Guan Yin's Thousand Hands manifestation has many origin stories. If
you take the Buddhist world view of the Great Trichiliocosm (三千大千世界), or
interpreting it as multiple parallel universes, all these different
legends of how Guan Yin came to have thousands hands might be valid,
just happening on difference planes or worlds, at different times.
One of these origin stories begins with Guan Yin making a promise: I
shall alleviate all who are living, if I were to have the thought of retreating, my form shall be broken into a thousand pieces (我当度尽一切众生，若我退心，当令我身裂为千片).
And Guan Yin went on with the mission.
But despite the toil, the mission seemed endless. In a moment of weakness, Guan Yin thought about returning to nirvana without completing the mission. Though this was only a passing thought, and no one heard this of what we would now term as lament or complaint, it was still a sign of Guan Yin breaking the promise. As such, Guan Yin felt intense pain as Guan Yin started to break into thousands of pieces.
Buddha appeared. With Buddha's powers, Guan Yin was restored, and given this new form - Thousands Hands Guan Yin. Or the Thousand Hands Thousand Eyes Guan Yin, with eleven heads. And Guan Yin felt rejuvenated, more powerful than before.
Buddha said: Your mission is not one that can be completed in a short time, and you must never go back on your words.
And the rest we know, with the most powerful form, the assistance of thousands hands, Guan Yin continued the endeavor to bring all living to the shores of nirvana.
I retell this origin story the most. Some of you might have heard me narrating this in person. I think it tells us many good lessons. Of which, one valuable trait that is most precious and sadly getting rarer in our times: credibility.
The promises we make to others, the promises we make to ourselves. Actually not even promises, just words. Meaning what we actually say. Keep to them. Fulfilling them.
There is a price to pay for being credible. There is also a price to pay for being flippant with our words. It's up to us to choose.
-- Kan
But despite the toil, the mission seemed endless. In a moment of weakness, Guan Yin thought about returning to nirvana without completing the mission. Though this was only a passing thought, and no one heard this of what we would now term as lament or complaint, it was still a sign of Guan Yin breaking the promise. As such, Guan Yin felt intense pain as Guan Yin started to break into thousands of pieces.
Buddha appeared. With Buddha's powers, Guan Yin was restored, and given this new form - Thousands Hands Guan Yin. Or the Thousand Hands Thousand Eyes Guan Yin, with eleven heads. And Guan Yin felt rejuvenated, more powerful than before.
Buddha said: Your mission is not one that can be completed in a short time, and you must never go back on your words.
And the rest we know, with the most powerful form, the assistance of thousands hands, Guan Yin continued the endeavor to bring all living to the shores of nirvana.
I retell this origin story the most. Some of you might have heard me narrating this in person. I think it tells us many good lessons. Of which, one valuable trait that is most precious and sadly getting rarer in our times: credibility.
The promises we make to others, the promises we make to ourselves. Actually not even promises, just words. Meaning what we actually say. Keep to them. Fulfilling them.
There is a price to pay for being credible. There is also a price to pay for being flippant with our words. It's up to us to choose.
-- Kan
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