Rev. Eileen (Lena) Sheehan considers herself highly blessed, for not only is she guided on a daily basis by her beloved Master Teacher Guide, Urla-Ra, but she has been requested to perform as a vessel of channel for the most esteemed Kuan Yin (also spelled Quan Yin).  The information that Kuan Yin provides will be made available to the public through a variety of avenues, as designated by Kuan Yin, Urla Ra or the Council of 12. If you would like to be placed on the e-mail list for notification, click here.

Below is some information for those of you who are not familiar with Kuan Yin.

Kuan Yin: The Goddess of Compassion and Mercy

For centuries, Kuan Yin has played a role in Buddhism as "bodhisattva", meaning "a being of enlightenment." She was destined to become a Buddha, but has denied herself the bliss of Nirvana and vowed to save all of God's children who wish to be saved.

Kuan Yin's name is a translation of Avalokitesvara (also known as Avalokita), which is the Sanskrit name of her ancestors. In its true and correct form it is Kuanshih Yin and means "She who harkens to the cries of the world."

In Korea, Japan, and China, Kuanshih Yin is called Quan Yin. She is a celestial bodhisattva as well as an ascended master. One of her jobs in the celestial spheres is to sit on the board of the Lord of Karma.

Kuan Yin is the embodiment of compassion. She is roughly equivalent to Green Tara in Tibetan Buddhism.

In Tibetan Buddhism Kuan Yin is seen in her male form as Avalokitesvara.  It is thought that the female form of Avalokitesvara, Kuan Yin, originated in the twelfth or thirteenth century in both China and Japan.

Kuan Yin is one of the most universally beloved of deities in the Buddhist tradition. According to legend, Kuan Yin was about to enter heaven but paused on the threshold as the cries of the world reached her ears. Kuan Yin vowed to remain in the earthly realms and not enter the heavenly worlds until all other living things have completed their own enlightenment and thus become liberated from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.  As the Bodhisattva of Compassion, She hears the cries of all beings. She employs a strong resonance with the Christian Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and the Tibetan goddess, Tara.

In many images Kuan Yin is depicted carrying the pearls of illumination. Often she is shown pouring a stream of healing water, the "Water of Life," from a small vase. With this water devotees and all living things are blessed with physical and spiritual peace. The dragon, an ancient symbol for high spirituality, wisdom, strength, and divine powers of transformation, is often a common motif found in combination with the Goddess of Mercy.

Sometimes Kuan Yin is represented as a many armed figure, with each hand either containing a different cosmic symbol or expressing a specific ritual position. This characterizes the Goddess as the source and sustenance of all things. 

There are numerous legends that recount the miracles which Kuan Yin performs to help those who call on Her. She is known as a virgin Goddess who protects women and grants children to those who desire them.

The Goddess of Mercy. Kuan Yin, is unique among the heavenly hierarchy. Because she is completely free from pride or vengefulness, she is reluctant to punish.  She holds this position even for 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 Kuan Yin's mercy and grace with utter and absolute sincerity. 

Kuan Yin counsels us by Her actions to cultivate within ourselves those particular refined qualities that all beings are said to naturally possess.

Contemplating Kuan Yin 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.