Friday 17 November 2017

Balm of Compassion, Water of Life

The Sacred Garden of Maui has many images of the Divine Feminine on its premises but the predominant one is Kwan Yin, the female Bodhisattva of Love and Mercy. She is often represented holding a small vase-like bottle which contains the healing Balm of Compassion. This is composed of Kwan Yin's tears, collected as She cries for the suffering of the world.


As you can see in the background of the above photo, there is another Bruce Harman art print in the Kwan Yin meditation garden. It is called "Water of Life" and portrays Kwan Yin sharing the Balm of Compassion with the Buddha and Jesus as they kneel before Her in a sacred bamboo grove.


Here's a much better, higher resolution image of the painting from Bruce Harman's website:


I bought a small copy of this art at the gift shop. On the back is a little zen-like poem:

Before the great
Descent
Into division
Water flows
Goddess pours

I like this image because it restores the Divine Feminine to Her rightful place among some of the other great spiritual icons of the world.

[First two photos © Debra She Who Seeks, November 2016]

41 comments:

Mistress Maddie said...

That must be a beautiful labyrinth. I've not seen one yet with lots of flowers or stautes. The one I've been to are only paths mostly. Is that the most common? Or are there ornate ones too?

LL Cool Joe said...

And now we get to the point where the visual images go off into a realm that I don't agree with, but still it's a pretty painting.

Janie Junebug said...

I love the painting. How did we ever get away from the Divine Feminine? I learned in Greek mythology class that a woman (or the female presence of Gaia) gave birth to the world. It only makes sense. Men don't give birth.

Love,
Janie

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ mistress maddie -- Plainer labyrinths do seem to be the norm, you're right. These ones at the Sacred Garden of Maui are a little unique, it's true.

Snap said...

Maui is one of favorite places. I felt closer to the divine there, as I did in the enchanting New Mexico. As Dick used to say, "you can take the girl out of New Mexico, but you can't take New Mexico out of the girl". Loving your labyrinth series.

DEZMOND said...

she won't stop crying anytime soon, methinks.... sadly

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ DEZMOND -- Alas, you got that right, Dezzy.

Joanne Noragon said...

Thank you for posting the original, too. I see real people.

Jeanne said...

Beautiful. I believe that I am feeling the serene vibes coming through on your post. ♥
There have been traditions through the ages where tears were caught and kept in bottles. Tears for the death of a loved individual, Tears for the absence of someone far away. It was believed that these tears were of remembrance and could possibly soothe the ache in the soul.

Marie Smith said...

It looks so peaceful. Love that last image! The Divine Feminine has so much to teach us!

Lady M said...

Everyone should kneel before the divine Feminine!

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

I am so enjoying these posts but this one is absolutely fantastic! I love Kwan Yin and what she stands for/about. I have a book mark with her riding a wave. Beautiful.

Suzie Ridler said...

Absolutely beautiful! Thank you for sharing this space of compassion with us.

Susan said...

Just reading this post made me feel better.

Leanna said...

I have a small area in the courtyard that has ferns and a tiny fountain with Kwan Yin in the middle of it. It was really pretty but over the years with the weather and squirrels, the little area needs some much needed TLC.

The Happy Whisk said...

I don't know about this kind of stuff so I enjoy reading about it on your page. But you already know, you are who I come to when I don't know things. Big thank you for always being so flippin' fantastic when I ask you silly things. You rock!

Magaly Guerrero said...

A few years ago, there was a wandering street art exhibit in NYC, one of the pieces was title "Kwan Yin, 21st Century". It showed a statue of Kwan Yin leaning over the Hudson River, her bowl overflowing. That image always stayed with me.

Rain said...

I love this post Debra :)

Kirk said...

I wish to kneel before the Divine Miss M, which I realize isn't quite the same thing.

anne marie in philly said...

there is a house down the street from my workplace that has this statue out front. I never knew what it represented until today. thanks, debra, for educating me!

Anonymous said...

I missed your posts so much,, this one is a beautiful example of why,, I'm finding my way back to blogland slowly,,,

mshatch said...

I like that painting.

Adam said...

That painting is pretty offensive to the one true god, Spongebob Squarepants

Martha said...

Great post, Debra! That painting is awesome.

bobbybegood1 said...

Love you statement/observation!!

bobbybegood1 said...

Alas, you inform us again. Love post. So that's where Christ was for all those years unaccounted for in the Bible - sitting at the feet of a woman - learning!!
Feminine energy of compassion, love, kindness? How else was the world created?!

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

"Goddess pours" <-that says it all. I like it.
I like the image too - Jesus is not larger than life, and Buddha has muscles. In fact, Buddha's kinda hot.

Happy weekend and new week, Debra.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Adam -- And Patrick is his Prophet?

@ bobbybegood1 -- Yes, "the Lost Years of jesus -- Explained!" I think there was a book called that or something like that many years ago which speculated that Jesus went to India and learned the ways of the yogi. I remember reading it, like, 40 years ago.

@ Rawknrobyn -- Sure, Buddha is hot now but later in life he falls prey to middle-age spread. Then people will always want to rub his belly for good luck.

Fundy Blue said...

What a beautiful painting. Unfortunately Kwan Yin has cause to cry many, many tears these days. Compassion is sorely needed in our world!

Ol'Buzzard said...

A feminine deity makes so much more sense. How could the divine feminine not be above all others? She is the giver of life.
the Ol'Buzzard

AntiquityTravelers said...

at the heart of most religions the message is the same. I wish people could simply be respectful of each other's choices

Magic Love Crow said...

This is so beautiful Debra!! Thank you for sharing Bruce Harman's website! I think I will be treating myself to a print too! Big Hugs!

Rue said...

Beautiful! I have a friend who has multiple sculptures of Kwan Yin and she's always caught my eye.

bj said...

I surely am enjoying this series...you are so wise and I love your informative posts so much. As olden as I am, there's much much more that I DON'T know than I do.

e said...

Kwan Yin (or Quan Yin, if you prefer) is my guiding light in this troubled world. There is a statue of her in every room of my house (ok, not the loo), and on the porch. If only we can listen to the Quiet Goddess of Compassion...

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

Such a beautiful and tranquil place.I appreciate you sharing Bruce's site. The divine Feminine is so special. Have a happy week.

Professor Chaos said...

Fantastic! I was unaware of this garden, now there's another reason to go back to Maui (as if I needed one)

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

What a lovely place -thanks for taking us along.

Bill Lisleman said...

Oh blogging is great for seeing new stuff. If I understand this correctly, Buddhist believe Jesus and Buddha hung out together. I don't recall ever hearing about Buddha in the teachings about Jesus that were taught to me. Strange idea just popped in my head - all these movies of superhero groups. They should do one with spiritual leaders coming together to save our spirits.

Beautiful Sky said...

Beautiful! The first picture is like the statue I have in my home. Kwan Yin (Kuan Yin or Guan Yin) has her own mantra "Namo guan shee yin puh sah". And to chant it is to call upon her feminine compassion. The name Guan Yin actually means 'She who hears the cries of the world". Thanks for your interesting post! Reminds me I need to post about Guan yin also.

baili said...

I will be always THANKFUL for this beautiful post and specially the divine IMAGE !!!

truly touched my soul and uplifted my heart