Guan-Shi-Yin
Today, you may call me an idealist as never before.
An ultra-woke person may call me a sexist.
A fact is that Guan-Shi-Yin is female. That, at least, is what is. I cannot help it.
Besides, she started male.
In Indian Buddhism, long before Jesus preached his lovely message, ‘she’ was known as Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of Compassion, center-above-all of Buddhism ― and male.
Centuries later, in Tibet, Avalokiteshvara became Chenrezig, half-male-half-female, sometimes depicted as a male with breasts.
In China, Chenrezig became Guan-Shi-Yin, still bodhisattva of Compassion, but female. This change was probably influenced by the Catholic Virgin Mary or even the African Yemanjá. I like this. If true, it would be so humanly, sensitively trans-cultural, bringing East and West closer together. [see: “Compassion Connecting East & West“]
In any case, it is a nice example of cultural compatibility. [see: “Are Cultures Compatible?”]
Guan-Shi-Yin is ageless.
Of all times.
Also, don’t see her simply as young of age. Rather, she is age-independent. To men (and women) she appears youthful. That’s OK. She might as well appear not-youthful ― not necessarily being the same as old.
She embodies the beginner’s mind, the one for whom the world is always young, always new, and full of surprises. At the same time, she is ancient and wise.
She who Listens to the suffering of the world
This is what Guan-Shi-Yin literally means in English, including – in my view – the capital on ‘Listens.’ [see: “Deep Listening”] Does it make sense to you?
This makes of Guan-Shi-Yin the Primal Coach.
It makes in-depth coaching into the first calling for those striving for subconceptual (more Eastern) Enlightenment, perfectly compatible with conceptual (more Western) Enlightenment in the best sense. I see both as mutually enhancing. [see: “Enlightenment, Kant, AURELIS, Growth”]
Transcending male versus female
Compassion doesn’t care.
In transcendence, Compassion cares more than anything. This caring helps towards nudging/inviting/transforming people into total-person human beings of whatever gender.
A confession
Lisa [see: “Lisa“] is ever so much inspired by this text’s content.
It would be nice to see A.I. – through Lisa, perhaps – being developed on a basis of ancient wisdom and Compassion, and into a helping hand to make us, humans, more Compassionate on our way towards value alignment between individuals and cultures
and, eventually, all sentient beings.
Related Posts
Compassion Connecting East & West
And North and South, of course, and everything in-between ― even past, present, and future. Essential A Compassionate attitude is to be received gracefully after sometimes earning it with huge effort and even danger to yourself. Sacrifices are unnecessary, but the person who is reluctant to make them can hardly attain a Compassionate stance. At Read the full article…
Buddha and Jesus
They lived centuries apart, spoke different languages, and walked very different roads. Yet in their silence, gestures, and metaphors, something unmistakable resonates. This blog brings Buddha and Jesus into proximity — not to compare them, but to listen. What happens when two lives reflect one depth? Not to compare, but to listen Buddha and Jesus Read the full article…
Buddha-Nature
Everywhere and nowhere, deemed non-existent and most important, Buddha-nature is the mother of all paradoxes. Buddhism Buddhism is an excellent source of inspiration for a rational and profound way of life, although it is also a conglomeration of traditions with substantial differences. As to Buddha-nature, the core shines through despite differences, mainly seeing it as Read the full article…