Interpreting the Kuan Yin Prophecies

When discussing the interpreting of the text of the Kuan Yin Poems, the word "Inscrutable" rises quickly to the surface as one of the most appropriate to describe the idiosyncrasies or style of the ancient pieces. The Oxford English Dicitonary definition of 'inscrutable' is "Cannot be penetrated, wholly mysterious". This is derived from the Latin 'scrutabilis' which is 'to search'.

The individual 'words' of the poems are to a large extent irrelevant. Furthermore, resorting to a dictionary or thesaurus is an unnecessary diversion - as you can see in the paragraph above!

Before I concentrate upon the Kuan Yin poems I would like to first refer briefly to that other and better known Chinese form of divination -the I Ching. In this system a 'random' selection of six broken and unbroken lines is made to form what is known as a Hexagram and from this the divination of how to best be "in accord with time" (acting appropriately) is recommended. Please take care to note that as a result one's 'fortune' is not 'told' and no definitive answers are given. Consistently and repeatedly however it is indicated that there are no answers to be found externally, elsewhere or ahead of the person that searches. On the contrary it is consistently and repeatedly suggested that the only examination required is inward, internal or silent. To this end the question is at least as important as any 'answer'.

"The Wisdom is in the understanding; not in the saying".

Thought makes a fool of man.
As I ponder this, my fruit goes rotten in the bowl.

Think hard about the question that you are asking before you click your prophecies together.

At a Tai Chi session the other day during the study of various tiger postures (wrestle, ride etc.) I suggested to fellow Budoka that we might save ourselves some time in our analysing of the infinite permutations of both the martial and spiritual aspects of this one form or concept if we simply took a glance at the corresponding hexagram/s of the I Ching. I did say with confidence then "it's all there" and added as a word of caution "you either see it or you don't".

Those that want to see it will, those that don't, won't. In summary, it's only a matter of time. Not 'right time' or 'wrong time'. Just time. Confucius (the Great Chinese Sage) waited until his seventieth year had passed before he even began his study of the I Ching. Only from that point onward did it become his life's work! Plenty of time for us then!

The Lotus flowers above the surface of the cool clear water.
It roots are in the dark impenetrable mud far below.

You take a dream to a psychoanalyst - he shows you the mud.

You take a dream to the Buddha - he shows you the flower.

It is also like looking at clouds. You may describe what you see to the person beside you but it is by no means certain that they will see 'it' also; more likely they will say "yes, and ." This is not what you see is it?

For interpretation of the I Ching I recommend to westerners the translation by Rudolf Ritsema and Stephen Karcher. Element ISBN 1-85230-536-3. Further reading suggested within suggests at least 78 other publications. You can get to understand it that way if you wish. It is just a matter of time isn't it?

The Kuan Yin poems that are contained within the Prophecies section are presented in their most lyrical and simple form. Do try to just take them exactly as they are - compassionate words as if from an eternally forgiving mother.

Be advised that there is no number pattern to the layout of the poems and the order is utterly random. Therefore, whatever you get is decided by fate. All that you have to do is be where you are and 'listen' or understand and enjoy your past, present and future.

Think hard (meditate upon) the past. If this takes seconds, it takes seconds. If it takes days, then it takes days.

Say "Namu Kuan Shi Yin Po Sah"[see above] as a magician would 'abracadabra' or 'hey-presto' and click on Past.

If you thought hard and long enough about the question, the answer will make perfect sense - to you.

Repeat the process for Present and Future.

Repeat the whole process daily, weekly, monthly or once in a life - whenever the time is appropriate. Go inward, meditate, be in accord. The time is right when the question is right. You will see it then.

17/02/00 15:44:49
Namuamidabutsu

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When discussing the interpreting of the text of the Kuan Yin Poems, the word "Inscrutable" rises quickly to the surface as one of the most appropriate to describe the idiosyncrasies or style of the ancient pieces