back
to top
Back
to Altar Accessories
| 