Many people have heard of Guanyin Bodhisattva, but most of them do not know the blessings and protections that come from chanting this sacred name. Who is Guanyin Bodhisattva? Is the Four-Armed Guanyin the same as Guanyin Bodhisattva? How do you chant the sacred name of Guanyin Bodhisattva? What are the benefits of chanting “Namo Guanyin Bodhisattva”? This article will answer all the above questions and share some real-life stories of chanting Guanyin Bodhisattva’s name for protection.
The Origin of Guanyin Bodhisattva
Guanyin Bodhisattva is not only one of the most well-known bodhisattvas in popular culture but also a figure whose sacred name is widely recognized in the Chinese-speaking world. Temples dedicated to Guanyin Bodhisattva can be found all over the globe, and many Buddhist groups organize large celebratory ceremonies on Guanyin Bodhisattva’s birthday and enlightenment day.
Guanyin Bodhisattva is also known as Guanshiyin (hears cries) or Guanzizai (the attainment of buddhahood). In Taiwan, people affectionately use the name Guanyinma (The Mother Guanyin), as Guanyin Bodhisattva is often worshiped in female form. Among a variety of forms, the image of Guanyin Bodhisattva holding a vase is the most common depiction, earning the Bodhisattva titles including “Lotus Hand Bodhisattva” or “Avalokitesvara With the Vase.” There are many legends and writings about Guanyin Bodhisattva from around the world, and different Buddhist schools have various ways of venerating this beloved deity. In Mahayana Buddhism, in the esoteric tradition, Guanyin Bodhisattva is referred to as the “The Lord of the Bodhisattvas.” Guanyin Bodhisattva is also seen as a great bodhisattva of the Western Paradise and is often mentioned alongside Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva and Amitabha Buddha as the “Three Holy Ones of the Western Paradise.”
Guanyin Bodhisattva is renowned for great compassion and seeking the cries of the suffering. The Wonderful Dharma Lotus Flower Sutra provides detailed accounts of Guanyin Bodhisattva responding to the pleas of sentient beings and assisting them. Throughout history, many miraculous stories of people feeling a connection with Guanyin Bodhisattva have been told, and practitioners of Bodhi Meditation have also witnessed numerous miracles of Guanyin Bodhisattva’s blessings and protection.
The Four-Armed Guanyin
“Four-Armed Guanyin” is one of the manifestations of Guanyin Bodhisattva, with each of the four arms representing four Buddhist virtues – “Calming,” “Increasing,” “Caring,” and “Destroying.” These arms symbolize the quelling of suffering and difficulties, the increasing of merits and wisdom, the caring for all sentient beings, and the destroying of all evil thoughts.
This Four-Armed Guanyin Bodhisattva Thangka dates to the 15th century and once belonged to a Tibetan meditation master. The white body of the Four-Armed Guanyin Bodhisattva represents purity and immaculateness and signifies that chanting The Heart Mantra (Om Mani Padme Hum) with utmost sincerity and reverence can eliminate karmic obstacles. Sincerely worshiping the thangka can also establish a rapid connection with Guanyin Bodhisattva and bring abundant blessings to one’s life.
Chanting and Benefits
The sacred name of Guanyin Bodhisattva can be chanted in “Namo Dacidabei Guanshiyin Pusa,” which means “Namo Great Compassion Guanyin Bodhisattva.”
“Namo,” the first two Sanskrit characters, conveys a sense of homage, respect, and devotion. When followed by the sacred name of Guanyin Bodhisattva, it signifies sentient beings paying homage to Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Guanyin Bodhisattva vowed that whenever sentient beings encounter suffering, chanting His name with sincerity and reverence would bring them blessings and protection. Here are three benefits of chanting the holy name of Guanyin Bodhisattva regularly:
Chanting Benefit 1: Eliminating Disasters and Bringing Auspicious Outcomes
When facing danger or adversity, earnestly chanting the sacred name of Guanyin Bodhisattva can invoke immediate Divine protection to repel disasters and turn dire situations into auspicious ones.
Chanting Benefit 2: Dispelling Negative Karma and Accumulating Merits
Chanting the name of a bodhisattva is a profound practice in Buddhism. Consistently chanting the sacred name of Guanyin Bodhisattva with reverence not only purifies the chanter’s negative karma but also generates boundless merits, thereby gaining Guanyin Bodhisattva’s compassionate blessings and perpetual protection, resulting in a smooth, auspicious life.
Chanting Benefit 3: Cultivating Compassion and Transforming Fate
Frequently chanting the sacred name of Guanyin Bodhisattva and resonating with His great compassion can help in nurturing one’s own compassion, leading to spiritual elevation and fate transformation for a life filled with happiness and goodness.
Testimonials From Bodhi Meditation Practitioners
Grandmaster JinBodhi shares a deep connection with Guanyin Bodhisattva. During his childhood, he often received Guanyin Bodhisattva’s protection and guidance, and even received His guidance on numerous occasions during meditation. On the day of Guanyin Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day in 2003, a remarkable vision of the compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva appeared above Grandmaster JinBodhi’s residence and the image was captured by Grandmaster.
Guanyin Bodhisattva’s Enlightenment Day is an important celebration in Bodhi Meditation, and Grandmaster JinBodhi often conducts chanting classes, leading the participants to express gratitude to Guanyin Bodhisattva and receive His blessings and protections. Grandmaster JinBodhi has helped countless participants through these classes.
Here are two real-life stories shared by Bodhi Meditation practitioners:
Testimonial 1: Avoiding a Serious Car Accident (Yuan Lun, Los Angeles, USA)
One day after finishing work, I was driving while chanting Guanyin Bodhisattva’s sacred name, following the recording by Grandmaster JinBodhi. My steering wheel suddenly turned to the left on its own, and my car veered into the other lane. When I looked back at the lane I was driving in previously, I saw a car approaching my vehicle at an extremely high speed. However, when I checked my rearview mirror again, I saw that all the cars behind me had stopped and were quite far away. It was then that I realized I had narrowly avoided a car accident. I am deeply grateful for the protection and blessings of Grandmaster JinBodhi and Guanyin Bodhisattva, which helped me evade an accident!
Testimonial 2: Blessed With a Child (Wang Yun, Thailand)
I experienced a blocked fallopian tube and an ectopic pregnancy, leading to a surgery to remove my right fallopian tube. The doctor said that without the right fallopian tube, my chance of conceiving was reduced by 50 percent. I started sincerely chanting to a Guanyin Bodhisattva statue and a photo of Grandmaster JinBodhi every day, praying for a child to be bestowed upon me. A month later, I had a dream in which Guanyin Bodhisattva told me to go for a checkup for conception; I then went to the hospital for an examination, and to my surprise, I was indeed pregnant. I went on to give birth to a healthy boy. I am truly grateful to Grandmaster JinBodhi and Guanyin Bodhisattva!
Chant With Grandmaster JinBodhi and Pray to Guanyin Bodhisattva Sincerely
By sincerely chanting the sacred name of Guanyin Bodhisattva under the guidance of Grandmaster JinBodhi, not only will you resonate with Guanyin Bodhisattva, but you will also receive the compassionate blessings of Grandmaster JinBodhi, leading to unexpected benefits. If you wish to further your practice, you can enroll in Bodhi Meditation’s chanting classes, such as “Guanyin Bodhisattva’s Protection Chanting Class” and “The Greatest Gift Chanting Class.” You can also purchase the recording of the chanting of Guanyin Bodhisattva’s sacred name (chanted by Grandmaster JinBodhi) and follow his guidance to connect with Guanyin Bodhisattva. For more information, kindly visit Grandmaster JinBodhi’s YouTube channel.
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