Session 16: Bodhisattva Guanyin of Great Compassion Comes to Help
- liz zhang
- Feb 15
- 1 min read
In this session, Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion, arrives in the celestial court to investigate the chaos at the Peach Banquet. After listening to the Jade Emperor, she recommends Erlang Shen, the True Lord and the Illustrious Sage, to subdue the Monkey King.
Key Questions for Reflection:
Q: Who is Guanyin? Share any knowledge or insights you have about her!
Q: What role does Guanyin play in Journey to the West?
Q: What do you learn from the Jade Emperor’s detailed account to Guanyin about the origin of Sun Wukong and the chaotic disaster he created to the Peach Banquet?
Q. Who is Huian?
Q: Who is Erlang Shen, and why does Guanyin recommend him to capture the Monkey King?
Q: What abilities does Erlang Shen possess, based on his own words and the instructions he gives to the Heavenly Generals?
I am Nobu, currently living in Prague
Once I heard a wise person taught, "So, there are two important things in life: Do you know how to eat well? The second is, do you know how to speak well? If you handle these two matters well, you will have changed half of your destiny. You are already on the path to success."
In this session, I particularly learned "how to speak well" from the report Jade Emperor gave to Guanyin, a bodhisattva guiding sentient beings to fulfill their life mission:
First, the Jade Emperor detailed Sun Wukong's extraordinary birth, marking when his presence became known. Next, he offered a concise summary of Sun Wukong’s actions in the mortal realm and…
I am Chuan, living in Prague of Czech Republic.
Wisdom, compassion and courage are three important qualities that are embodied differently in Guanyin bodhisattva and the monkey king.
The monkey king's most distinguishing quality is courage. He dares to challenge the heavenly court over matters that do not please his heart, and he is unafraid to fight any heavenly troops or generals. He believed that he had powerful magical powers and could do whatever he wanted, ignoring rules and karma. He did not consider the consequences of his actions for others and even himself. His courage was not supported by wisdom and compassion, so he became arrogant. In the end, Sun Wukong paid the price for his actions by being…
I am Yang Ge, living in Auckland.
Guanyin is known for taking on 33 different forms to aid sentient beings. These manifestations include monks, celestial beings, men, women, and even wrathful deities—showing her adaptability in responding to suffering in any context.
This reminds me of the Four Emptinesses—emptiness of body, emptiness of heart, emptiness of habitual tendency, and emptiness of Dharma. By emptying oneself and becoming void, so that one can make ourself adapt in whatever desired forms. This is a state-of-mind freed from ego or attachment.
Thanks for your time.