A Story about a Buddhist Saint

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There’s even more variations in Buddhism than there are in the Judeo-Christian line. As different as Syrian Orthodox and Quakers, Copts and Mormons.

Here is one story about a Buddhist Saint, Guan Yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. I include it because I think it’s relevant to some of the principles embodied in Christ’s teachings, though I have no wish to minimise the significant differences that exist between the two religions.
A variant of the legend says that Miao Shan (an avatar or incarnation of Guan Yin) allowed herself to die at the hand of the executioner. According to this legend, as the executioner tried to carry out her father’s orders, his axe shattered into a thousand pieces. He then tried a sword which likewise shattered. He tried to shoot Miao Shan down with arrows but they all veered off.
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Finally in desperation he used his hands. Miao Shan, realising the fate the executioner would meet at her father’s hand should she fail to let herself die, forgave the executioner for attempting to kill her. It is said that she voluntarily took on the massive karmic guilt the executioner generated for killing her, thus leaving him guiltless. It is because of this that she descended into the Hell-like realms. While there she witnessed firsthand the suffering and horrors beings there must endure and was overwhelmed with grief. Filled with compassion, she released all the good karma she had accumulated through her many lifetimes, thus freeing many suffering souls back into Heaven and Earth.
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She began her journey to heaven and was about to cross over into heaven when she heard a cry of suffering from the world below. She turned around and saw the massive suffering endured by the people of the world. Filled with compassion, she returned to earth, vowing never to leave till such time as all suffering has ended.
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I enjoy the stories of the Bodhisattva. Guan Yin is one of my favourites. I have heard Guan Yin being likened to the Virgin Mary a few times. I will try and find a picture a Buddhist monastery commissioned of Guan Yin in the style of the famous Madonna and Child paintings.
 
LDNCatholic said:
I will try and find a picture a Buddhist monastery commissioned of Guan Yin in the style of the famous Madonna and Child paintings.
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This one?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ef/Guanyin_and_child.jpg
Some syncretic Buddhist and Christian observers have commented on the similarity between Guan Yin and the Blessed Virgin Mary of Christianity, the mother of Jesus Christ. The Tzu-Chi Foundation, a Taiwanese Buddhist organization, also noticing the similarity, commissioned a portrait of Guan Yin and a baby that resembles the typical Roman Catholic Madonna and Child painting.
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LDNCatholic said:
That’d be the one, you’re quick!
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“The Google Fu is strong in this one…”

Actually, I cheated. I’m intersexed, and one of the really, really rare varieties. Perhaps 1 in 50,000 people get a “natural sex change” from a female appearance at birth to a male appearance later, so that’s rare, but not outrageously so. Either 5ARD syndrome or 17BHDD syndrome can cause it.

Changes the other way are less than 1% of those going from FtoM. For the handful of us in that situation that exist worldwide, you can see why Guan Yin is something of a role model, and an inspiration.

The medical details are described in forums.catholic-questions.org/showpost.php?p=5012328&postcount=146

The existence of people like me poses some interesting practical problems for Catholic theologians. :doh2:
 
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