Who is kuan yin in buddhism

Scriptural Sources for the Cult of Kuan-yin 3. Indigenous Scriptures and the Cult of Kuan-yin 4. Miracle Tales and the Domestication of Kuan-yin 5. Divine Monks and the Domestication of Kuan-yin 6. In the Tibetan tradition, each Dalai Lama is understood to be the reincarnation of Avalokiteshvara.

In East Asia, however, this bodhisattva came to be known as Guanyin and to be understood as feminine, a merciful mother-goddess. Buddhists turn to Guanyin for her boundless compassion and her power to deliver them from trouble and suffering.

Cultivating compassion for all beings is of supreme importance in the Buddhist tradition. By using our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our cookies usage.

Photo by Arlene Gee. Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube. Bodhisattva is a title that refers to a rank of spiritual attainment that is above Arhat and below Buddha. Legends about Guan Yin first appeared in the Middle Kingdom more than two thousand years ago. Long ago in a small Chinese state, a king had three daughters and, pursuing further worldly gain, he wanted to marry them off to suitable families. Yet his youngest, Miao Shan, had a different wish.

She wanted to become a Buddhist nun and perfect herself through spiritual cultivation so that she could bring salvation to the world. Unsympathetic, the king disowned his daughter and sent her into exile. Years passed, and the king became deathly ill. Send a messenger to her to plead for deliverance. This wandering monk proved to be none other than a transformation of Miao Shan. After years of arduous spiritual practice, she had become a bodhisattva.