The Ordination Day of Guanyin Bodhisattva and Her Great Contribution to Buddhism
The 19th day of the 9th lunar month is the ordination day of Guanyin Bodhisattva. Guanyin has made tremendous contributions to Buddhism. Without Guanyin Bodhisattva, the number of Buddhist followers might be cut in half—or even more than half.
Guanyin's foremost contribution is her compassion in relieving suffering and rescuing those in distress. The Saha world is filled with suffering, and such a world needs a Bodhisattva who can bring salvation. That is when Guanyin appears.
Countless people come to the Buddhist path out of a desire for help. Some seek marriage, peace, children, academic success—whatever troubles life presents, they seek the protection and blessings of the Bodhisattva.
Human desires are said to be 84,000 in number, and Guanyin Bodhisattva is capable of responding to them all.
Now, is this kind of seeking actually useful? The answer is: yes, it is. Without such seeking, many people wouldn’t even enter the gate of Buddhism. These wish-fulfillments are all considered “skillful means” (善巧方便). Even if one enters the Buddhist path out of worldly desire, it still generates merit and a spark of awakening.
Even if someone seeks nothing and just walks around the temple, that too creates merit. This is the manifestation of "good roots" (善根). Without such good roots, one wouldn't even encounter a temple. That is why the Lotus Sutra says:
“If someone with a scattered and distracted mind enters a stupa or temple and merely recites 'Namo Buddha' once, they are still on the path to Buddhahood.”
What does “a scattered mind” mean? It refers to a mind filled with desires. No matter what one seeks, it’s acceptable—because through that, they encounter the Buddha.
So we should not criticize others as being superstitious for praying for this or that. That too is a kind of good root. At the very least, they know to turn to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, not to demons or false paths. That’s already a sign of virtue.
Spiritual cultivation isn’t just about learning theory; it’s also about embodying the compassion of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. People face many forms of suffering—what should be done? That’s when Guanyin’s compassion to save and protect becomes especially important. Not just for beings in the six realms, but even for Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas, all must rely on Guanyin to be freed from suffering. This role of saving and relieving suffering is essential.
However, being able to relieve suffering is not unique to Guanyin. In popular belief, figures like Mazu, Lord Guan (Guan Gong), the Earth God, the Jade Emperor, and various deities also show spiritual power to rescue people from hardship. So does that mean Guanyin Bodhisattva is just another deity?
Not quite. Guanyin possesses a unique quality—great compassion. This compassion is crucial. The image Buddhism presents to the world is one of compassion: “Our Buddha is compassionate.” Guanyin stands as the very embodiment of this compassion, a role that other deities—or even other Bodhisattvas—cannot replace.
In this world, compassion is more important than blessings, power, or wealth. One may have blessings, but without compassion, they are not a true Bodhisattva. It is compassion that makes one a Bodhisattva.
I once saw a person who had gone through many hardships. He could endure all the unfairness and insults from the world. But his endurance did not come from compassion—it came from being numbed by constant mistreatment. He viewed insults as normal. He didn’t trust temples, wouldn’t donate to the Triple Gem, and believed monks were deceivers. He had lost faith in the goodness of the world.
Dear friends, this is the most dangerous state. When a person experiences extreme situations, their mind can become distorted. Then they can no longer see the beauty of the world or recognize goodness. That is truly a kind of living hell.
Some people often say, “There are no good people in this world.” That too is a twisted worldview. In such moments, the compassion of Guanyin Bodhisattva becomes especially important. Just look at today’s internet, television, and news reports—most of them focus on darkness and negativity, and rarely shine light on the good and bright side of things.
This is very dangerous. It creates the illusion that society is entirely dark. But such a view is something cultivators should be very cautious about. What’s more unfortunate is that people seem drawn to the dark side of things—perhaps a reflection of some distortion in human nature.
Even traditional Chinese medicine confirms this. TCM speaks of the “three souls and seven spirits” (三魂七魄). These seven spirits are seven different traits. According to internal observation in TCM, these traits are often unbalanced or even twisted.
This shows that human nature itself includes elements of distortion. And these distortions easily attract negative energies from the environment. People can become habitually drawn to these harmful influences. That’s why spiritual cultivation is necessary—to uplift and purify one’s life force.
I often suggest: recite scriptures every day. As the ancients said, “If one does not recite sutras for three days, the face becomes unpleasant to look at.” This is very true. Without spiritual practice, people lose their way. Today, people are in great need of positive energy.
In this age of the Dharma’s decline, spiritual progress depends on the blessings of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the power of the scriptures, and the support of great masters. That’s also why so many spiritual practitioners turn to Guanyin Bodhisattva.
Namo Greatly Compassionate Guanyin Bodhisattva!
Namo Amitabha Buddha!
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