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General Buddhism => General Buddhism => Topic started by: icy on November 04, 2013, 09:25:40 AM
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Remember The Wonder Woman TV show? That character was and what she was about, which was peace, equality, challenging gender norms, power through strength, but strength of will.
Buddhism has a Wonder Woman: Kuan Yin. Originally, she was merely the female emanation of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, presented typically as male persona. However, in China, Kuan Yin came into her own as a strong female icon, the “Goddess of Mercy”. In Tibetan Buddhism she is known as Chenrizig.
Somehow during the assimilation into Chinese culture Kuan-yin Bodhisattva underwent a sexual transformation. The male Bodhisattva from India, Avalokitesvara, became a white-robed Chinese woman. In addition to the sex change, the female symbolism of the bodhisattva was expanded further by the addition of yin symbols (for example, moon, water, vase) from the yin-yang polarity of Chinese thought. In a Chinese culture dominated by Confucian social values, Chinese women saw this female symbol as particularly relevant to their problems as women.
But transcendence of gender is an ancillary function of Kuan Yin merely symbolical, for she is most useful to us in epitomizing the power of compassion as tool for transformation. For Kuan Yin is mother to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas; Kuan Yin gives birth to all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. As a matter of fact there will not be and cannot be Buddhas and Bodhisattvas without compassion, the icon of Kuan Yin.
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Chinese carved coral Guan Yin sculpture sells for $66,550 at Elite Decorative Arts
A Chinese hand-carved red coral sculpture of four Guan Yin (Buddhist deities of mercy and compassion) from the Qing Dynasty, and a Chinese hand-carved red coral group figure depicting two Guan Yin with flowers throughout, each knocked down for $66,550 to share top lot honors at Elite Decorative Arts’ Nov. 2nd auction in Florida, USA.
More than 1,000 Internet bids were placed in an auction that attracted worldwide interest. People from as far away as Eastern Europe and Asia logged on to bid for items. All eight phone lines were kept busy as well. By the time the final hammer came down, the sale had grossed $735,000. “It was one of our better auctions, said Scott Cieckiewicz of Elite Decorative Arts.
The red coral sculpture grouping of the four Guan Yin stood just shy of 11 inches tall and was estimated to be from the Tongzhi reign (circa 1862-1874) of the Qing Dynasty. The lot included a certificate of antiquity from the Hong Kong Art Craft Merchants Association from 1985. It was appraised then for $50,000. Each figure was beautifully, meticulously hand-carved.
http://artdaily.com/imagenes/2013/11/09/elite-2.jpg (http://artdaily.com/imagenes/2013/11/09/elite-2.jpg)
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In China and Japan, there is also Kuan Yin in the male form, eg
1. Northern Song Dynasty wood carving of Guanyin, c. 1025. Male bodhisattva depiction with Amit?bha Buddha crown.
2. Guanyin as a male bodhisattva. Eleven faced Ek?da?amukha form. Japan, 12th century
Whether is female form Kuan Yin or male form Chenrezig, I simply feel peaceful, safe and at ease looking at the pictures or statues of Kuan Yin / Chenrezig. I think it is due to the compassion characteristic that Chenrezig that is projecting.
For me, a Buddha’s mind is the same, regardless is in female or male form. I believe it’s Buddha’s skillful mean to emanated in any form that it will best for Buddha to benefit others.
(http://evilbrainjono.net/images/china/bei_kannon.jpg)
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The lot included a certificate of antiquity from the Hong Kong Art Craft Merchants Association from 1985.
It would be interesting to know whether the lot also included a certificate of not having been stolen and smuggled out from China by British-sponsored spies and plunderers, the likes of the Hungarian-Jewish born Aurel Stein, about whom it is said in relation to the assault to Dunhuang caves (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurel_Stein#Expeditions):
Stein's greatest discovery was made at the Mogao Caves also known as "Caves of the Thousand Buddhas", near Dunhuang in 1907. It was there that he discovered the Diamond Sutra, the world's oldest printed text which has a date (corresponding to AD 868), along with 40,000 other scrolls (all removed by gradually winning the confidence and bribing the Taoist caretaker). He acquired 24 cases of manuscripts and 4 cases of paintings and relics. He was knighted for his efforts, but he continues to be considered a great burglar and condemned to this day in China for the removal of countless priceless artifacts from the caves and serious damages caused to the sites.
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Wonder Woman was created in 1942 by a male psychologist who believes that one day America would be matriarchy.The character of Wonder Woman which was peace,equality,challenging gender norms,power through strength of will
Buddhism has a Wonder Woman: Kuan Yin.Originally she was merely the female emanation of bodhisattva Avalotiskeshvara, presented typically as male persona.Came into her own as a strong female icon in China as
"Goddess of Compassion".
Kuan Yin is still nearly always male,while among everyday folk, the bodhisattva is female.Kuan Yin is most useful to us in epitomizing the power of compassion as a tool of transformation.Rather than a cosmic being that exists above our everyday reality,Kuan Yin actually represents the universal capacity of all human beings to give love.Kuan Yin is an interior state of being that anyone,male or female can realize.
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Kuan Yin is the bodhisattva of compassion, usually depicted as a female. In East Asia, she is associated with vegetarianism. Most Chinese vegetarian restaurants have her image appearing in pamphlets and magazines.
Kuan Yin is very popular in Asia and is known by many names:
*Gun Yam (Cantonese - HongKong and Macau)
*Kanon (Japan)
*Gwanse-eum (Korea)
*Kuan Im (Thailand)
*Quan Am (Vietnam)
*Dewi Kwan Im (Indonesia)
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4d/Dongguan_Guanyinshan.jpg/320px-Dongguan_Guanyinshan.jpg)
Guanyin Shan (Guanyin Mountain) in Dongguan, China
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Kuan Yin, The Bodhisatva Who Hears the Sufferings of all Sentient Beings. She is an epitome of compassion and never forget the most famous 6 - syllable mantra "Om Mani Peme Hum" is a mantra that rejoices in her energy and presence and very much related to Kuan Yin. And of course the ever amazing and beautiful Heart Sutra, a discourse on emptiness.
Here is something for all of you to enjoy! ;D
Prajna Paramita Hrdaya Sutram ???? - The Blissful Heart ???? (??? Imee Ooi) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGyHc3vZyCs#)
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In the Chinese culture, Guan yin becomes popular since the Tang dynasty, Initial name was actually ????but was change to ??due to the Tang Emperor name was ???? so the ?was omitted. The japanese and Korean depict Kuanyin in male form, we can see that from the early paintings. Up to now, everything regarding Guan yin is still popular and will continue its popularity in generations.
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Here's how Avalokiteshvara became The Woman with 1000 Arms:
Avalokitesvara despaired as he looked down into the hells which were rapidly filling up again even though he had emptied them many times through his teachings.
He became so disheartened that his body shattered into thousands of pieces, true to his original vow.
He cried to the Buddhas for help.
Of the ones who came to him, one was one was Amitabha Buddha, who became his teacher and helped him take on a new form — a female one with a thousand hands to provide aid to those who suffered, and with the eyes of Wisdom in each of the palms.
And thus Avalokitesvara became the goddess Kuan Yin.
She would, this time as a female, renew his vow to bring compassion, mercy, and forgiveness to all.
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Kuan Yin is the embodiment of compassion. I like how the Chinese transformed the male Avaloketishvara into a female Buddha. This symbolises that all genders are equal and all are capable of achieving enlightenment.
There is no Buddha that lacks compassion. Compassion is one of the bases of Buddhism. To achieve enlightenment, one must have compassion and wisdom!
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The Mantra of Great Compassion 'OM MANI PADME HUM'......
om mani padme hum (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG_lNuNUVd4#)
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It's very interesting to learn of the power of a Bodhisattva and Buddha who can change into any form so to benefit the beings of that region and time and realm. Quanyin or Chenrezig is just one of the many of the Bodhisattvas and Buddhas who have, over thousands of years, who have benefited countless beings through their compassion and wisdom. Neat!
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You are your own master. Have knowledge and method to transform our mind will greatly be meaningful reciting the great compassion mantra.
The meaning of OM MANI PADME HUM by the Dalai Lama:
The meaning of Om Mani Padme Hung by His Holiness the Dalai Lama (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QQKDP8SQZg#ws)
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Kuan Yin is the bodhisattva of compassion, usually depicted as a female. In East Asia, she is associated with vegetarianism. Most Chinese vegetarian restaurants have her image appearing in pamphlets and magazines.
I heard about this as well. Apparently, the chinese goes on a vegetarian diet every 1 and 15 of the chinese calendar month. Besides that, the followers of Kuan Yin in SEA countries do not eat beef as Guan Yin's father is sentenced to be reborn into a cow due to all the crimes he committed.
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Kwan Yin, Mother of Compassion in ancient Chinese culture, blows gently into your life, and should be welcomed as an eternal source of comfort and peace. Kwan Yin's values are about co-operation, sharing, balance, harmony and partnership; she is highly sensitive and aware.
Kwan Yin is light and weightless - the qualities that result from highly tuned vales of tolerance and acceptance.
HER MODERN ENERGY
She is here to tell you to release factors that inhibit you, that prevent you from connecting with others. Melt those walls of ice around your heart; forgive the person who you feel has committed a grievance against you; open your heart and radiate love so that love can come back to you.
DO THIS
Close your eyes in a tranquil space. Visualise Kwan Yin resting with the world on one shoulder, her cheek resting against it. She sees you, and you are drawn to the love radiating from her heart. She shows you how to take the world from your shoulders, hold it in your hands, and dance in joyful, carefree circles. You see the earth's water rippling, the leaves in the trees blowing, the birds soaring without effort. Know this is happening purely thanks to your joy.
When you walk through each day, remember Kwan Yin's presence whenever you see the soaring birds, the rustling leaves, the rippling waters. Use these triggers as a reminder to take the world off your shoulders, and to dance with abandon, with your face to the skies and your arms in the air.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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
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One of my favourite Kuan Yin image:
(http://www.mother-god.com/images/quan-yin.jpg)
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(http://chinatibet.people.com.cn/mediafile/201401/22/F201401220833391753120549.jpg)
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 )