Kwan Yin

[David N. Snyder]

Kwan Yin (also written and pronounced as Guan Yin) is the most important female figure in many Buddhist traditions. She is the goddess of compassion. In Buddhism gods are impermanent higher beings who are still subject to rebirth, they are not absolute power deities or creators, as in the western use of the term God. Kwan Yin is a rebirth of the bodhisattva Avolikiteshvara, a monk from a previous eon who was reborn in a heavenly realm and filled with compassion for all living beings. One legend states that Avolikiteshvara chose to be reborn as a beautiful woman to marry a famous king and convince him to become a Buddhist.

[thornbush]

Many pious legends abound about this androgynous figure, so much known about Him/Her yet so little of that are 'Buddhist' in perspective. Here's some Tripitaka canonical references on Him, known to Mahayanist/Vajrayanist Buddhists also as "Samyak Vidya Dharma Tathagata" (Right(True/Proper) Brightness/Knowledge of Dharma Thus Come One) who has now manifested as the 'Observer of the World's Sounds Bodhisattva' (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) in all of the six realms of Existence as a bridge and for their benefit towards the Buddha Dharma.

From the Lotus Sutra:
Old translation:
http://reluctant-messenger.com/lotus_sutra_24.htm
Modern translation:
http://www2.fodian.net/old/English/0262_25.html

His Causes and Conditions
http://www.e-sangha.com/alphone/dabei_sutra.htm

The Six Syllable Great Bright Mantra (Om Mani Padme Hum)
http://www2.fodian.net/old/English/1050.html

His causes, conditions and as future Sukhavati's Teaching Host:
http://www.sutrasmantras.info/sutra07.html

His Method in the Shurangama Sutra:
http://www.e-sangha.com/alphone/shurang ... okitesvara

Visualizing Him:
http://www.cloudwater.org/visualization ... okitesvara

Maha Cundi: (one of His many Esoteric teaching forms)
http://www.e-sangha.com/alphone/cundi.html

The Heart Sutra
Full Text: http://www.shambhala.org/teachers/pema/shtk.php
Shorter Text: http://www.drba.org/dharma/heartsutra.asp

(Would appreciate if anyone can add here from the Avatamsaka Sutra on His Causes and Conditions, haven't had time yet to read that great volumnious Sutra)

Addendum:
His Name Chants:(in Mandarin)
http://www.immmusic.com/product/eng/1008.htm
(First preview: Namo Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa / Second Preview: Namo Da Bei Guan Shi Yin Pu Sa)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLF-pqLYlcI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIa-CVT1 ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ALeZIxE ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ALeZIxE ... re=related
http://www.amitabha-gallery.org/chants2.htm
http://www.cttbusa.org/recitation/gwanyinchant.mp3

His Images:
http://www.fodian.net/world/gwoonyarm/imagesa.html
http://www.jxy55.com/ (just the front cover)
http://www.adidaphat.us/phapamhtm/tranghinh.htm

His Dharma Repentance: (a Chinese Mahayana Liturgy)
http://www.siddham.org/yuan_english/sut ... ssion.html (format by Dharma Realm Buddhist Association)
(see link here for Word attachment of the similar Repentance by Fo Guang Shan)

Will be back for more

Om Mani Padme Hum!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!

[Aemilius]

With one heart we bow to Guan Shr Yin Bodhisattva of the Western Land of Peace and Bliss.
His myriad kotis of purple golden bodies pervade all Boddhisattvas, Mahasattvas of the Dharma Realm.