The Shrine of Kwan Yin
Kwan Yin, c. 12th century
painted and partially gilded wood statue,
sculptor unknown
With demons and dragons all around,
I would think of sweet Kwan-Yin
And the hungry waves would subside. If I were trapped within a furnace
As hot as hell's own blazes,
I would think of Kwan-Yin's power,
And the flames would turn to water. If enemies pursued me, if I were thrown
From a high mountain peack, if knives
Were raised against me, if I were imprisoned
Or beset by beasts, I would call on her. Her pity shields me from the lightning,
Her compassion is like a cloud around me,
Which rains down sweetness and
Puts out the fires of my sorrow.
��Chinese prayer
And powerful as thunder over water.
There is nothing else so powerful. We bow our heads to her:
May her glance be compassionate
And her blessings be infinite. In reverence, we bow our heads.
��Chinese Lotus Sutra and Dharani of Great Compassion
Her body is wisdom, perfected.
Her face is bathed in holy light.
She is compassion itself.
Her orchid heart delights in mercy. No matter what evils we face,
No matter what beasts or demons,
No matter what ill-fortune or disease,
No matter even if we face death.
Kwan-Yin destroys them all
With her compassionate glance,
With her perfected soul.
She is infinitely blessed.
Let us bow to her in prayer.
��Chinese prayer
Her white silk robe radiant as holy light,
Her golden belts blessing the air.
A perfected mind and a golden body:
Pearls and jade fringe her face
And dark hair coiled like a dragon;
Brows like new moons, eyes like stars
And a flash of red from her joyous lips.
She holds a vase full of willow branches
From which she casts redeeming water.
Her orchid heart loves green bamboo
Which grows on her sacred mountain,
In the cave of tidal sound.
��Chinese hymn to Kwan-Yin
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