February

The Mt Shasta Goddess Temple dedicates February to Kuan Yin.

Artwork of Kuan Yin and Her Dragon at Hedge Creek Falls in Dunsmuir by Devanna Wolf

Kuan Yin (Guanyin, Quan Yin) is the Buddha goddess of Compassion. Her name "Kuan Shih Yin" means "Perceiver of the Cries of the World." Kuan Yin hears each tear roll down each cheek, whether we are crying from laughter, fear, or sorrow. Making a commitment to extending compassion toward ourselves and the world, and recognizing that we are not separate from the world, is one way we can honor Kuan Yin in our daily lives.

The Mt Shasta Goddess Temple is undertaking a significant project dedicated to this beloved goddess who inspires and comforts hearts worldwide. We are in the midst of a long-term project of accumulating 1,000,000 recitations of her mantras, "Namo Kuan Shih Yin Pusa" and "Om Mani Padme Hum." Every Monday-Friday at 9:30am Pacific time, Priestess Yeshe broadcasts a live Kuan Yin chanting practice on her Facebook page. You can join in from home, or watch it on replay for a daily divination and ceremony. 

Additionally, the Temple is gathering donations of 1000 statues of Kuan Yin so that we can have a special shrine for people to visit. Please contact us if you’d like to make a donation of a statue.

Ideas for honoring Kuan Yin, goddess of compassion:

-create a fundraiser for a charitable organization

-volunteer to clean or do laundry for a new or single mother

-take the time to sympathetically listen to someone's troubles and pray for them

-purchase jasmine green tea pearls and steep a cup while chanting "Om Mani Padme Hum" then drink the tea

-practice meditation for world peace

-adopt, foster, or volunteer to cuddle shelter animals

-eat a vegan or vegetarian diet for the month of February

Praise for Kuan Yin

Her mind is virtue, perfected.
Her body is wisdom, perfected.
Her face is bathed in Holy Light.
She is Compassion itself.
Her orchid heart delights in Mercy.
No matter what evils we face,
No matter what beasts or demons,
No matter what ill fortune or disease,
No matter even if we face death,
Kuan Yin destroys them all
With her Compassionate glance,
With her perfected soul.
She is infinitely blessed.
Let us bow to her in prayer.

If I were adrift upon the ocean
With demons and dragons all around,
I would think of sweet Kuan Yin
And the hungry waters would subside.
If I were trapped within a furnace
As hot as hell's own blazes,
I would think of Kuan Yin's power,
And the flames would turn to water.
If enemies pursued me, if I were thrown
From a high mountain peak,

If knives were raised against me,
If I were imprisoned or beset by beasts,
I would call on her.
Her pity shields me from the lightning.
Her Compassion is like a cloud around me,
Which rains down sweetness and
Puts out the fires of my sorrow.
Her very name is powerful
As thunder on the ocean.
Call it often, pray to her often,
For there is none like her in this world!

-Composed by poet Patricia Monaghan (1946-2012)

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