CHENREZIG
Chenrezig may be the most popular of all Buddhist deities, except for Buddha himself -- he is beloved throughout the
Buddhist world. He is known by different names in different lands: as Avalokiteshvara in the ancient Sanskrit language of
India, as Kuan-yin in China, as Kannon in Japan.
As Chenrezig, he is considered the patron Bodhisattva of Tibet, and his meditation is practiced in all the great lineages of
Tibetan Buddhism. The beloved king Songtsen Gampo was believed to be an emanation of Chenrezig, and some of the most
respected meditation masters (lamas), like the Dalai Lamas and Karmapas, who are considered living Buddhas, are also
believed to be emanations of Chenrezig.
From Dharma-Haven.org
THE SAD SMILE OF COMPASSION
There are hundreds of thousands of people who need your help, which makes you feel sad, so sad. ...That sadness is a key
point, ladies and gentlemen. In the back of your head, you hear a beautiful flute playing, because you are so sad. At the
same time, the melody cheers you up. ...In spite of being sad and devastated, there is something lovely taking place. There
is some smile, some beauty. In the Shambhala world, we call that daringness. In the Buddhist language, we call it
compassion. Daringness is sympathetic to oneself. ... there is a sense of big open mind in dealing with others, which
is beautiful, wonderful.
>From "Helping Others," in GREAT EASTERN SUN:
THE WISDOM OF SHAMBHALA, page 27.
GUANYIN
Guanyin is the bodhisattva associated with compassion as venerated by East Asian Buddhists, usually as a female. The
name Guanyin is short for Guanshiyin which means "Observing the Sounds (or Cries) of the World". Some Buddhists
believe that when one of their adherents departs from this world, they are placed by Guanyin in the heart of a lotus then sent
home to the western pure land of Sukhāvatī.
Avalokiteśvara was originally depicted as a male bodhisattva, and therefore wears chest-revealing clothing and may even
sport a moustache. Although this bare-chested and moustached depiction still exists in the Far East, Guanyin is more often
depicted as a woman in modern times.
From Wikipedia
Kwan Yin (“She Who Hears the Prayers of the World”) A bodhisattva is a person who has attained enlightenment but chooses to forgo Nirvana and remain in the world to help others attain enlightenment. Kwan Yin’s specialty is compassion, and She is known as the Goddess of Mercy. Before She became a bodhisattva, Kwan Yin was a princess named Miao Shan. As Miao Shan She endured many trials, especially from Her father, who wanted Her to marry. But She refused, and instead dedicated Her life to Buddhism.
As the still-popular mother goddess of China, Kwan Yin is known as a great healer who can cure all ills. She is also a goddess of fertility, and is often shown holding a child. In this aspect She is known as Sung-tzu niang-niang, “The Lady Who Brings Children”. She is shown holding a crystal vase, pouring out the waters of creation. Simply calling her name in time of crisis is believed to grant deliverance.
Kwan Yin is sometimes also depicted as male, especially in Japan, where She is called Kwannon, and equated with the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, Lord of Compassion.
From A-Muse-ing Grace Gallery
