Kuan Yin/es: Difference between revisions

[[File:0000210 kuan-yin-from-nelson-atkins-museum-2295AX 600.jpeg|thumb|alt=Statue of Kuan Yin, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri|Estatua de Kuan Yin, Museo de Arte Nelson-Atkins, Kansas City, Missouri. Aquí se le representa sentada en su pose característica de relajación.]]

In the [[Pure Land]] sect of Buddhism, Kuan Yin forms part of a ruling triad that is often depicted in temples and is a popular theme in Buddhist art. In the center is the Buddha of Boundless Light, Amitabha (Chinese, A-mi-t’o Fo; Japanese, Amida). To his right is the bodhisattva of strength or power, Mahasthamaprapta, and to his left is Kuan Yin, personifying his endless mercy.

In Buddhist theology Kuan Yin is sometimes depicted as the captain of the “Bark of Salvation,” guiding souls to Amitabha's Western Paradise, or Pure Land—the land of bliss where souls may be reborn to receive continued instruction toward the goal of enlightenment and perfection. The journey to Pure Land is frequently represented in woodcuts showing boats full of Amitabha’s followers under Kuan Yin’s captainship.

One of Kuan Yin’s principal emblems is the willow branch. According to Buddhist belief, she uses the willow branch to drive away illness and to sprinkle the nectar of wisdom and compassion upon all who invoke her assistance. In some Asian traditions prayers to cure disease were given while stroking the afflicted person with a willow branch.

One of Kuan Yin’s principal emblems is the willow branch. According to Buddhist belief, she uses the willow branch to drive away illness and to sprinkle the nectar of wisdom and compassion upon all who invoke her assistance. In some Asian traditions prayers to cure disease were given while stroking the afflicted person with a willow branch.

Kuan Yin is considered to be the bestower of children, and so she is often depicted with an infant. In Taiwan there is also a legend that in one of her embodiments she was a mother and therefore is shown with her own child.

Kuan Yin is also often depicted standing on a dragon. The dragon for the Chinese people represents China and their divine lineage. It is also a symbol of the entire Spirit of the [[Great White Brotherhood]]. In its antithesis, the dragon is seen in the [[Book of Revelation]] giving power to the beasts. So a dragon is a thoughtform of a great hierarchy—whether embodying the forces of Light or the forces of Darkness.

 

In Chinese lore the dragon and the [[phoenix]] bird together represent the yang and yin of the whirling T’ai Chi. So the image of Kuan Yin riding a dragon shows her having dominion over that dragon in the sense of being the master of it.

[[File:The Tiger Carries Off Miao Shan.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Painting in Chinese style of Miao Shan on the back of a tiger|Miao Shan being carried off by a tiger]]

Generalmente se cree que Kuan Yin encarnó como la tercera hija de Miao Chuang Wang, identificado con la dinastía Zhou, perteneciente a un gobernante del reino chino del norte alrededor del año 700 a.C. Según la leyenda, ella estaba decidida a dedicarse a una vida religiosa. Se negó a casarse a pesar de las órdenes de su padre y las súplicas de sus amigas. Al final, sin embargo, se le permitió la entrada en el Convento del Pájaro Blanco, en Lungshu Hsien. Allí, bajo órdenes de su padre, fue sometida a las tareas más exigentes, que de ninguna forma enfriaron su intenso amor por Dios.

</div>

She recognized the impermanence of riches and glory and desired nothing more than “a peaceful retreat on a lone mountain.” She told her sisters that “If some day I can reach a high degree of goodness.... I will rescue my father and mother, and bring them to Heaven; I will save the miserable and afflicted on earth; I will convert the spirits which do evil, and cause them to do good.”

Miao Shan’s father determined to find a husband for her who would be capable of ruling the kingdom. The king explained his plans and told her that all his hopes rested on her. Miao Shan said that she did not wish to marry because she desired to attain perfection and Buddhahood.  

The king was angry. “Has anyone known the daughter of a king to become a nun?” he asked. Then he demanded that she marry an academician or a military man at once. Recognizing that she could not openly disobey her father’s orders, Miao Shan said that she would immediately marry a physician since she could then still become a Buddha. Outraged, the king ordered his officer to take her to the Queen’s garden “and let her perish there of cold.”

Miao Shan retired to the garden glad to exchange the pleasures of the palace for the sweetness of solitude. Her parents, sisters and the ladies of the court tried in vain to dissuade Miao Shan from her purpose. Instead she asked her father’s permission to live at the Nunnery of the White Bird. The king consented but sent strict orders to the nunnery that the nuns should do all in their power to persuade Miao Shan to leave.  

The nuns tried but failed. They then decided to put Miao Shan in charge of the kitchen where, if she failed, they could dismiss her. Miao Shan so joyously agreed that she touched the heart of the Master of Heaven who ordered the spirits of heaven to assist her in her duties.  

The Superior of the nunnery then asked the King to recall his daughter. The king sent five thousand soldiers to surround the Nunnery of the White Bird and burn it to the ground along with the nuns. The nuns invoked the aid of Heaven but said to Miao Shan: “It is you who have brought upon us this terrible disaster.”

Miao Shan agreed that it was so. She knelt and prayed to Heaven and then pricked the roof of her mouth with her bamboo hairpin and spat the flowing blood toward heaven. Great clouds immediately gathered and showers put out the fire threatening the nunnery. The nuns threw themselves on their knees and thanked Miao Shan for saving their lives.  

The king, informed of this miracle, was enraged and ordered the chief of the guard to immediately behead Miao Shan. As the execution was to begin, the sky became overcast, but a bright light surrounded Miao Shan. When the executioner’s sword fell upon her neck, it broke. A spear thrust at her fell to pieces.  

The king ordered that she be strangled with a silken cord. But a tiger leaped into the execution grounds, dispersed the executioners, put the inanimate body of Miao Shan on his back and disappeared into the pine forest.  

[[File:Statue of Guanyin, Mt Putuo, China.jpg|thumb|left|alt=caption|Thirty-three meter statue of Kuan Yin on Mount P’u-t’o, the sacred island-mountain that became a center of devotion to Kuan Yin]]

Miao Shan’s soul, which was not hurt, was taken to the lower world, hell. She prayed and hell was transformed into a paradise. She was sent back to earth to resume her life there. Carried on a lotus flower to the island of P’u-t’o Shan—the sacred island-mountain in the Chusan Archipelago off the coast of Chekiang—she lived for nine years healing the diseased and saving mariners from shipwreck.

During the twelfth century Buddhist monks settled on P’u-t’o Shan, and devotion to Kuan Yin spread throughout northern China. This picturesque island became the chief center of worship of the compassionate Saviouress; crowds of pilgrims would journey from the remotest places in China and even from Manchuria, Mongolia and Tibet to attend stately services there. At one time there were more than a hundred temples on the island and over one thousand monks. The lore surrounding P’u-t’o island recounts numerous appearances and miracles performed by Kuan Yin, who, it is believed, reveals herself to the faithful in a certain cave on the island.

<blockquote>Al estar unidos a la vida entera, somos conscientes de la vida en todas sus manifestaciones, desde la más elevada hasta la más baja. Esto forma parte del ideal del bodhisattva, que forma parte de los que permanecen con la humanidad. Y hay una cantidad bastante grande de ellos en este planeta, aunque son pocos en comparación con los que siguen su camino de un vivir desenfrenado. Es una orden muy elevada y santa, y sugiero que penséis mucho en esta vocación antes de responder diciendo, «¡yo haré lo mismo!».</blockquote>

<blockquote>Porque cuando pasen los eones y los hombres no se hayan inmutado con la llama que sostendréis, recordad que podríais desear haber elegido otro camino más fácil y gratificante. Con el paso de los siglos, los miles de años y los ciclos, cuando los mismos individuos de quienes habéis cuidado con el poder de vuestra llama del corazón estén involucrados en las mismas cosas del mundo, os veréis gritando a Dios, diciendo: «O S<small>EÑOR</small>, ¿cuánto, cuánto tiempo tardará esta generación de dura cerviz en llegar al conocimiento de su divinidad y del amor al fuego sagrado que por tanto tiempo hemos mantenido?»<ref>Kuan Yin, “The Quality of Mercy for the Regeneration of the Youth of the World (La cualidad de la misericordia para la regeneración de la juventud del mundo)”, ''Perlas de Sabiduría'', 1982, segundo libro, págs. 120–21.</ref>.</blockquote>  

Tenemos la necesidad de confesarnos, necesitamos decirle a Dios aquello que hemos hecho y que no está de acuerdo con su Ley. Hasta que no se lo digamos y pidamos que su llama del perdón pase a través de nosotros, tendremos una sensación de culpabilidad, temor, vergüenza y, sobre todo, de separación de él. Hoy día esto es manifiesto en toda clase de enfermedades mentales y emocionales, personalidades divididas, odio hacia el padre y la madre, odio hacia los hijos y muchos otros problemas de los cuales es presa la sociedad moderna. El sendero de regreso al gurú, al Cristo Interior, implica pedir la ley del perdón.

[[File:HainanSanya2-cropped.jpg|thumb|alt=caption|upright=1.2|108-meter (354 ft) statue of Kuan Yin on the island of Hainan, in the South China Sea]]

== The need to forgive ==

== Service on the Karmic Board ==

<blockquote>Por muchos de vosotros he suplicado ante los [[Special:MyLanguage/Lords of Karma|Señores del Karma]] por la oportunidad de encarnar, de ser plenos, de no tener que recibir en lo físico el gran karma de estar lisiados y cegados al nacer, algo que algunos de vosotros habéis merecido. He intercedido con la llama de la misericordia por vosotros para que podáis buscar, con la libertad de una mente y un cuerpo sanos, la luz de la Ley. Algunos a quienes los Señores del Karma han negado esa misericordia se encuentran hoy en instituciones para enfermos mentales; para ellos era apropiado la experimentación de la agonía de la ausencia de la presencia de la mente Crística, para que pudieran saber qué significa profanar esa mente, para que pudieran regresar en otra vida y apreciar el don de la razón, el don de buscar la Santa Palabra Encarnada por el poder del Logos.</blockquote>

<blockquote>Vosotros no comprendéis cuánto ha estado en juego en vuestra vida porque la llama de la misericordia ha estado disponible para vosotros. Habéis llamado y Dios ha contestado, y a través de mi corazón y mis manos la misericordia ha fluido. Digo esto para que podáis tener también la sabiduría de entender que cuando la misericordia se ha concedido por un tiempo, se espera de vosotros que entreguéis los frutos de la misericordia, siguiendo las obras del S<small>EÑOR</small> y el camino de la sabiduría<ref>Kuan Yin, “Mercy: The Fire that Tries Every Man’s Works (Misericordia: el

fuego que pone a prueba las obras de todo hombre)”, ''Perlas de Sabidurías'', 1982, segundo libro, pág. ''96''.</ref>.</blockquote>

{{POWref-es|31|57|, 9 de septiembre de 1984}}