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This Bodhisattva's name is "Avalokiteshvara" in Sanskrit. Gwan Yin is the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion and his name means "Contemplator of Self-Mastery or Contemplator of the Sounds of the World." He is one of the three sages of Amitabha Buddha's Western Pureland of Ultimate Bliss.
The Venerable Master Hsuan Hua explains: "Within Buddhism, Guanshiyin Bodhisattva holds a very important position. Some people say that Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is Chinese and some say he is a Westerner; some say the Bodhisattva is male and some say female. But now I am informing all of you that Guanshiyin Bodhisattva is neither Chinese nor Western, neither male nor female. Well, then, where does he come from? He fills empty space and pervades the Dharma Realm; he is in every place and yet not in any place. He appears according to what kind of body is needed to save each particular category of beings. He manifests in whatever physical form is appropriate to speak Dharma for beings; thus his identity is flexible. Guanshiyin Bodhisattva appears in the form of a Buddha to save those who are ready to become Buddhas. He appears as a Bodhisattva to save those who should become Bodhisattvas. He appears as a heavenly king to speak Dharma for beings in the heavens.
Guanshiyin Bodhisattva uses kindness, compassion, joy, and giving to save all living beings. He saves beings from the seven difficulties, responds to two kinds of seeking, has fourteen kinds of fearlessness, speaks Dharma in nineteen ways, and has thirty-two response bodies."
Praise on Gwan Yin Bodhisattva: Bodhisattva Gwan Shr Yin is wonderful past gratitude. Namo Greatly Kind and Compassionate Bodhisattva of the Crystal land, who dwells on Potola Mountain and Observes the Sounds of the World.
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