Japan Adventures (7) : One with Compassion
The ticket cum bookmark for Kiyomizu Temple, which is dedicated to Kannon Bosatsu (Guanyin Bodhisattva) has this saying written behind it in Japanese and ‘English’ –When Kannon-sama arises in your mind, then you are in Oneness with Kannon-sama. (‘Sama’ is a respectful honorific title.) Usually, when we think of being mindful (e.g. while chanting) the name of Guanyin Bodhisattva, we think of calling to her for divine assistance. If this is so, we might not be at one with her yet. There is still a sense of a chanter and the chanted. As Guanyin Bodhisatva personifies perfect compassion, when we are truly wholeheartedly mindful of what she stands for, something amazing happens. We will tune in to the perfect compassion (our inner Guanyin Bodhisattva) within us too. We become like Guanyin Bodhisattva – even if just for a few moments at a stretch. We transform from being a sentient being requesting for help from a Bodhisattva… to be a Bodhisattva who heeds other sentient beings’ requests for help. Which reminds me… There is a Buddhist riddle –
Q: Some Guanyin Bodhisattva images are portrayed holding prayer beads. Who is she mindful of?
A: She is mindful of Guanyin Bodhisattva. (One who truly helps others truly helps oneself too.)
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