The original name of Kwan Shi Yin in Sanskrit it is Avalokiteswara which roughly means “The observer of the sights and sounds of the world”. The Chinese translations of his name are Guan Shi Yin "One who hears the cry of beings" or Guan Zhi Zai "Observer of the ultimate nature of things". Of the two, Guan Shi Yin is the most popularly known and used, perhaps because this world is full of suffering and people need a great savior to watch and help them.
In Japanese like Kannon, Korean like Gwan-eum, Tibetan like and Chenrezig and Vietnamese Quan Âm. As for the origin of Kwan Shi Yin, there are many sources of reference. The first of these is in the Surangarma Sutra. In it, Kwan Yin narrates how he learned and trained with his Master Buddha Avalokiteswara in his Pure Land (the disciple takes the name of the master in honor of the master). He was then taught to observe things externally and internally as a way of cultivating Buddhahood. The second is that in other sutras, Kwan Yin is really the Tathagata of the Glow of True Dharma.
The third is from the records of Master Dao Xuan, a monk of great achievements from the Tang Dynasty. It is said that due to these same achievements the heavenly beings came to make offerings to him. He once asked Kwan Yin about the origin of a deva, and the deva said that there are infinite kalpas ago, there was a king named Zhuanyan who had three daughters, the youngest of whom was called Miao Shan, who left home and more later became Kwan Yin. THE partir disso é bem possível que a história de Miao Shan tenha se desenvolvido à partir deste incidente. Furthermore, in another Sutra it is recorded that there was a deep spiritual relationship between Buddha Amitabha and Kwan Yin. Amitabha was then a king in a distant world and Avalokiteswara was one of his sons. Then one day, in his world, Kwan Yin made a vow before Buddha Amitabha, that whatever being in misery and calling out his name to save him, he would try to alleviate his suffering. Buddha Amitabha praised him and that from that moment on he would be known as Avalokiteswara and that one day he would succeed his father Amitabha.
Kuan Yin is a Chinese deity. Is it a Bodhisattva (Pu Sa)? Bodhisattva is a Sanskrit word that can be divided into two parts. "Bodhi" means "wisdom" and "Sattva" means "One being". Together the term means “A Being with Great Wisdom specifically this determination to achieve Enlightenment for the good of all sentient beings gives rise to a Bodhisattva.
In fact, many Bodhisattvas have renounced their attributes as a Buddha in order to help others like Bodhisattvas, a condition in which the characteristics of Wisdom and Compassion are most evident. In the Bodhisattvas path there are ten stages and the high-level ones are known as the Great Bodhisattvas.
However it is important to remember that Kwan Shi Yin is actually a Buddha, who reached enlightenment infinite kalpas ago, and that in order to help others he decided to manifest himself as a Bodhisattva. And reportedly, Kuan Yin lived like us, and even after achieving ascension; in the face of the world's pains and cries, she chose to stay close to Earth and support and protect those in need.
Revered in the east, she is increasingly being known and adored in the west as well. Especially after the 1980s, when through his direct intervention, Magnified Healing was brought to Earth and revealed to Gisele King and Katryn Anderson. Thereafter, Magnified Healing (or Magnified Healing) has spread rapidly throughout the world, as have the devotees of Kuan Yin.
The diverse representations of Kwan Yin
In China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia, Kwan Yin is usually depicted as a gentle lady in white robes carrying a vase with a willow branch.
The image is extremely popular since the Song Dynasty. In India, however, the Bodhisattva's images show him as a handsome prince wearing a crown on which appears the image of his master, Buddha Amitabha.
It is also worth mentioning that in the scriptures Buddha Sakyamuni refers to Kwan Yin as a "virtuous man", which means that he manifested himself in masculine form during the Buddha's time.
In Tibet, Kwan Yin is seen in male form and is portrayed as a young man with four arms, with a white quartz rosary, a jewel of desires and a blooming white lotus.
A manifestation common to all Mahayana schools is the Avalokiteswara with a thousand arms and a thousand eyes, it represents the omnipotent mother who sees in all directions and extends her arms to provide simultaneous assistance to all who need it. There are still other representations where he appears with 18, 42 hands carrying several other ritual implements.
Another common way is to show Kwan Yin alongside Bodhisattva Tai Shi Shi (Vajrapani), on the right and left of Buddha Amitabha respectively. This triad is generally called "The Three Saints of the West". There are many other Kwan Yin icons, but only the most popular ones are described here.
In the Chinese tradition Kwan Yin is seen with two assistants flanking it. To his right is a girl carrying a flaming pearl and to his left a boy with his palms together.
The boy is known as Shan Tsai ("Heavenly Youth of the Treasure of Merit" - "Kumara Sudhana"). This boy was very wise and dedicated his life to seeking the Buddha. He visited 53 saints and finally met Bodhisattva Samantabhadra who advised him to practice the ten-step path in order to be reborn in the western world of Buddha Amitabha, Sukhavati and achieve enlightenment there.
The girl is called the Dragon Maiden, for being considered the youngest daughter of a dragon king. This daughter of the Dragon-king later became a Buddha, even facing the disbelief of Buddha Sakyamuni's disciples who thought that only men could be Buddhas. So these two characters are considered to be Kwan Yin's attendants.
* The rosary, sometimes present in Her hands, symbolizes the living beings that it is leading to "rebirth".
* It also appears next to a dragon, the symbol of heavenly wisdom.
* And it is still commonly depicted on a huge lotus flower. And the lotus flower is the symbol of transformation, of purity born from mud.
Altar
The first practice is to set up an altar for Kuan Yin. Place Kuan Yin in the center, and arrange the offerings in a circular fashion in front of Him.
Are they:
- Candles - yellow, pink and blue, as they represent the threefold flame of divine love, divine wisdom and divine power. The candles are directed to the light on the way, in life.
- Incense - represents the precepts and rules that need to be made aware and followed in life.
- Flowers - represent charity - towards others and those received from the Universe.
- Two waters - one pure and one perfumed (one can use scents or perfumed herbs working the intention). After the consecration of the waters; the scented can be used to sprinkle on the altar in the environment. Pure water to drink, or touch the chakras, for harmonization.
- Concha - represents knowledge: acquired and what is to come, and their transmission.
- Fruit - this offer is to achieve peace, inner light, that is, to receive the benefits of Samadi meditation.
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have no unique aspect or shape. However, we, as sentient beings who live in a material world, need to create a way of remembering the qualities of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. One of these ways is through the creation of images on paper, cloth, metal, stone, etc.
Contrary to popular opinion, the images have existed since the time of Buddha Sakyamuni. They arose from an incident in which shortly after Buddha went to preach the Dharma to his mother in heaven, the king and many others, feeling his absence, made an image of him in sandalwood.
Thus the presence of an image served as representative of the presence of Buddha. On the other hand, the image is a representation of abstract ideas such as Compassion and Wisdom). The various hand signals (mudras) and ritual implements in iconography have deeper meanings, and some of them are also associated with Kwan Yin as listed below:
Object and Symbolism
Lotus (padma):
Purity, Transformation of internal impurities into the Buddha's qualities.
Jóia ou gema (mani):
Ability to grant wishes (the good ones of course!) To sentient beings.
Crystal rosary with quartz beads:
Reminder for sentient beings to recite their Om Mani Padme Hum mantra with concentration and determination. White Illuminated Quartz is also a sacred stone.
Bow and arrow:
The defeat of the four negative forces
Nectar pot:
It also represents relief from suffering and this nectar is the food of hungry ghosts. Wisdom satisfying the thirst for ignorance.
Antelope skin:
The only way to overcome hatred is through universal compassion
Willow tree:
Healing the disease of the body and mind.
Palm outward with fingers pointing to the floor:
The gesture of charity towards all.
Palm facing outward and pointing upwards:
The giving of courage to all.
White or white mantle:
White represents the absolute purity of Buddha's body, speech and mind.
Fonte : autor desconhecido
