and a host of other names. He is indeed the Lord who regards
with compassion, all beings suffering from the evils of existence
within the Six Realms.K S Y is the direct translation of the Sanskrit name of
Avalokitesvara which has the following meaning:
K — ‘contemplate’ or ‘looks on’
S — the world or the region of sufferers’
Y — ‘all the sounds of the world,’ i.e., the cry-
ing sounds of beings, verbal or mental, all
acknowledging misery and seeking salvation
which touch the heart of the Lord who pities.
Kuan Shih Yin is therefore the Bodhisattva of great compassion,
mercy and love who has won the hearts of countless people. By
virtue of his infinite power, he is capable of regarding the cries
of the people whether these represent either desire or suffer-
ing, delivering them through the wisdom of skilful means, and
appearing in the form suitable to those to be saved. is noble
Lord is thus the ‘saviour’ who may assume the form of a Buddha,
Bodhisattva, god or any other forms, either male or female, in
order to fulfill his task of mercy.In most of the Buddhist lands, the male form is predominant
but in China, Kuan Shih Yin manifests in various female forms
such as:“White-robed Kuan Yin”
“Child-giving Kuan Yin”
“Calm-sea Kuan Yin”