One with Kannon
Posted: January 20, 2009 Filed under: Buddhism, Hosso, Japanese, Language, Religion 7 Comments »I found an old bookmark from Japan I had received at another Hossō temple named Kiyomizudera in Kyoto, Japan. I visited the place in 2005, and when I bought the ticket, it came with this little bookmark, with a devotional poem to the Bodhisattva Kannon. On the back of the bookmark, in English and Japanese, are the words (with romaji added in):
Japanese: 観音様を心に念ずれば、
観音様はあなたと共に歩まれます。Romaji: Kannon-sama wo kokoro ni nen zureba,
Kannon-sama wa anata to tomo ni ayumaremasu.English: When Kannon-sama arises in your mind,
then you are in Oneness with Kannon-sama.
Actually, the only difference I would have with the translation is the words “共に歩まれます”, which to me reads more like “walk together”, meaning that you and Kannon walk together (in Oneness). Anyways, I thought that was a pretty cool bookmark, and I thought I had lost the silly thing until last week when I was cleaning house.*
But what does this mean exactly? I suppose there are a lot of ways to interpret this statement above, but to me it seems like this could mean a couple different things:
- If one views Kannon as an embodiment of compassion, then when one thinks of Kannon, then compassion and kindness arises within them. In a vague sense, you become Kannon.
- Or, if Kannon is really a universal Bodhisattva, then like the twenty-fifth chapter of the Lotus Sutra states, he hears the cries and sounds of the world. Since all beings are inter-related, then when one thinks of Kannon, Kannon thinks of that person also. In other words, Kannon holds you in his thoughts.
I’m curious to see what other people say as well.
Namu Kanzeon Bosatsu
* – A miracle all by itself. My wife would be pleased.
Hello, this blog is about my life as a father, Buddhist and Japanophile / Koreaphile. Any useful information I can pass along will hopefully make the 
Hi,
Of course it could also mean that when you think on Kannon, you and Kannon walk together in oneness.
I think it’s something to practice, rather than analyse.
Namu Kwan Seum Bosal,
Marcus
Ooops,
I just re-read my comment and it looks pretty harsh! Sorry about that! It certainly wasn’t meant to be at all rude!
Ouch, bang goes the fourth precept (again!). My comment was maybe true, but certainly, reading it again, not loving!
Next time, I’ll practice what I preach before hitting the submit button! Hardly the words of compassion there!
But, yes, I see the phrase as a nudge towards practice rather than a Buddhological statement to be analysed.
But thank you so much Gerald for sharing it with us. My main fault in my previous post was that I simply didn’t take the time to say how much I appreciate the work you do for us on your blog. Thank you.
With palms together,
Marcus
I want to learn more about Kannon. Do you have any books to recommend about the Bodhisattva of Compassion?
Hi,
Well, I’d start with chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra and then move on to the Heart Sutra. Or the other way around. Then it’s just a matter of practice.
Hope this helps,
Namu Kwan Seum Bosal
Marcus
Tornado, Marcus: I totally agree. The main “texts” that concern Kannon are the 25th chapter of the lotus sutra (also called the “Kannon Sutra” in its own right) and the Heart Sutra. Both are kind of hard to read, so I’ve found Thich Nhat’s commentaries to be very helpful for both sutras. I’d get the “sutra” and the commentary if possible. I think the Heart Sutra by Thich Nhat Hanh is both sutra and commentary since it’s so short.
I do plan to type up the Kannon Sutra sometime soon from the prayer book i got from Japan, but it’s much, much longer than my last effort, the Heart Sutra. That took a whole day of just constant typing, so for the Kannon Sutra, I am not sure if that would take weeks or even months. We’ll see.
If, when I think of Kuan yin, I become Kuan Yin, does this also mean that when Kuan Yin thinks of me he/she becomes me?
Maybe our thoughts are not separate, and when I think of Kuan Yin, Kuan Yin likewise thinks of me?
It’s a bit like the saying of the nembutsu. When we say the nembutsu, it’s actually Amida saying the nembutsu through us to Amida. Amida calls to Amida through us – Great Compassion calls to Great Compassion through us. The only difference here is, with Kuan Yin, it’s at the level of thought and not so much at the level of voice. My thought is Kuan Yin. When I think of Kuan Yin, Kuan Yin thinks of me. But from Kuan Yin’s perspective, there is no difference between Kuan Yin and me. So, from Kuan Yin’s perspective, me thinking about Kuan Yin is exactly the same as Kuan Yin thinking about Kuan Yin. Kuan Yin sees Kuan Yin when he/she sees me; so when Kuan Yin thinks of me, he/she thinks of Kuan Yin. When I think of Kuan Yin, Great Compassion reflects on Great Compassion. That’s just how it is.
Hi Matt P and welcome to the JLR!