Kwan Yin is the most sought out Goddess in the modern day, second only to Mary from the Christian tradition.  There are a variety of ways to spell her name: Kwan Yin, Kuan Yin, Quan Yin, Guan Yin, and possibily more than 50 more variations.  In the Japanese tradition she is known as Kannon.

• To the unititiated, Kwan Yin is the Goddess of Mercy, Compassion and of Unconditional Love. 


• Her full name Kwan Shih Yin Pu' Sa, which translates to: "She who hears the cries of the world".

It has been written that when Kwan Yin died and her Spirit was nearing the gates of heaven, she looked back and heard the cries of sufferers the world over.  Kwan Yin then returned to Earth, stating that she would not go to Nirvana and Enlightenment until the rest of the world reached Enlightenment also.

• For many thousands of years Kwan Yin has been a religious icon of the East.  Throughout China, Kwan Yin is worshipped by the multitudes.  There are thousands upon thousands of shrines, big and small, created by the people of China to worship this Goddess.  Kwan Yin is also widely known throughout South Korea and Japan, where she is known as "Kannon" and now, Kwan Yin is being drawn into the spiritual traditions of the West.


• Traditionally, the women of China would go to the shrines and pray to her each evening.  Those who were pregnant, often prayed to the Goddess requesting that their unborn child be male. 


• Kwan Yin is also the Guardian Goddess of the Mariner; many Chinese seamen have shrines built on their boats and pray to the Goddess morning and evening, leaving the Goddess offerings of food and burning incense in her honour.

Kwan Yin is also recongnised in Taoism, which is also gaining in popularity in the western world today.  The Tao teaches on how to reach enlightenment, on finding your inner self and on becoming spiritual.  Many people set up alters in their own homes, with statues of the Goddess, lighting candles, burning incense, placing fresh flowers around her and offer their prayers to the Goddess on a daily basis.

It is also believed that Kwan Yin was once a mortal person, and some stories tell of her as the daughter of a Chinese Emperor from many hundreds of years ago.  There are other stories about this Goddess being born from a tear from the right eye of the Buddha.

No matter what the legend, or belief, all that really matters if what we feel in our hearts to be true from the beautiful energy that the Goddess, Kwan Yin evokes in us.  I have been a devotee of Kwan Yin for many years and have received her gifts of Mercy, Compassion and Unconditional Love many times and I would not have it any other way.

• There are many different ways to invoke the spirit of the Goddess Kwan Yin:   I often call her name seven times "Kwan Shih Yin Pu' Sa"


• I recite her Mantra seven times, "Om Mani Padme Hum"


• Often I will just sit in a quiet place, closing my eyes and visualising her beautiful image.

In doing this you can be assured that your prayers will be answered, by the Divine mother Kwan Shih Yin.

You can purchase a beautiful Kwan Yin guided meditation in mp3 format by clicking here

Keith McIntosh