Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

To: najida

Guan Yin and the Thousand Arms

One Buddhist legend presents Kuan Yin as vowing to never rest until he had freed all sentient beings from samsara, reincarnation. Despite strenuous effort, he realized that still many unhappy beings were yet to be saved. After struggling to comprehend the needs of so many, his head split into eleven pieces. Amitabha Buddha, seeing his plight, gave him eleven heads with which to hear the cries of the suffering. Upon hearing these cries and comprehending them, Avalokitesvara attempted to reach out to all those who needed aid, but found that his two arms shattered into pieces. Once more, Amitabha came to his aid and appointed him a thousand arms with which to aid the many. Many Himalayan versions of the tale include eight arms with which Avalokitesvara skilfully upholds the Dharma, each possessing its own particular implement, while more Chinese-specific ones give varying accounts of this number.


7 posted on 12/06/2006 9:10:07 AM PST by Wormwood (the happiest sadist)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies ]


To: Wormwood

Thank you for that....
it makes it even prettier. :)


8 posted on 12/06/2006 9:19:16 AM PST by najida (If it wasn't for fast food, I'd have no food at all.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson