Kuan Yin : She who harkens to the cries of the world Wise in using skilful means, She manifests her countless form.
Photo by xiaochi1989 in Pixabay
By Rene Wadlow.
May all living beings recognise others as part of the same family; and so develop kindness towards all. May we contribute to peace in the world. May peace-loving people, East and West; accomplish their goals of joy and harmony in the world.
February 19 is the day; especially in Chinese culture to honour Kuan Yin: the Goddess of Mercy for the Taoists and the Bodhisattva of Compassion for the Buddhists. In Buddhism; a Bodhisattva is a person who has achieved enlightenment; but who does not enter Nirvana; but who returns to give guidence and protection to struggling humanity.
Shrines to Kuan Yin stand in many places in China and in several neighboring countries as well. Whenever possible; these shrines are placed near running water or overlooking a lake. She is often depicted by painters as seated on a rock gazining out across the water or standing on a floating lotus petel.
Kuan Yin is a symbol of motherly protection.
Kuan Yin is a symbol of motherly protection. Her role is to rescue beings from present woes by assisting them to rid themselves of the delusions which bind them. One of the most persistent delusions is a sense of separateness; of being unrelated to others and separate from Nature. This sense of separateness from other humans creates fears that what we have will be taken from us; and thus we must defend ourselves and what we own. A sense of separateness from Nature creates a feeling that we can use Nature only for our benefit.
However; Kuan Yin has also a mischievous, freedom-loving side to her nature. In her Mongolian and Tibetan form as Tara, she is close to the hearts of Tibetan, Mongolian, and Nepali Buddhists. Kuan Yin, under her name Kuannon-sama has achieved much the same popularity in Japan.
Kuan Yin is a feminine symbol; an image which one can hold in mind – she who hears the crises of the world. As a praise song states “Wise in using skillful means, in every cornor of the world, she mainfests her countless forms, extingishing the flames of woe.”
On 19 February; offerings of incense are made along with tea for wisdom and fruit for prosperity. The aim is to resemble the Taoist sages of old whom ice could not freeze nor sunbeams scorch.
Rene Wadlow, President, Association of World Citizens.

President, Association of World Citizens (AWC).
Estudied International relations in The University of Chicago.
Estudied Special Program in European Civilization en Princeton University
Here are other publications that may be of interest to you.
Kenneth Waltz: The Passing of the Second Generation of the Realists.
The death of Professor Kenneth Waltz; on 12 May 2013 in New York City; at the age of 88; marks the start of the passing of the second generation of…
Benjamin Ferencz, Champion of World Law, Leave a Strong Heritage on Which To Build.
Featured Image: Prosecutor Benjamin Ferencz at the Einsatzgruppen Trial in Nuremberg. Ferencz was a civilian employee with the OCCWC, thus the picture showing him in civilian clothes. The Einsatzgruppen Trial (or „United…
Bronislaw Malinowski: Understanding Cultures and Cultural Change.
Featured Image: Bronislaw Malinowski (1884-1942), Professor of Anthropology. By Library of the London School of Economics and Political Science, No restrictions, via Wikimedia Commons. Bronislaw Malinowski (1884-1942) whose birth anniversary…
Arnold Toynbee: A World Citizens view of challenge and response.
Featured Image: Arnold Toynbee. By Atyyahesir, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Arnold Toynbee (1889-1975) was a historian, a philosopher of history, and an advisor on the wider Middle…