The Lineage of Great Compassion Guan Yin

In this age, marked by manifold calamities, earthquakes, tsunamis, windstorms, and floods occur more frequently. Why has this come about? It is attributed to the depletion of the ozone layer, which allows direct solar radiation to strike the earth, causing rapid evaporation of ocean water. As a result, cloud formations become excessively dense, and when rainfall occurs, it readily gives rise to flooding. Moreover, due to global warming, the four seasons are no longer clearly demarcated: in some regions rainfall fails to arrive when it should, resulting in drought, while in others, excessive precipitation produces floods. In addition, nuclear weapons testing has disturbed the earth’s crust, leading to frequent seismic activity. Consequently, floods and wind disasters have become particularly prevalent.

Confronted with such conditions, how are we to find a reliable refuge in an unsafe and unsettled world? Furthermore, since we do not know when war may break out, and the future is filled with uncertainty and indeterminacy, it is all the more necessary to strengthen our virtuous karma, merit, and wisdom. By doing so, we may avoid such disasters and be better able to assist others. Therefore, we require a sound Dharma that can bring stability, foster liberation, dispel calamities, and avert misfortune, enabling us, in this life and future lives, to possess blessings and virtuous affinities. The teachings of Guan Yin is precisely such an excellent path, and it is also the Dharma that I wish to transmit to you today.

My karmic connection with Guan Yin (Avalokiteshvara) began at the age of fifteen, I first heard the sacred name of Guan Yin. At that time, without knowing why, an inexplicable emotion arose within me and tears flowed spontaneously. From that moment onward, I took Guan Yin as my teacher and as my model for the path of buddhahood. I initially began by reading folk accounts concerning Princess Miaoshan, through which I learned that Guan Yin herself had practiced asceticism. Accordingly, when I undertook fasting and ascetic practice, I did so in emulation of Guan Yin. Later, upon hearing that Guan Yin manifests in various forms to rescue beings from suffering and distress, I likewise endeavored to learn from her compassionate dedication to the world. At the age of fifteen, inspired by Guan Yin’s great compassion, I engendered the bodhicitta, aspiring to liberate all sentient beings. In order to continue and sustain this karmic affinity with Guan Yin, I vowed in this lifetime to cultivate her teachings, to practice the Bodhisattva path of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity exemplified by Guan Yin, and to persevere in this course until the attainment of buddhahood.

We must understand that to attain buddhahood one must diligently and continuously practice the Bodhisattva path. Once we realize the mind and see our true nature, our resolve on the path will not regress but instead become firm and stable. Life after life, we will not lose bodhicitta. On the future path to buddhahood, Guan Yin will accompany us throughout, acting as our nurturing guardian and guide, enabling us across successive lifetimes to practice the Bodhisattva path, to recite her mantras, to engage in her Dharma gateways, and to abide in her pure land. Given this, what reason could there be for us not to cultivate the Dharma of Guan Yin?

Why does Guan Yin possess “a thousand hands and a thousand eyes”? This arises from her aspirational power to liberate beings. In order to rescue immeasurable and boundless sentient beings from suffering, Guan Yin, during her causal stage, vowed to uphold and recite the Great Compassion Mantra (Long Dharani) of the Thousand-Light King, Serene-Abiding Tathagata, for the benefit of all beings. Through this vow, she manifested the form of a thousand hands and a thousand eyes. Because of her firm bodhicitta, she instantaneously accomplished this form. The “thousand eyes” signify wisdom, while the “thousand hands” represent manifold emanations that propagate the Dharma and benefit sentient beings. Thus, Guan Yin’s emanations are limitless, and her wisdom is inexhaustible. Practitioners should generate vows to emulate Guan Yin by upholding the Great Compassion Mantra to liberate beings, regarding themselves as emanations of Guan Yin. In this way, like Guan Yin, they engage in activities that benefit sentient beings—that is, the practice of loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity.