In Honour of Kuan Yin

Altar ready for the July Devotional Service

With the next devotional service only a few days away, finally a decision has been made as to what aspect of the Goddess will be honoured next Tuesday night.  The start of this new financial year, as with any time of change, seems to have brought with it a number of huge personal shifts of late.  Not only have people been required to move in order to seek a better standard of living, but even amongst the people I know, a number of beloved ones have passed on.  Added to this the spiralling increase in a lack of tolerance towards our follow brothers and sisters ... regardless of gender, race or religious/spiritual orientation. 

• Could all these upheavals have something to do with the number of eclipses as well as other astrological events we have been subjected to this year? 
• Could it also have something to do with the countdown to December 2012? 

Whatever the cause or reason, I feel it is time that we pause and draw breath.  Regardless of how someone else treats us, as spiritual beings, we do not need to recipicate in the same manner.  Insteads, compassion should be what we are aiming for.  After all, we are often only exposed to the end result (someone's action)without knowing what they have actually gone through themselves ...  in such circumstances, the poem "Please call me by my True Names" by Thich Nhat Hanh comes to mind wherein he challlenges us to look beyond the offending action and to comtemplate on the possible circumstances that may have actually led up to it.

With the idea of compassion in mind, I thought a service in honour of Kuan Yin would be most appropriate. A bodhisattva (a being who "heistates to enter the state of Nirvana" as they wish to save humanity from suffering), Kuan Yin's gifts to us it that of inner tranquility which is brought about through deep understanding, compassion and wisdom, all of which are empowered by action which is found within each and everyone of us. As each of us are born from wholeness, Kuan Yin helps us return to this centre of conception and completion.

While there are many chants praising Kuan Yin, the most significant is "Ta Pei Chou" or "Dharani of Great Compassion". So powerful is this chant that if uttered correctly, it is said to cause one's very own consciousness to be permeated with divine light.

The following are some various prayers and chants written in honour of Kuan Yin

I call upon the Goddess Kuan Yin,Mother of Compassion, who hearsAnd answers the cries of all hearts,Who carries the pearl of illuminationAnd pours forth a stream of healing waters.Bless me with your spiritual peace.

Mother of Mercy, Compassionate Lady Kuan Yin

You who hears the weeping world

And comforts its souls

Come on the dragon’s breath!

Come to answer our prayers!

Come to soothe our pain!

Jade Goddess, who never refuses a prayer,

We ask for peace,

For banishment of fear, anger and hatred.

For your love and compassion

To be poured out upon the Earth and us all.

Gracious Kuan Yin we ask for your blessing today and every day.

Goddess of compassion,
You who are all to me,

All that is, and all that shall be.Come, Eternal Protector!

Come as the scent of sacred Lotus,

With love and compassion,

Do be with me now, I pray!

Oh Blessed Kuan Yin.