Quan Yin
1. What exactly is a goddess?
A goddess is a female who completes her training here (by living her life on Earth) and passes over to the Other Side. She then makes the conscious choice to represent an aspect of life i.e., compassion, trust, beauty, adventure, birth and death, receptivity, etc. and mirror it to those of us living our lives here on the planet. It is a goddess' mission to help us remember the power of femininity and it is her job to show us who we really are inside--peaceful, courageous, golden, totally untouched by everything.
2. Who was, or who is Quan Yin? Where does the name come from?
Quan Yin is an everlasting energy that approximately one-third of the planet prays to everyday. There are many different accounts of Quan Yin's beginnings, but I will say that she was a real person who arrived on the planet around 5-600 AD--each culture and religion has a different story to tell. Some Eastern religions believe she first appeared as a man named Avalokitesvara, and over time evolved into a female form. The Chinese believe she began as princess Miao Shan, a young woman who was very spiritual, and passed over to "the other side" to apprentice with Buddha, and became a "bodhisattva." She gave up her potential Buddhahood in order to keep returning to the earth to answer all the prayers and cries to stop our suffering. Besides praying to her for protection, to help release suffering, for prosperity, pregnancy, the list goes on and on, many have seen her in devastating circumstances like the concentration camps, Viet Nam, and other traumatized areas. It is a great comfort to many to know that all one need do is whisper her name and she will come.
3. Is Quan Yin still worshipped? If so, then by whom?
As I have said, approximately one-third of the planet prays to Quan Yin. She is the most popular deity in China. To the Chinese, she is Kwan Yin, Quan Yin, Guan Yin; to the Japanese, Kwannon; to the Tibetans, the Hindus and others, she is Avalokitesvara. Some believe she is really Tara. Others believe she is Mother Mary and the Black Madonna. I think she is a projection of our divinity, our compassion, and our femininity. I think she is all women.
4. Are there books or other writings about her?
There are many books written in Chinese and other languages. The scholar, John Blofeld, wrote a beautiful account of his adventures with Quan Yin, called Kuan Yin: Bodhisattva of Compassion. A Buddhist scholar named Sandy Boucher, recently published a lively book entitled, Understanding Quan Yin, and there are a couple of others as well. I believe that not much is written on Quan Yin so that she remains a mystical being, and a very personal experience.
5. How would I call Quan Yin's energy to me?
Well, first you would have to be clear that you are open to having the experience of Quan Yin coming to you. You would have to be open to having a healing take place. Then, when you know you are ready, I would prepare a small altar. Use your imagination and your heart as you create a sacred space that would call her to you. Make an offering, perhaps some fruit or flowers. Light a candle. Be still and make your prayers. Whisper her name, "Quan Yin, Quan Yin," and she will come.