Wonder Woman Vs Kuan Yin

[kris]

I am not sure about other, but I was brought up to believe that if I study well, make a lot of money then I can be very happy. However, after learning Dharma, I realized that it is wrong view. Money is "neutral", and it has nothing to do with happiness. However, it is glad to know that more and more people has come to realize that money and fame do not necessarily bring happiness too, and many has turned to spirituality (and some times religions) for the answer to happiness.

May more and more people realize the true ways to happiness...

[Midakpa]

How did Avalokiteshvara, a male bodhisattva, become the "Wonder Woman" or rather the Goddess of Mercy, Kuan Yin? Here is her true story:

Avalokiteshvara, the male bodhisattva who represents compassion, was first brought to China by travelling monks as early as the 1st century C.E., some 500 years after the Buddha’s death. The first indigenous Chinese form of Kuan Yin to appear was Water Moon Kuan Yin. Though some earlier forms of the bodhisattva had moustaches, Water Moon Kuan Yin had a smooth face and androgynous features. These subtle changes helped the bodhisattva transform from male to female form. Indeed from the 10th century onwards, Kuan Yin was increasingly depicted in China as a woman. The first feminine form to appear was White Robed Kuan Yin. Though similar to the male Water Moon Kuan Yin, this figure is clearly female. This iconographic change was supported by various legends and miracle tales of the time that mention a “woman in white”, who miraculously appeared to those in need of help. White Robed Kuan Yin wears her robe over her head in the hooded style of the Chinese women of that period, which reinforced her connection to the people and made her broadly accessible.

The sutras do not recount Kuan Yin’s transformation to female form. Though the texts do mention Avalokiteshvara/Kuan Yin as manifesting in various forms, male and female to help sentient beings, the classical texts universally depict Kuan Yin as male. Because the feminine forms of Kuan Yin do not follow the scriptures, it seems clear that they developed alongside the traditional sutras, supported by later Chinese texts, legends, and miracle tales. Sometimes Kuan Yin devotees had spontaneous visions of the bodhisattva.

Avalokiteshvara became domesticated in China and became Kuan Yin. She was first mentioned in Buddhist scriptures eg. the Lotus sutra which was translated into Chinese in 255, 286, 290, 335, 406 and 601 C.E. The third, fifth and sixth versions still exist. His gender was male or androgynous. Early images depicted a male or androgynous figure.

[Midakpa]

There are many forms of Kuan Yin. Generally it is agreed that there are 33 forms. The forms are divided into three types: exoteric, esoteric, sinified (Chinese). The descriptions of the forms of Kuan Yin according to the three types are as follows:

1.   Exoteric (general) – based on the Lotus sutra, Surangama sutra, Avatamsaka sutra, Sukhavativyuha sutra:
One head, 2 arms, wears a crown, adorned with a Buddha, holds a lotus, a willow branch, a water vase or rosary beads.
2.   Esoteric (secret) – Sutra of the 11-headed Kuan Yin, Sutra of the Thousand-armed Kuan Yin of Great Compassion.
Either one head and many hands or multiple heads and hands, often holding ritual objects of various kinds to relieve suffering and provide salvation
3.   Sinified (Chinese) – influenced by native stories and legends eg. White robed Kuan Yin, Clam-dwelling Kuan Yin, Fish-basket Kuan Yin, Child-giving Kuan Yin and Southern Ocean Kuan Yin.

During the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), based on descriptions of the 25 Great Ones in the Surangama sutra and Lotus sutra, Kuan Yin appears in 32 or 33 forms to help people or teach them the dharma.

The number 33 arises from the belief that there are 11 deities in each of the 3 worlds (heaven, sky, earth) who protect it. This became a popular cult in the Sui dynasty (581-618) and Tang dynasty (618-907) .

White-robed Kuan Yin has its origins in Pandaravasini from the Mahavairocana sutra which was translated into Chinese in 725. The Blue-throat Kuan Yin is Nilakantha whose sutra was translated in the 7th century. The Leafy Clothing Kuan Yin is the goddess Parnasavari (Tib. Loma Gyonma) whose sutra was translated into Chinese in the 8th century. The Lapis Lazuli Kuan Yin from the Vaidurya-prabha-raja Sutra was translated into Chinese in the 4th century.

[Midakpa]

In the Chinese pantheon, there are 33 forms of Kuan Yin. There are 3 other forms which are also very popular. We can say that altogether, there are 36 forms of Kuan Yin that have been recorded. These are:

1.   Willow Sprig Kuan Yin
2.   Dragon-head Kuan Yin
3.   Sutra-carrying Kuan Yin (Sound-Hearer Kuan Yin)
4.   The Perfect Light Kuan Yin
5.   Kuan Yin at Play
6.   White-robed Kuan Yin
7.   Lotus-dwelling Kuan Yin
8.   Waterfall Kuan Yin
9.   Medicine Kuan Yin
10.   Fish-basket Kuan Yin
11.   Virtuous King Kuan Yin
12.   Water Moon Kuan Yin
13.   One-Leaf Kuan Yin
14.   Blue-throat Kuan Yin
15.   Awesome Virtue Kuan Yin
16.   Prolonging Lifespan Kuan Yin
17.   Abundant Treasure Kuan Yin
18.   Rock Cave Kuan Yin
19.   Ability to Calm Kuan Yin
20.   Anavatapta Kuan Yin
21.   Fearless Kuan Yin
22.   Leafy Clothing Kuan Yin
23.   Lapis Lazuli Kuan Yin
24.   Tara Kuan Yin
25.   Clam-dwelling Kuan Yin
26.   Six periods of Time Kuan Yin
27.   Universal Compassion Kuan Yin
28.   Mr Ma’s Wife Kuan Yin
29.   Joining Palms Kuan Yin
30.   One Thus Kuan Yin
31.   Non-duality Kuan yin
32.   Lotus-carrying Kuan Yin
33.   Sprinkling Water Kuan Yin

Other Forms
1.   Eleven-headed Kuan Yin
2.   Thousand-armed, Thousand-eyed Kuan Yin
3.   Southern Ocean Kuan Yin

[icy]

One of my favourite Kuan Yin image:

[icy]

Kuan Yin mantra of OM MANI PADME HUM  is written with sands on the icy surface of Tongtian River in Yushu Tibetan autonomous prefecture, northwest China’s Qinghai province on Jan. 20, 2014, in order to pray for a prosperous year. People first inscribed the MANTRA on the frozen river and then spread sands to fill all the letters. In spring when the ice melts, the sands, after falling to the bottom of the river, will retain the shape of the characters. (Photo/CNS )