Avalokitesvara
There are numerous tales about Guan Yin one of it possibly Taoist in origin, describes Guan Yin as the daughter of King Miao Chung. He and his wife were childless and as his age was nearing fifty it was a matter of great concern for him that he leaves an heir to his throne. Sacrifices and prayers were offered to the gods and eventually answered. His queen gave birth in three consecutive years to three daughters namely; Miao Ssu, Miao Yin and Miao Shan.
As
there was no son the king decided to settle the heir to the throne by
marrying his daughters to men of ability and the one whom is worthy and
would succeed him. The two elder daughters were married but the
youngest daughter Miao Shan refused. As she devotes herself to attain
enlightenment.
She
persuaded his father to allow her to retire to a nunnery for her
cultivation. She was given the toughest and the most menial jobs on the
King’s order to discourage her cultivating. Despite undergoing all
these hardship she patiently overcome it with persistence, her
compassion moves heaven. Even gods and animals conspired to help her.
Eventually, when the king found out he was furious and ordered the
nunnery to be burned. Miao Shan with the Heaven’s help extinguished the
fire, with a heavy storm. She was later executed and her soul descends
into Hell which was soon transformed into paradise. An edict was sent
up to Heaven saying ”There must be justice both in Heaven and Hell,
if you do not send this saint back to earth there will no longer be a
Hell but only a Heaven”
After
resurrecting her she was transported by Amitabha Buddha (Buddha of the
Western Paradise) to the island, of Pu To Mountain (near Ningpo in
CheJiang Province) where she spent nine years perfecting herself.
She
started helping these in distress, curing people of their diseases,
bestowing sons to these barren, rescuing these shipwreck victims and
other acts of benevolence.
The
legend says that due to the bad karma created by the King he was
eventually struck with an incurable illness which could only be cured
by the hand and the eye of the “Never angry one”. Guan Yin
volunteered to give her hand and eyes to help her father. These parts
immediately effected a cure. The King then discovered that he owed his
daughter his life, full of remorse he left his kingdom to his chief
minister and become a convert to Buddhism.
This legend is one of the many variations, collectively they are known as Miao Shan legends.
Based on a Buddhist account Guan Yin origin is a male deity called Avalokitesvara. He is an enlighten Buddha called “Right Dharma Thus Come One” ( 正 法 明 如 來 佛 ). Because of his Great Compassion he had manifest as a Bodhisattva to save all living beings.
According
to the Chapter 25; The Universal Door of Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva, he
can manifest in numerous forms to help and convert living beings, he is
the embodiment of the Buddha’s Compassion. His compassionate decision
is to vow to stay a bodhisattva instead of becoming a buddha, because
bodhisattvas can more effectively help other beings become enlightened.
Because
of his compassion, Avalokitesvara has vowed not to become a buddha and
enter into nirvana until after all sentient beings are saved from the
nearly endless round of suffering in samsara. Instead, he has committed
to continued existence so that he can help suffering beings.
Avalokitesvara is not the only bodhisattva who has made this vow.
However, he embodies the compassionate motivation which led all
bodhisattvas to the vow.
Thus, valuing the bodhisattva vow leads to valuing Avalokitesvara and
everything he signifies.
AVALOKITESVARA PROTECTS AGAINST THE EIGHT FEARS
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Saved from fire
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Saved from wind or storm
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Saved from attack of snakes or bandits
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Saved from attack of tigers
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Saved from attack of elephant or captivity
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Saved from attack of evil spirits or demons
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Saved from drowning
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Saved from falling off a cliff
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