Quan Yin in the Balance

 QUAN YIN in the BALANCE                                                                      

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“The Goddess of Mercy is unique among the heavenly hierarchy in that She is so utterly free from pride or vengefulness that She remains reluctant to punish even those to whom a severe lesson might be appropriate. Individuals who could be sentenced to dreadful penance in other systems can attain rebirth and renewal by simply calling upon Her graces with utter and absolute sincerity. It is said that, even for one kneeling beneath the executioner’s sword already raised to strike, a single heartfelt cry to Bodhisattva Quan Yin will cause the blade to fall shattered to the ground. 

The many stories and anecdotes featuring this Goddess serve to convey the idea of an enlightened being who embodies the attributes of an all pervasive, all consuming, unwavering loving compassion and who is accessible to everyone. Quan Yin counsels us by Her actions to cultivate within ourselves those particular refined qualities that all beings are said to naturally possess in some vestigial form. 

Contemplating the Goddess of Mercy involves little dogma or ritual.  The simplicity of this gentle being and Her standards tends to lead Her devotees towards becoming more compassionate and loving themselves.  A deep sense of service to all fellow beings naturally follows any devotion to the Goddess. 

The name Kuan Shih Yin, as she is often called, means literally “the one who regards, looks on, or hears the sounds of the world.” According to legend, Quan Yin was about to enter heaven but paused on the threshold as the cries of the world reached her.”  http://www.quanyin.com/

ImageProxy.mvcIn this extraordinary image of the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion, Quan Yin, I see the image of the Mother I am seeking in myself.  Her poise amidst what could be chaos.  Her ability to hold many truths, many realities, many prayers, at once is keen. She emits light though surrounded by shadow.  And there is no conflict or anxiety involved.  It is sweet silence, energetic stillness, calm and tranquility that exudes from her.  In this lies great, great beauty.

As I sit amidst the Equinox and New Moon energies, drawn ever deeper into my own center, contending with the surprise guests of emotional matter to ponder, thank and to release, I admire Her grace.

This moment the world is erupting with ideas and information.  A cataclysm of war propaganda while the Rainbow Warriors unite demanding total commitment in the face of the usual distractions and nay sayers.  We hear half truths, we see ourselves falling short of our own aptitudes and ideals.  We see our faultiness and we grieve what we have been unable to accomplish before now.  We dig in to the place in us that says these are your imperfections… (oh, Virgo…) and what will we do with what we find there?  Self-flagellation?  Will we increase our paralysis with punishment?  Or can we invoke this Goddess of Compassion to ease the blow?  Can we reserve that sabotaging energy and re-direct it, the best way we can, into the light of good, forward moving action?  We sit in the moment of Balance and consider our options, we contemplate.

I am deeply moved by the goodness in people who came out for the Climate March this week… my dear family and friends in NYC, the family and friends I have never met that came to create something of unprecedented proportions, the spirit family across the world who gathered to unite the voice of God / Goddess, Mother / Father / Creator, to show that we are one beyond the disagreements.  It is our true destiny to reveal the similarities and the unique wisdoms held by each Spiritual Tradition.  It is our true destiny to allow these revelations to inform a new understanding of society as we know it – one that supplants the past’s call to vengeance and genocidal purifications with mutual respect.  For this, we need Compassion to devour and embrace our Fear; we need Understanding to overcome the bitterness of our superficial ability that we so often congratulate ourselves for – Tolerance. We must be braver, deeper if we are going to succeed.

I sit with the glow of sun on golden leaves outside my window, aware of many things – both inside and out.  I have the distinct sense of holographic living and the yearnings from my root chakra for acceptance and security matching the outside reality I perceive on many levels.  I am aware that this sense of root and earth is what the autumn time brings in – sliding out of the earth centered late summer time sun and into grief.  We stave it off just as long as we can and then the death occurs.  I am aware of my multi-dimensional reality.  I am aware that this call to deep belly intuition and awareness is what I am craving to feed my humanness.  I am aware of this, as I am aware of the bells of Justice ringing in the arrival of Libra, the awakening of Ma’at, the gathering of a great many souls, the awareness that our ancestors are watching us – and wondering – What will they do with this moment?

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