Purple Tao of Kuan Yin

THE PURPLE TAO

OF KUAN YIN

觀音紺觀音紺觀音紺觀音紺道道道道A Path of Freedom from karma

by Dale Goodyear

([email protected])

© 2004 by Dale Goodyear

INTRODUCTION

This is a little book of personal meditations and mantras to Kuan Yin. She is the wonderful Mother of Mercy and

Liberation who is becoming more and more familiar to peoples of both East and West.

The methods in this book are based on ancient Buddhist traditions. At times I have rephrased old modes of

expression in simpler terms, and have added insights from three decades of my own spiritual path with Kuan Yin.

The Spirit of Kuan Yin, however, remains unchanged and undiluted, and you will find here an open door to her

Heart of Compassion. It is a Tao of Freedom, a Way--through Kuan Yin's Help--to be liberated from suffering

and delusion.

So if you love--or can come to love--the great path of mantra to Kuan Yin and meditation upon Her, peruse this

little book. You will find that the name Kuan Yin is simple yet powerful to transform you, and your entire life

and world.

The primary mantra we will use is Kuan Yin's fundamental Om Mani Padme Hum. Her renowned mantra can be

used with any of her blessings and saving powers. This makes for a simple path of mantra to Kuan Yin, as long

as we are also willing to exercise our mind, heart, and spirit to focus on the particular blessing we need.

Kuan Yin wants us to become co-bodhisattvas with her! She uses a full array of tools to help beings, and She

wants us to learn from her how to use the same tools.

The key to Om Mani Padme Hum with Kuan Yin's saving powers and blessings is to realize that the Mani

("jewel", "any precious thing") of the mantra is the saving power or blessing. It is the Skillful Means to help

sentient beings. Padme ("Lotus", "Lotus Being") is Kuan Yin; it's one of her ancient names. Om essentially

means "As Above", and Hum means "So Below".

The Om Mani Padme Hum is a versatile mantra, and can be used with other meditations and visualizations. But

in this booklet we will see the Mani as saving power being employed by the Padme who is Kuan Yin. And as we

become more and more one with Kuan Yin, more and more co-bodhisattva with her, we will ourselves become

that Padme !

Aside from her fundamental mantra, I have also included Chinese mantras that can be used to focus our

meditation and visualization. If you relate to the sound of Chinese, by all means recite them!

ROMANIZATION AND PRONUNCIATION

In this book I have used the Pinyin Romanization of Chinese characters, because at this point few

students are familiar with any other. The exceptions are Tao and Kuan Yin in the text (though I

use Guan Yin in the mantras). I have also added the Chinese character texts for all Chinese

words and mantras given. I have omitted tone marks, since they are not used in chanting.

In my pronunciation key, I have used "ah" and "oh" to indicate the long "a" and "o" vowels as pronounced in

English "father" and "boat", for example; "oo" to indicate long "u" as in English "soon"; and "ee" to indicate

long "i" as in English "seem." Speakers of European languages, of course, will require a different pronunciation

key, but the transition should not be too difficult.

KUAN YIN’S PURPLE EYES

The ancient "Praise to Amitabha Buddha" speaks of the royal-purple or violet eyes (gan mu) of Amitabha

Buddha:

紺紺紺紺目目目目澄澄澄澄清清清清似似似似大大大大海海海海

(gan mu cheng qing si da hai –

His violet eyes, pure and clear, are like a great ocean)

Amitabha is the Teacher of Kuan Yin, and She is one with Him. Be sure that the loving eyes of Amitabha look

through the eyes of Kuan Yin as She gazes upon us, seeing our troubles and seeking ways to help us. So let us

contemplate and invoke Kuan Yin's Royal-Purple or Violet Eyes:

The Purple Tao of Kuan Yin

© 2004 Dale Goodyear ([email protected])

2

Om Mani Padme Hum

南南南南無無無無紺紺紺紺目目目目觀觀觀觀音音音音

NA MO GAN MU GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn moo gwahn yeen)

To gaze into the Eyes of Kuan Yin--and of Amitabha with Her--will be a comforting and strengthening that will

take us through all our trials to our Liberation. For these are Eyes that unconditionally love us and completely

understand us.

You can also allow the royal-purple Eyes of Kuan Yin's Liberation to fill the entire field of your vision, fill your

entire mind, transforming your eye and mind and making them One with It.

"Na mo" means that you put your faith and trust in what follows, with reverence and gratitude. Also, it is made

up of two syllables, and indicates the giving of Praise and Sacred Sound in Heaven (NA) and in Earth (MO), so

that Spirit manifests in Matter, and they are made One Pure Expression.

"Gan Mu" means "Purple or Violet Eyes."

"Kuan Yin" is of course the name of the Mother of Compassion, which we use because it is her Saving Power we

are invoking and cultivating.

"Gan" 紺紺紺紺 is a Classical Chinese word for "purple, violet." – that is, any shade of the rainbowblue and red combined. There are also other words in Chinese which are pronounced "gan",

though spelled with different characters. Some of these will be significant to us as we give our

mantras.

One of these means "sweet", indicating that the royal-purple Nectar of the Buddhas is the SweetDew, the Elixir of Bliss, Wholeness and Immortality often mentioned in Buddhism.

Another "gan" means "to wash". The royal-purple Radiance of the Buddhas washes our karma

from us, making us clean and clear again.

Finally, there is "gan" meaning "to move, to influence". The royal-purple Energy of the Buddhas

will shift and change your entire being as it frees you from your karma.

Remember these important meanings as you practice this “Gan Dao”, royal-purple Way, of Kuan Yin!

KUAN YIN’S PURPLE HEART

The ancient Buddhist tradition speaks of ten aspects of Kuan Yin’s Heart. Here we will follow

the inspired lead of Amitabha’s and Kuan Yin’s Gan Mu and cultivate Her Gan Xin, her Heart of

royal-purple Light, which includes all aspects. This Heart showers Freedom and Mercy uponall beings; and if you earnestly desire it, Kuan Yin can mesh her royal-purple Heart with your

heart, transforming and liberating it. The heart chakra is the spiritual center of our beings, even



3

as the physical heart is the center of life and flow for our bodies. So this is Kuan Yin’s Heart

Chakra, blessing you and meshing with your heart chakra. You may chant:

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺心觀音南無紺心觀音南無紺心觀音南無紺心觀音

NA MO GAN XIN GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn sheen gwahn yeen)

KUAN YIN’S PURPLE TREASURY

The ancient tradition of Kuan Yin names various of her "Zang." This Chinese word traditionally translates

Sanskrit Garbha, which can mean "Womb," "Storehouse," and "Treasury." It is the Creative Space or Sphere of

Kuan Yin and all the Treasures of Light within it, where beings are born and re-born, until finally they are born

into Buddhahood.

One of these (the 10th Treasury) is filled with her Energy of royal-purple Freedom and Liberation.

Visualize yourself within Kuan Yin's Purple Treasury, a nurturing, protecting Sphere or Ovoid of Freedom for

your whole being--Freedom from karma and samsara, Freedom to become the Buddha you really are!

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺藏觀音南無紺藏觀音南無紺藏觀音南無紺藏觀音

NA MO GAN ZANG GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn zahng gwahn yeen)

KUAN YIN’S PURPLE GEM

This is Kuan Yin's renowned "Wish-fulfilling Jewel." It grants all right desires and needs. Also it liberates us

from wrong desires and poisoned and deluded wants. Kuan Yin will give us all we truly need, and help us fulfill

worthy desires and aspirations as we continue to build our partnership with Her and strengthen the Flow between

us.

These will include our highest desires of all, the vows we will make which express the Aspirations of the Buddhas

to liberate and enlighten all beings.

The amethyst Purple Gem will also transform our memory, ultimately our remembrance of who we really are,

which includes our real, enlightened Desires and Purposes (our Reason for Being).



4

Use this simple mantra, and visualize a brilliant amethyst Gem radiating blessings to you and all

beings:

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺珠觀音南無紺珠觀音南無紺珠觀音南無紺珠觀音

NA MO GAN ZHU GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn joo gwahn yeen)

KUAN YIN’S PURPLE LOTUS FLOWER

In ancient times, Kuan Yin revealed to Buddhist sages many of her Saving Powers. If you have ever heard of her

"thousand arms," that is a symbol of her innumerable Skillful Means of saving suffering beings. We have already

considered some of these Saving Powers.

I would like to teach you now one of most important. It is Kuan Yin's Purple Lotus Flower, and it has the power

of freeing or liberating us from our karma.

Karma is our past actions, desires and thoughts which now limit us and keep us from seeing and being who we

really are. Karma is limited and limiting energy. The Purple Lotus Flower has an Energy of Kuan Yin that will

transform the bound energy, changing its vibration to a Free one.

For those of you who seek Enlightenment, unless you come to terms with your karma you will not find

Enlightenment. Karma confuses and obscures your efforts. It is a thick fog, and even worse, a smog that both

blinds and poisons us.

The Royal-Purple Lotus will antidote the poisons of our karma and change the thick smoky fog into a clear purple

Radiance. Purple is the Power of Love, the Action of Compassion. It combines the rainbow blue Vibration of

power and action with the rainbow red of love and compassion. When this Action and Compassion, this Power

and Love meet and merge, you have Liberation--the Freedom to be a living Buddha where you are.

If you earnestly cultivate her Purple Lotus, letting Kuan Yin pour her Liberation into you, and also do your part in

daily life of increasing thoughts and feelings, words and deeds of compassion, kindness, honesty, humility, and so

on (that is, "practicing the Precepts"), you will form a partnership with Kuan Yin that will accelerate your spiritual

life beyond your conception. And you will be liberated from your binding, blinding karma more quickly than was

ever possible before. For that is the specific Saving Power of the Purple Flower!

You can visualize the Purple Lotus in any shade of violet or purple, seeing it as a many-petaled flower. See it

first in your heart chakra in the center of your chest. From there it radiates through your entire body, and infuses

your blood with Freedom as it passes through the heart and then flows to every cell.

Visualize this wonderful, powerful royal-purple Flower of Kuan Yin, and chant a simple mantra. The mantra

takes your seeing and brings it into being. That's the role of the word--you need both seeing (visualization) and

saying (mantra) to bring your Liberation into being, to accomplish it for you.



5

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺蓮花觀音南無紺蓮花觀音南無紺蓮花觀音南無紺蓮花觀音

NA MO GAN LIAN HUA GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn lyen hwah gwahn yeen)

KUAN YIN’S PURPLE DEW

Now, as we continue with the path of Kuan Yin's Liberation, let us learn some of her related Saving Powers.

One of these ancient Blessings is the Sweet Dew (Gan Lu), which also means the Purple Dew. In Sanskrit it is

called the Amrita. It is the Elixir of Kuan Yin that frees us, heals us, nourishes us. Visualize it the color of the

juice of purple grapes, or alternately as a violet elixir, and see and feel it pour through you. See Kuan Yin from

above take her vase and pour her Dew through the crown of your head down to your heart, where it enters and

transforms your bloodstream and saturates the cells of your body.

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺露觀音南無紺露觀音南無紺露觀音南無紺露觀音

NA MO GAN LU GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn loo gwahn yeen)

("Gan" meaning "royal-purple”, then “sweet”, “cleansing”, “transforming"; "Lu" meaning "dew, elixir.")

Chant the mantra often aloud, when you can, or at other times whisper it, or say it silently to yourself. The sound

of the mantra with Kuan Yin's name has power to build a Bridge or Arc of sacred sound between Her and you. At

first perhaps the Bridge will seem to be a long span, but it will shorten as you practice, until the day when you and

Kuan Yin have no Bridge between you, but are congruent as She expresses through you and with you in the same

time and space.

KUAN YIN’S PURPLE CLOUD

In the ancient tradition, Kuan Yin sometimes stands upon a cloud, or She holds one. We will now visualize and

cultivate her Cloud of Freedom and Mercy, a brilliant violet or royal-purple Cloud.

See this Cloud descend from the outstretched Hand of Kuan Yin above you, and see it envelop you and saturate

you. We can rest in meditation within this Purple Cloud.

As we do so, we may practice a simple breathing exercise. When we inhale, we breathe in the Purple Mist, letting

it fill our lungs and body with Liberation. When we exhale, we let go of all impurities and energies that bind and

limit us, into the cleansing, liberating royal-purple Cloud.



6

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺雲觀音南無紺雲觀音南無紺雲觀音南無紺雲觀音

NA MO GAN YUN GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn yoon gwahn yeen)

Chant it as you rest within the Purple Cloud. Or say it silently to yourself as you breathe in, and again as you

breathe out, breathing naturally yet deeply.

KUAN YIN’S AMETHYST MIRROR

This ancient Power is for gaining great Wisdom and Self-knowledge. By it, Kuan Yin will teach

you, showing you both your strengths and weaknesses and how you can transcend your

limitations day by day.

We can see this Mirror as a polished amethyst Mirror of Freedom and Mercy. Visualize Kuan

Yin holding her Mirror before you, so that you may look into it and be taught by Her.

You can also ask Kuan Yin to place her Mirror before another, if you feel they particularly need

self-knowledge and true vision. If you see Kuan Yin turn her Mirror outward to another person,

trust her Skill and Wisdom to apply it just right. Also know that her Mirror is two-sided, and as

She shows one side to another, you will still look into it from the other side. Therefore all will be

taught and blessed by her Mercy.

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺鏡觀音南無紺鏡觀音南無紺鏡觀音南無紺鏡觀音

NA MO GAN JING GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn jing gwahn yeen)

KUAN YIN’S AMETHYST SWORD

In the ancient tradition, Kuan Yin also wields a Sword. Like the Mirror, it has an amethyst action

of Freedom and Mercy. This Power of Kuan Yin is to cut through or pierce through stubborn

conditions that block our true progress. The Sword does no harm, but cuts energy Free. Ask

Kuan Yin to apply her Sword to any inner or outer condition or situation that is stuck and just will

not move. She has infinite Wisdom and will direct the Sword in exactly the right way.

You can visualize the Sword as made of brilliant purple amethyst.



7

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺劍觀音南無紺劍觀音南無紺劍觀音南無紺劍觀音

NA MO GAN JIAN GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn jyen gwahn yeen)

KUAN YIN’S PURPLE GRAPES OF SWEETNESS

The Grapes of Kuan Yin contain all her Power of Fruitfulness, as well as her Sweetness. They also have a

cleansing and healing action. Kuan Yin’s Grapes (her Sweetness) are often paired with her Axe (her Justice).

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺環萄觀音南無紺環萄觀音南無紺環萄觀音南無紺環萄觀音

NA MO GAN PU TAO GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn poo tao gwahn yeen)

KUAN YIN’S AMETHYST AXE OF JUSTICE

The Axe that Kuan Yin holds is for Justice and Righteousness. It cuts through and consumes injustice and false

justice. Not only for Help in outer situations, but even more essential, any states of injustice and unrighteousness

within our beings, our hearts and minds, that separate us from the Law (the Dharma, the Tao) of our True Self.

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺葡鉞觀音南無紺葡鉞觀音南無紺葡鉞觀音南無紺葡鉞觀音

NA MO GAN FU YUE GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn foo yweh gwahn yeen)

KUAN YIN’S PURPLE JADE RING

The Jade Ring Blessing encircles you and the spirits of Nature, enclosing all of you in a circle of

mutual friendship, help and service.

These Nature beings regulate all natural forces from subtle physical levels, and are traditionally

grouped as beings of the Fire, Air, Water, and Earth Elements.



8

The Jade Ring bonds you with these beings, within the vast Heart of Kuan Yin. Therefore, in

ancient art the Ring has a shape like a heart, rather than being simply round like a normal ring.

Friendship and cooperation with the spirits of Nature will be of inestimable benefit to you. They

will multiply each prayer and mantra that you give; they will stand by you and help you in all

your genuine needs. Once sealed with you in this Heart Ring of Kuan Yin, they will be loyal and

true to her Heart for the Blessing of your life. Be sure to pray for them, though, asking Kuan Yin

to multiply your mantras for their needs as well as for yours; and give them your friendship and

gratitude for their constant aid.

There are different colors of jade. For our Gan Dao, we will visualize and invoke a Purple or

Violet Jade Ring. The mantra is:

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺玉斧觀音南無紺玉斧觀音南無紺玉斧觀音南無紺玉斧觀音

NA MO GAN YU HUAN GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn yew hwahn gwahn yeen)

KUAN YIN’S PURPLE SEA OF LIBERATION

Kuan Yin is closely associated with water and with the sea. Certainly She stands watch over the sea of samsara to

extend her hands to beings in danger of drowning in its depths.

Her great Goal is to transform that sea of suffering and delusion into her Sea of Liberation and Sweetness.

To help Her, each of us must start by realizing this Sea of Mercy within our heart center. Then in time, we will be

able to open the floodgates to this Sea and have it pour forth from our hearts and saturate all beings and all the

world with Mercy and Bliss.

Look deep within your heart chakra and find there a purple or violet Sea of Liberation. Perhaps also you will

meet your own inner Buddha there, seated upon a lotus blossom in the midst of the Sea. If so, bow in mind and

heart to your True Self, your Inner Reality. And know that your Inner Buddha contains yet another Sea of

Liberation in his or her Heart Chakra, the very source of the Sea within your heart!

As you meditate, give this mantra for Kuan Yin's Sea:

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺海觀音南無紺海觀音南無紺海觀音南無紺海觀音

NA MO GAN HAI GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn hye gwahn yeen)



9

KUAN YIN’S AMETHYST PALACE OF LIBERATION

This is Kuan Yin’s great Palace and Home of Liberation and Mercy. You can see yourself within it, so that you

will come to be always “at home” with Kuan Yin and her Saving Power. Kuan Yin’s Home and Palace is your

Perfect Place and your Safe Haven, and it stands within her Pure Land.

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺殿宮觀音南無紺殿宮觀音南無紺殿宮觀音南無紺殿宮觀音

NA MO GAN GONG DIAN GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn gohng dyen gwahn yeen)

KUAN YIN AND THE PURPLE BUDDHA

This is the Inner Buddha of the Heart, your own Real Self. By this Blessing, Kuan Yin helps you

connect and stay connected with your Inner Self, especially in the aspect of Liberation and Mercy.

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺佛觀音南無紺佛觀音南無紺佛觀音南無紺佛觀音

NA MO GAN FO GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn fo gwahn yeen)

KUAN YIN’S AMETHYST STAFF OF LIBERATION

This is the Staff or Scepter of Kuan Yin, one of her ancient Saving Powers. This Staff bears the authority of her

Mercy and Liberation, and is a Rod of Blessing.

See Kuan Yin extend her Staff and touch your heart with it, as you sit in meditation upon Her. The touch of her

Staff kindles a spark of Freedom and Mercy in your heart center and fans it into flame.

Also let her place her Staff over your spine, congruent with it and with the channel of your kundalini which

extends from your root chakra to your crown chakra, to infuse your kundalini with her Mercy. Let her Staff

remain there as a permanent Blessing of your Life Force.

Use this mantra with these meditations:



10

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺杖觀音南無紺杖觀音南無紺杖觀音南無紺杖觀音

NA MO GAN ZHANG GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn jahng gwahn yeen)

KUAN YIN’S AMETHYST BELL OF FREEDOM

This Saving Power brings the ringing of Kuan Yin's Holy Sound into your whole being. It is her

Temple Bell of Liberation, her “Liberty Bell.” The sounding of her Bell will cancel out all noise

of anger, greed, pride, envy, fear, and egotism; and fill your cells and atoms with Freedom,

Grace, and Joy.

The Ringing and Singing of Kuan Yin's Bell will not only transform you, but ultimately all those

around you and your entire world.

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺鐸觀音南無紺鐸觀音南無紺鐸觀音南無紺鐸觀音

NA MO GAN DUO GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn dwo gwahn yeen)

as you visualize and listen for the sounding of her Freedom’s Bell. If you have a bell, you might

ring it as you give the mantra.

KUAN YIN’S AMETHYST SEAL

Kuan Yin holds a Seal of Office. We will call it her Royal-Purple Seal. You may visualize it as

carved with her Holy Name, and She can stamp her Name and imprint its Vibration of Liberation

and Mercy upon any person, condition, or situation.

Let us start with ourselves, and ask Kuan Yin to imprint her Name and her Mercy upon our mind

and heart. See Kuan Yin press her Seal upon your brow, sealing your forehead and 3rd Eye

chakra with the name KUAN YIN. See her Name either in alphabetic letters or in the original

Chinese characters.

Feel her Freedom and Mercy flow through the Seal and saturate your eye, brain, and mind,

permanently imprinting them.

Next, see Kuan Yin press her Seal upon your heart chakra in the center of your breast, imprinting

your heart, your feelings and emotions with her Freedom and Mercy.



11

Give the mantra:

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺印觀音南無紺印觀音南無紺印觀音南無紺印觀音

NA MO GAN YIN GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn yeen gwahn yeen)

There is also an ancient Taoist and Buddhist ritual you can do. Write a physical letter to Kuan

Yin, outlining any needs, desires, plans, or problems you have--whatever is most on your heart.

Fold the letter, and give the Seal mantra to stamp the letter with Kuan Yin's Name. You can write

her Name upon the outside of the letter, also; or if you have a stamp or seal made with her Name,

you can use that. By doing this, you are formally and officially directing the letter to Kuan Yin.

Finally, burn the letter, in a safe manner and place, asking Kuan Yin to receive it and answer it.

Even though Kuan Yin is a transcendent Bodhisattva, this very human-seeming ritual has great

power. The action and effort of physically writing, sealing and burning the letter makes your

thoughts and prayers more physically tangible and makes Kuan Yin's reply and intercession more

manifest.

If the situation warrants it, you may wish to write, seal, and burn a letter to Kuan Yin for a period

of days, such as three or nine. Do not overlook or discount these powerful Skillful Means of

connecting with Kuan Yin's intercession, but try them!

KUAN YIN’S AMETHYST WHEEL

Kuan Yin possesses a Wheel of the Law. We can see as a royal-purple Wheel of Liberation (Gan

Lun).

Let Kuan Yin place her royal-purple Wheel over us, so that we ourselves may become the Wheel

of the Law. The hub of the Wheel is centered in the heart chakra and fills the entire “Middle Dan

Tian” (the chest cavity). The Wheel itself then turns through the “Upper Dan Tian” (the head,

centered at the 3rd Eye chakra) and the “Lower Dan Tian” (the lower abdomen and pelvis,

centered at the chakra about 2 inches below the navel). The motion is clockwise; that is, from our

right toward our left side in continual rotation (as though we ourselves were the wheel or "clock"

and someone looking at us will see the turning).

Indeed, here the Upper Dan Tian is a place of Gan Yao 紺藥紺藥紺藥紺藥 , and the Lower Dan Tian a

place of Gan Bao 紺寶紺寶紺寶紺寶 -- the energies of Yao and Bao commune, exchange and combine

as the Wheel revolves around the Middle Dan Tian, which is the place of Rao (Gan Rao 紺紺紺紺



12

饒饒饒饒. ). So the Health and Wealth of Liberation revolve around the Grace of Liberation centered

at the Heart.

In this way, we blend the energies of our upper and lower body and revolve the energy around

our heart center. Through the spokes of the Wheel, the energy flows inward to the heart chakra,

nourishing it and making it an Energy Sun.

Finally, see the Heart Sun expand to contain the entire Wheel--making you all Heart--and send

billions of Rays out to bless all beings and all worlds.

This meditation will free blocked energies in your chakras and set them in motion around and

into your heart center, where they can then be sent outward by your inner Buddha to bless you

and all beings. Do not worry about crystal-clear visualization; just feel and know that the Wheel

is revolving around the heart through your chakras and “dan tian” by Kuan Yin's grace, and it will

do so.

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺輪觀音南無紺輪觀音南無紺輪觀音南無紺輪觀音

NA MO GAN LUN GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn loon gwahn yeen)

As a second meditation, you can also use the Gold Wheel (Jin Lun 金輪 ) of Kuan Yin, to fill

yourself with her Enlightenment. Just adjust your mantra and visualization accordingly: Om

Mani Padme Hum.

KUAN YIN’S AMETHYST DRAGONS

Kuan Yin is often depicted standing upon her Dragon, and is closely associated with dragons in Chinese tradition.

In ancient Buddhist tradition it is said She has dominion over all dragon and naga (“serpent”) spirits.

Kuan Yin has many such Dragon spirits who are her helpers, and She can send them to us to bless us. They are

her “Crystal Dragons”, and are great protectors and healers, and givers of treasures. They will act for you under

the Direction and Guidance of Kuan Yin.

Therefore, invoke the many Dragons of Kuan Yin along with Kuan Yin upon her Dragon. Here we will invoke

her Amethyst Dragons, including all those who focus her royal-purple Flame of Liberation and Mercy:

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺晶龍觀音南無紺晶龍觀音南無紺晶龍觀音南無紺晶龍觀音

NA MO GAN JING LONG GUAN YIN



13

(nah mo gahn jing lohng gwahn yeen)

THE PURPLE LOTUS FLOWER

AND THE TWO BROTHER BODHISATTVAS

The Two Brother Bodhisattvas associated with Healing are also Masters of the Royal-Purple Flower. This Flower

is the manifestation of their combined "Samadhis" or States of Enlightened Consciousness.

In the Lotus Sutra, Chapter 27, one Brother attained "the Samadhi of the Lotus Flower of the Law." The other

Brother attained "the Samadhi of Freedom from woesome paths." These Samadhis together--as these

Bodhisattvas work together--make a Samadhi of the Lotus Flower of the Law of Freedom from woesome paths.

And that is the Purple Lotus of Freedom from karma and samsara (i.e., the "woesome paths" referred to).

If you invoke Them, these two Brothers will stand to each side of Kuan Yin and multiply the Purple Lotus which

She holds, as well as all her other Saving Powers of Liberation and Mercy (and of course Healing!).

In Chinese, They are named Yao Shang and Yao Wang, the “Healing Lord” and “Healing King.” These loving

and compassionate Brothers act as a Bodhisattva Pair, reinforcing and multiplying one another's service.

There is a word for "pair" (or "two", "twins") in Chinese—shuang. Note that this word remarkably includes the

titles of both Brothers: shang + wang = sh-w-ang, "shuang."

Therefore, we may invoke the Brothers Yao Shang and Yao Wang by calling Them Yao Shuang, the Healing Pair

or Healing Twins. In fact, in Chinese the constellation Gemini is called “Shuang Zi”, and that constellation

depicts these Two Brother Bodhisattvas of Healing, Mercy, and Liberation.

I will call Them also "Gan Shuang" for They bring Liberation as well as Healing, and are Masters of the Gan

Hua, the Lotus Flower of Liberation. Since Gan can also mean sweet, and these Two Brothers won their

Enlightenment through meditation on the sense of Taste (according to the Shuramgama Sutra, Chapter 6), that

meaning of gan is also very fitting here:

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺雙觀音南無紺雙觀音南無紺雙觀音南無紺雙觀音

NA MO GAN SHUANG GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn shwahng gwahn yeen)

In ancient Buddhist Tradition, these Brother Bodhisattvas are shown holding the Axe of Justice and the Grapes of

Sweetness. Therefore, you may visualize them to each side of Kuan Yin, one Brother holding the Gan Fu Yue

(Amethyst Axe), the other holding the Gan Pu Tao (Purple Grapes), and Kuan Yin between Them holding the

Gan Lian Hua (Purple Lotus). Or more simply, just visualize the purple Amethyst Axe and the Purple Grapes,

with the Purple Lotus in-between. This is a threefold action of Liberation and Grace.

In the meditation of the Wheel given earlier, you can invite these Brother Bodhisattvas to spin the Rim of the

Wheel between Them, focusing the Yao (Health) and Bao (Wealth), for They are Masters of both. Then know



14

that Kuan Yin stands in the middle with her Rao. This forms a Holy Triad of these three Bodhisattvas.

Indeed, in Chapter 27 of the Lotus Sutra, the Healing Bodhisattvas personal names are given as Jing Yan (Pure

Eye) and Jing Zang (Pure Treasury, Essence, or “Womb”). These names can represent the Upper Dan Tian and

Lower Dan Tian, which are centered in the 3rd Eye chakra in the brow and the Svadishthana chakra in the belly).

RAISING THE KUNDALINI TO THE HEART

Here we come again to the Purple Lotus Flower of Kuan Yin's Liberation. See it in your heart center, and see

that the Flower has a stem which extends down to the bottom of your spine.

Have you ever placed a flower in a vase of colored water, and watched the colored water rise up through the stem

to the flower? So will the royal-purple Flower of Kuan Yin draw up your kundalini to the heart chakra and

liberate it, transforming it into the pure Power of Love and Action of Compassion. See your kundalini as a violet

or purple elixir, being drawn up the clear crystal stem of the Purple Flower.

By the nature of our physiology, we all generate far more reproductive energy than we need for reproduction, and

the pressure that builds in our lower centers can at best make us uncomfortable, at worst shipwreck our lives.

Since our bodies are genetically programmed to produce more such energy than we need, let the Purple Lotus

draw up the excess to your heart center and use it for spiritual Regeneration and Liberation of yourself and others.

The more you practice this, the better it will work. See the Purple Lotus Flower of Kuan Yin with its stem inside

yourself and all those you look upon. It is the Work of a Bodhisattva to bless all with Liberation, to help all to

raise their kundalini safely and wisely to the Heart.

Simply hold this visualization often, and when convenient also recite the mantra of the Purple Flower. You can

say it silently, or can say it aloud if you are by yourself:

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無紺蓮花觀音南無紺蓮花觀音南無紺蓮花觀音南無紺蓮花觀音

NA MO GAN LIAN HUA GUAN YIN

(nah mo gahn lyen hwah gwahn yeen)

THE VOW

There are several vows of Kuan Yin named in the traditional scriptures, which you can choose to give to Her and

with Her. In the ancient Sutra of the Great Compassion Heart Mantra, She specifically invites "young men and

young women" to give ten vows with Her. If you take up any of the mantras with "Gan" that I have taught, I

recommend one of these vows as very important:

南無大悲觀世音南無大悲觀世音南無大悲觀世音南無大悲觀世音

願我早得越苦海願我早得越苦海願我早得越苦海願我早得越苦海



15

NA MO DA BEI GUAN SHI YIN,

YUAN WO ZAO DE YUE KU HAI!

(nah mo dah bay gwan sher yeen,

ywen wo dzao der yweh koo hye)

NAMO GREATLY MERCIFUL KUAN SHIH YIN,

I VOW TO SOON TRANSCEND THE BITTER SEA!

The "bitter sea" is the sea of your karma. The Sweet, royal-purple Dew of Freedom and Mercy will transform that

bitter sea and replace it with the "Gan Hai," the royal-purple Sea of Liberation and Sweetness.

By making this vow with Kuan Yin and reaffirming it daily, you signal to Her your intense desire and

determination (which is Right Desire and Determination, also known as Bodhicitta) to be Free, and She will help

you according to your sincerity and commitment, which open the door wider to Her.

THE PATH OF UNITING

This is a Path and a Skillful Means that proceeds from one of Kuan Yin's traditional vows which She invites us to

make with Her:

南無大悲觀世音南無大悲觀世音南無大悲觀世音南無大悲觀世音

願我早同法性身願我早同法性身願我早同法性身願我早同法性身

NA MO DA BEI GUAN SHI YIN,

YUAN WO ZAO TONG FA XING SHEN!

(nah mo dah bay gwahn sher yeen,

ywen wo zao tohng fah shing shun)

NAMO GREATLY MERCIFUL KUAN SHIH YIN,

I VOW TO SOON UNITE WITH THE DHARMAKAYA!

The Dharmakaya is the "Body of Dharma," "Body of Tao," or "Body of the Law," the True Law of our Buddha

Nature. It is the Vehicle through which our Real Self expresses. Our surface self, trapped in nets of karma, feels

separated from this Dharmakaya, but our destiny is to once more know and express our Oneness with it.

Kuan Yin's Heart is the Open Door to our Dharmakaya. She is the great Bridge that spans the distance we have

placed between ourselves in karma and samsara and our Real Buddha Nature that is everlastingly Free and

Eternal. In the Path of Uniting, we let go of aspects of our self and life that we can let go of, and unite these to the

Heart of Kuan Yin where they are liberated and returned to our Dharmakaya. Therefore we send parts of

ourselves ahead of us, like sending one's baggage ahead, lightening our ego load until in time we are light enough

to merge our entire self with our Buddha Self.

We can practice this method continually, uniting our thoughts, emotions, experiences, our sorrows and also joys--



16

uniting everything both "good" and "bad" to Kuan Yin's Heart. She will transform all of it as we let go of it into

her Heart.

A word for “bridge” (“footbridge”) in Literary Chinese is gang. Notice that it is very similar to gan. The Gan

Tao, the “royal-purple Way”, is the Bridge across which you can walk to your Liberation from all suffering and

limitation.

OM MANI PADME HUM

AND THE PURPLE LOTUS

The Purple Lotus Flower is the ancient Blessing of Kuan Yin which grants speedy Liberation

from karma and samsara. Its purple color relates to the perfect fusion of Power (sapphire-blue)

and Love (ruby-red), or of Action (blue) and Compassion (red). When these mix, the result is

spiritual Freedom (amethyst-purple) and also Grace.

So if you seek Liberation from your binding karma, so that you can be Free to help others, the

Purple Lotus is a quick path which Kuan Yin offers. The Freedom you gain by the Purple Lotus

will then allow you to master the many other Blessings of the Bodhisattva more quickly, until you

yourself become "thousand-armed" (which means having a myriad Saving Blessings to offer

suffering beings) just like the Bodhisattva.

To cultivate the Purple Lotus Flower, visualize it as a brilliant royal-purple Flower in your heart

center. Also remember that the Purple Flower's Energy is Freedom, and that it is liberating you

from karma and all limitations.

So why would the Bodhisattva of Compassion want to give you a Purple Lotus to liberate you

from karma? There are many reasons, but one of them certainly is so that you can radiate the

Purple Lotus through you to other beings, liberating more and more of those who suffer, starting

a spiritual chain reaction.

Therefore it isn't just a free ride to Liberation without any effort of your own. It's an investment

of Kuan Yin, loaning you the Bodhisattva's Freedom, so that you can take it and multiply it and

use the increase to help others, who will then help others, until all are liberated someday.

In the end, the Liberation you get will be the Liberation you give! In giving you shall receive.

Cultivating the Purple Lotus Saving Power is a service to Kuan Yin, sharing her Blessing of Freedom to help

many, many beings.

CREATING A TRINITY OF LIBERATION

Now that we have gone through the mantras using Gan, I will teach two other words that also relate to it.

The first word is rao 饒饒饒饒 . It means “mercy, pardon, forgiveness; to have mercy, to forgive.” With any of the

preceding mantras, you can substitute the word rao for gan. This will emphasize Kuan Yin’s Mercy and

Forgiveness.



17

The second word is jie 解解解解 . It means “set free, liberate, release, cut loose; free, liberated, released”. Using this

word will emphasize Kuan Yin’s Freedom and Liberation. For example:

南無饒心觀音南無饒心觀音南無饒心觀音南無饒心觀音

NA MO RAO XIN GUAN YIN

(nah mo rao sheen gwahn yeen)

Homage to the Merciful Heart of Kuan Yin

and

南無解南無解南無解南無解心觀音心觀音心觀音心觀音

NA MO JIE XIN GUAN YIN

(nah mo jyeh sheen gwahn yeen)

Homage to the Liberating Heart (or Freedom’s Heart) of Kuan Yin

These three words—gan, rao, and jie—will create an unstoppable momentum of Freedom and Mercy in your life,

by the Saving Power of Kuan Yin’s Holy Name.

You can also meditate on these words while using Om Mani Padme Hum.

THE PROTECTION OF LIBERATION AND MERCY--

THE SHIELD

We need spiritual Protection on the path of Liberation and Mercy, because these are qualities much attacked in

our world. Kuan Yin bears a Shield as one of her ancient Saving Powers, and it can protect and defend us from

now until our attainment of Buddhahood.

See it as a Shield that faces in every direction around you, or as interlocking Shields facing every way. It is a

sapphire-blue color, made of Crystal unbreakable and impenetrable.

It is good to invoke the Shield of Kuan Yin when you awake and before you sleep, and at any other times when

you feel the need of her Protection.

The mantra is:

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無旁牌觀音南無旁牌觀音南無旁牌觀音南無旁牌觀音

NA MO PANG PAI GUAN YIN



18

(nah mo pahng pye gwahn yeen)

Earlier I referred to Kuan Yin’s Amethyst Dragons. To enhance your Protection, you may also call to her

Sapphire Dragons:

Om Mani Padme Hum

南無藍晶龍觀音南無藍晶龍觀音南無藍晶龍觀音南無藍晶龍觀音

NA MO LAN JING LONG GUAN YIN

(nah mo lahn jing lohng gwahn yeen)

THE PROTECTION OF LIBERATION AND MERCY--

THE BLUE WOLF TRANSFORMATION OF KUAN YIN

Out of very ancient Buddhism comes the knowledge that the Mother of Compassion may take the Form of the

Savioress Tara as a Blue Wolf to protect her children, and all who love Her and invoke Her.

In her Blue Wolf Transformation She stands guard for us, and also tracks down and devours the vicious, wolfish

energies that attack the innocent and helpless as well as those striving to do right in the world. With Her are the

legions of her Blue Wolves and Hounds (the "Hounds of Heaven") whom She sends throughout the realms of

samsara as protecting, saving Waves of Light. For the Chinese syllable "lang" meaning "wolf" can also mean

"light" and "wave"!

The Chinese word for "blue" is "lan", and that Blue then turns in upon itself and forms a Circle of Protection,

even as the sound "lan" turns in upon itself to form "lang" meaning "wolf." Therefore, with these things in mind,

we can give this mantra, and give it often for the Protection of our Liberation:

Om Mani Padme Hum!or

Om Mani Padme Hum Vrim! ("Vreem" - for "She-wolf", Vriki in Sanskrit)

or

Om Tare Vrim !

南無藍狼觀音南無藍狼觀音南無藍狼觀音南無藍狼觀音

NA MO LAN LANG GUAN YIN

(nah mo lahn lahng gwahn yeen)

In Chinese, the blue star Sirius is called "Lang Xin", the Wolf Star. Whenever you see this blue star in the sky,

take a moment to meditate upon the Blue Wolf Kuan Yin and her Protective Love.



19

The Sanskrit root vr also means "to cover, to protect".

THE DEWDROP OF FREEDOM --

A MEDITATION

As we approach the conclusion of our meditations on Kuan Yin’s Freedom, let us take all her

Freedom Blessings and concentrate them into a single royal-purple dewdrop:

凇凇凇凇 (Song)

The vibration of that dewdrop is Kuan Yin’s hymn and song of Freedom:

頌頌頌頌 (Song)

and it loosens the bonds of karma and samsara that keep us trapped in limitation and suffering:

鬆鬆鬆鬆 (Song)

helping us to let go—

鬆手鬆手鬆手鬆手 (Song Shou), which I consider to be Kuan Yin’s fundamental Wisdom--鬆手智鬆手智鬆手智鬆手智

慧慧慧慧 (Song Shou Zhi Huei – “Wisdom of Letting Go”).

All these Song also apply to one of Kuan Yin's bodhisattva-brothers, Samantabhadra

("Universally Good"), one of the four fundamental bodhisattvas of Mahayana Buddhism and the

bodhisattva of the Sangha and of Right Action and Conduct, who focuses the immeasurable

quality of Joy, including appreciative joy that rejoices in and for others, and associative joy that

rejoices with others in communal activities that benefit society and all beings.

The first syllable of Samantabhadra's name, in Chinese, also means "to let go" :

撒撒撒撒 (Sa)

CONCLUSION

This completes my little book of meditations and mantras. I have focused here on Kuan Yin's Liberation and

Mercy, and on her Protection. Kuan Yin has many other Qualities and Blessings as well, which I would be happy

to teach in other books.

I recommend above all that you cultivate the Purple Lotus Flower of Freedom from karma, adding to it the

Protection mantra and then other of the Saving Powers as you feel the desire or need. Eventually the many



20

Graces of Kuan Yin, and choosing and combining them, will be spontaneous for you, just as an artist uses his

palette of colors to paint with. And always you will be sounding the Name Kuan Yin and becoming One with it!

Once again, while I have presented Chinese mantras for the many Saving Powers of Kuan Yin, it

is simpler to visualize and invoke these Blessings with her single Sanskrit mantra OM MANI

PADME HUM. In that case, however, it is needful to give the mantra with concentrated focus on

the specific Saving Power you are asking for. The Saving Power is the “Mani” of the mantra, for

the word mani signifies anything precious and of great value; the “Padme” is the “Lotus Lady” or

“Lotus Mother” who is Kuan Yin herself.

I commend you to Kuan Yin's Purple Flower of Freedom and all her many other Saving Powers.

As you sound the Name of the Bodhisattva of Mercy, day by day you will become more and more

deeply and permanently One with Her and her Mercy and Liberation. Thank you for reading my

little book, and I wish you well on your Path with Kuan Yin!

OM MANI PADME HUM

OM MANI PADME HUM

OM MANI PADME HUM

In the Buddha, the Dharma,

and the Sangha, Svaha!



21

Purple Tao of Kuan Yin

Documents

Transcript of Purple Tao of Kuan Yin