Buddasettava Guanyin: I'll Be Watching the Opening Show

by wenhousecrafts.com

8 August 2008

Bodhisattva Guanyin (观音) is the most popular Buddha figure in China. Guan (观) in Chinese means observation and yin (音) is for sound, and that expresses Guanyin’s path to enlightenment which is of observing by listening.

Or may be not.

On a day leading up to the Beijing Olympics, a Chinese doctor named Xia Xiandou (夏先斗) in Sichuan Province visited Buddhist temple Soul Spring Monastery (灵泉寺) and videotaped a Guanyin statue in a payering hall. When he reviewed the video later, to his great shock, he noticed that the Bodhisattva's eyes keep blinking. With the help of his son, a college student, the doctor converted and burned video files into DVD discs and forwarded them to relevant authorities for examination. So far no one is able to come up with a plausible explanation.

Eyes shut

Eyes open

It seems Guanyin's path to enlightenment and way to engaging the world are not confined to listening, but through watching as well. That's perfectaly understandable. To fully enjoy the spectacular show of Beijing Olympic Opening Ceremony which is going to be staged tonight at 8pm in a giant bird's nest, it is not enough by listening to the radio. You need to switch on your television too.

So, now we know, Bodhisattva Guanyin will be watching the Olympics with us, and watching us. What a bless! And let's behave ourselves.

(Source of original photos by: china.com)