Guan Yin: Heart Of Compassion

One look at her soft features is sufficient to convince anyone that Guan Yin is filled with compassion for all beings. No wonder she is popularly known as the Goddess of Mercy. We see various depictions of her in the mass media, but the one consistent element is her immense compassion for all. A Goddess of Mercy. A vigilant guardian angel. Although originally a Buddhist bodhisattva called Avalokitesvara, she is worshipped and revered by people of other religions, particularly Taoists and Hindus. She does not preach or instruct, but merely seeks to assist. And looking at the crowds praying at her temples, she is possibly the most popular Buddhist deity of all. In this book, we delve into her origins and history, and also bring to light some little known facts about her. For instance, did you know that Guan Yin actually started out as a male bodhisattva? Or that there are 33 forms of the deity? A special appeal of this book is the illustrations of some of her stories, providing a pleasing visual respite for the eye.