Who is Bodhisattva Guan Yin, Goddess of Compassion?

Two weeks ago I presented the life, history and teachings of the Gautama Buddha, this week I suggest you discover who is really the Bodhisattva guan yin, in other words, the Compassion goddess.

We will therefore see together some of the legends concerning Guan Yin as well as some physical criteria to recognize it easily.

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Fast presentation

What does Bodhisattva mean?

This is a Sanskrit term which indicates, in the Hinayana Buddhism, the rank of the spiritual level between the level of Arhat and the level of Buddha.

More simply, it means thatShe obtained awakening, But that she preferred to stop here so as not to reach the rank of Buddha and power Share his teaching with men to help them.

Meaning of Guanyin

Let us look at the meaning of the name of Guanyin. This is a Abridged form of Guanshiyin that means "The essence of sapience which considers the noises of the world".

In other words, the one who observes, who captures sounds, prayers, crying and more generally all the sufferings of the world.

Guan Yin is thus the goddess of compassion and mercy.

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Stories and legends

As we will see, there are many legends about Guyan Yin. The oldest go back over 2000 years, in the Middle Empire. Its popularity is very important Since the Song Dynasty (between 960 and 1279).

Do not be surprised if you come across different versions of those stated here, there are indeed more than you can imagine! Difficult therefore to disentangle the true from the false ...

A story between father and daughters

Long years ago, The king (Miao Zhong) Of a small Chinese state had 3 daughters that he wanted to marry more than anything, in order to appropriate new material goods.

But the youngest, Miao Shan had something else in mind. She wanted to become A Buddhist nun And Improve your spiritual culture In order to deliver, to save the world. The king who did not hear him in this way abandoned him. 

The years passed then the king was close to death. An old monk passing through the kingdom explained to him that he had to drink A potion distilled with the arms and eyes of a person willing to give them to hope.

The king simply asked his older daughters to help him. They refused and the monk then invited the king to address a messenger to plead his salvation with the bodhisattva of compassion who then lived at the top of the scented mountain.

This monk was actually onlyA transformation of Miao Shan. Indeed, after her exile and years of spiritual practices, she had become A bodhisattva. Very attentive to everything around her, she had heard of her dying father and was quick to transform into a monk to go and advise the advisor.

Once in the temple, the king's messenger was received by Miao Shan in person who told him that this disease was A punishment for the King's past sins. She added, however, that being her daughter, she had to help her and then removed her eyes and cut her arms so that the messenger could bring them to the king.

The monk was then able to prepare the elixir in order to heal the king. This very happy thanked the monk, who simply replied "Rather, thank the person who has made this sacrifice to save you."

This is how the king went to the top of the scented mountain and was very surprised to find his daughter there, without arms and without eyes, preside over hundreds of disciples. He then became aware of the suffering that his daughter had inflicted on him. Miao Shan, indulgent invited him to live now with compassion and to practice Buddhism.

Some legends say that at this moment, there was A lightning of light who surrounded them while she turned into a Divine image of Boshisattva With restored eyes and arms. 

Regular transformations 

A lot of popular legends talk about Guan Yin Transformations in modest characters. Indeed, it was apparently a way for herHelp people in difficulty. There are several stories around sailors and fishermen. She is notably venerated as their patron saint and is represented in this case with a wicker basket.

A story tells that Guan Yin Arrived in the form of a young and pretty fisherman in a village which was under the influence of a strip of thug. The head of the band immediately fell in love. Wishing to marry it, Guan Yin first invited him to memorize Buddhist Scriptures, to no longer eat meat and to perform good deeds. This is how the village became calm and everyone knew the benevolence he reigned there.

Statue Bodhisattva Guanyin - Pine wood - 8 forms of Guanyin

True figure of Chinese literature

Chinese literature has several great classics, including one: "Pilgrimage to the west" which narrates the history of the Xuan Zang monk of the Tang dynasty and its three disciples, who left in India to search for soutras. In this novel, Guan Yin is one of the main characters. 

In this story, Guan Yin wish above all to do them repair their mistakes and help them progress on the spiritual path.

It is presented as the key to all solutions, that capable of solving many problems.

Only one thing to remember: "She only helps those who lead a life full of kindness, honesty and mercy."

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Its physical appearance

Physical characteristics

In the majority of representations, you will find it mainly dressed in a long white dress, standing on a lotus leaf or sitting in meditation. She holds a willow branch in one hand and a jade vase in the other.

Another representative symbols: She has skin is white as milk and she is wearing a bun.

In China, Guanyin is represented as a woman, unlike India. Which deserves to be specified since it is something very rare in Buddhism. In Japan, we find this woman, but still with some male features.

Sometimes even with a thousand eyes and a thousand arms ...

This is another version of the meeting of Miao Shan With his father on the scented mountain. Some legends say that during lightning light, Guanyin would then have manifested himself with a thousand eyes and a thousand arms.

So you can find Representations of Guan Yin with several eyes and several arms.

Statue Buddha Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin) in copper

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We already arrive at the end of this article, I hope you liked it. Rest assured, we meet next Tuesday for new adventures.

As always, I invite you to ask us all your questions or make us your comments directly in this article.

If you have read other legends, if you have read another version that seems just as interesting to share, it's up to you, don't hesitate! 

In the meantime, I'm telling you next week!