Sisters Seminar
2007-02-05 11:30:37 UTC
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 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 die, 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 he 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 Boddhisattva):
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.
To call upon Guan Yin for compassion, healing &/or mercy
say, chant, or sing this mantra:
Namo Guan Shih Yin Pusa
Literal Translation:Namo (Sanskrit) - Homage to / Refuge in
Guan (Chinese) - Observe / Care
Shih (Chinese) - World
Yin (Chinese) - Sound / Voice
Pusa (Sanskrit) - Bodhisattva
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 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 die, 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 he 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 Boddhisattva):
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.
To call upon Guan Yin for compassion, healing &/or mercy
say, chant, or sing this mantra:
Namo Guan Shih Yin Pusa
Literal Translation:Namo (Sanskrit) - Homage to / Refuge in
Guan (Chinese) - Observe / Care
Shih (Chinese) - World
Yin (Chinese) - Sound / Voice
Pusa (Sanskrit) - Bodhisattva