Welcome to the Universal Gate of Guan Yin
Who is Guan Yin? Depending on whom you ask, there are different answers. "Guan Yin", which literally means "Observe Sound" （观音） in Chinese is the popular name for Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara - a trans-historical being who made the compassionate vow not to attain nirvana till all beings are freed from suffering. Some philosophically-inclined Buddhists may see her as a personification of the energy of compassion. To millions of devotees in East Asia, she is the elegant and accessible "Goddess of Mercy" who bestows blessings on all who approach her. In Japan, her name is Kwannon Bosatsu. To the Tibetans, she is the all-embracing Chenrizig or the mischievous Tara. To some, Guan Yin appears in the form of Maha-Cundi with eighteen arms, whose grace is freely available to all without exception. Many New Age folks see her as an emanation of the Divine Feminine.
In the 25th chapter of the Lotus Sutra, the various qualities of Guan Yin's compassionate power are described. The sutra relates how Guan Yin comes to the aid of those who sincerely call on her name and how she bestows fearlessness to those who are threatened by dangers or plagued by suffering. The sutra tells us that Guan Yin patiently transforms herself into an infinite variety of forms to save sentient beings from suffering and delusion. Because of this ideal of Universal Compassion adapting and expressing itself in different ways to suit those on different paths and ultimately deliver them to enlightenment, the chapter is also known as the "Universal Gate Chapter".
Whatever your understanding of Guan Yin is, I extend a warm welcome towards you, a fellow sentient being. May She bless us with the fearlessness that comes with Compassionate Wisdom!
Yueheng
May 1 2008 update: The blog has been deleted and replaced by a "Writings" section which will be regularly updated with my writings about Guan Yin.