10,000 Blessings Feng Shui Blog

Being the Vase of Kuan Yin

 

"One should aspire to be like the vase that Kuan Yin carries, the vase which pours compassion and loving kindness into the world."

Grandmaster Lin Yun of BTB Feng Shui

Kuan Yin's Birthday Party

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some photos from  Kuan Yin's birthday last month--some of the offerings for Her altar and then a picture of our cat Buddha and my husband Gregory in front of my 10,000 Blessings Feng Shui altar.

Kuan Yin's Birthday

 

She Who Sees and Hears the Cries of the World.  Kuan Shih Yin Bodhisattva Who Prolongs Life and Saves One from Suffering.  White-Robed Great Being Who Saves Beings from Sorrow and Suffering. The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel. The Vase of Plenty.  Wondrously Kind One.

It is the 19th Day of the 9th Lunar Month and it is your third and final birthday in the Year of the Rat.

Today I'm going to celebrate and honor you as many in the White Lotus Movement have done and continue to do--with providing drinking water and tea to the homeless.  I'm going to drive across the city to the Kuan Yin Temple with offerings but on the way, am going to hand out tea and water from my rolled-down Subaru Outback window.

10,000 Blessings of Joy and Love for You, Kuan Yin, on your birthday!  Please make a wish as you blow out your candles on your cake that we here on earth will be more loving and more kind.

Kuan Yin at the Olympics

 

It warms this Kuan Yin Devotee's heart that millions of people will lay their eyes on the Bodhisattva Kuan Yin (also known as Guan Yin or the Thousand-hand Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) in a dance in Her honor as part of the opening ceremony for the Olympics. 

There is a video of this dance in the Kuan Yin archives of this blog--enjoy!

May Her thousand-hands respond to this heart-felt prayer: "May all beings be happy.  May all beings be free from suffering.  May all beings know their true nature".

Kuan Yin's Birthday

Well, it's the eve of Kuan Yin's birthday so I spent a good part of the day gathering offerings for the big bash I'm hosting tomorrow in Her honor at the Tao of Tea at the Portland Classical Chinese Gardens.

She has three (yes, three!) birthdays each year and the first one always falls on the 19th day of the 2nd lunar month--this year, that's March 26th.  Traditionally, one celebrates with silent contemplation; fasting or eating vegetarian; practicing acts of charity such as animal liberation or alms for the poor; and offering flowers, food and incense at temples.  We're going to be making offerings of flowers, fruits, chocolate (she just looooves chocolate!) and incense as well as joss papers and then doing the Kuan Yin Oracle.

There is a line from a pilgrim song I just love--"Adoration to the 1,000 Handed Kuan Yin--I repay Kuan Yin's kindness with my whole life, with my whole life!"  May I do the same...
Please enjoy this absolutely extraordinary video from China of 1,000 Armed Guan Yin Dance

A Kuan Yin Supper

Last night I was very blessed to be a part of a farewell dinner party for a wonderfully loving--and cheeky!-- Zen nun named Shakti.  She and I met through a shared love of Kuan Yin and she's off to create a temple in Montana.

My dear friends from the Van Huong Immortal Temple created such a feast of loving friendship and laughter and story-telling from Viet Nam, yummy chicken curry and a centerpiece of gorgeous porcelein Kuan Yin statues lit by candlelight.  They even had arranged a Lunar Eclipse!

Shakti, may you be welcomed with Great Love at the Mountain Temple of Big Sky.

Merciful Kuan Yin, Lady of Compassion

 

"released from rock...a stone lotus...seated and still...for centuries...a candle...silent circle...legs folded...head still...arms cradling...emptiness..."
("Seated Buddha" by Alan Altany)