Her mind is virtue, perfected.
Her body is wisdom, perfected.
Her face is bathed in holy light.
She is compassion itself.
Her orchid heart delights in mercy.
No matter what evils we face,
no matter what beasts or demons,
no matter what ill-fortune or disease,
no matter even if we face death,
Kuan-Yin destroys them all
with her compassionate glance,
with her perfected soul.
She is infintely blessed.
Let us bow to her in prayer.
~Chinese Prayer To Kuan-Yin
In traditional Chinese religion, this was one of the feasts of the
bodhisattva Kuan-Yin, whose name means "hearer of cries." Even
murmuring her name, it was said, was a powerful prayer, for she had
pledged herself to remain on earth - not to be dissolved in cosmic
bliss, as her pious lives had earned her the right to be - until
every living thing was illuminated.
Women are encouraged by our society to be self-sacrificing, to offer
their own happiness for that of others. But in Kuan-Yin, we find the
idea of sacrifice raised to a higher plane. For it is not that Kuan-
Yin fails to know her own power nor her right to be transformed into
a Buddha. No - she chooses, from the greatness of her loving heart,
to remain on this side of nirvana, perpetually assisting others
toward that goal.
When we aid others out of our own strength, we emulate Kuan-Yin.
When we exhaust ourselves for others' expense, or when we fail to
acknowledge our own power, we have not met the spiritual challenges
of a woman's life.
By Patricia Monaghan ~ From "The Goddess Companion"
