Thursday 11 August 2022

August Full Moon Altar: Thousand Hand Kwan Yin


This month's full moon altar honours Thousand Hand Kwan Yin, the Buddhist bodhisattva who empathizes with the world's suffering. She stands on an altar cloth representing her Heart of Compassion, accompanied by lotus candle holders and connective golden beads.

This symbolic version of Kwan Yin has "a thousand hands" with which to extend aid and comfort to those who need it. Her thousand hands are usually arrayed like a fan emerging from her heart chakra, as depicted in this lovely porcelain statue which I found in an Asian import store in Edmonton several years ago.


Here's an amazing video of the China Disabled People's Performing Art Troupe doing a gorgeous precision dance routine honouring Thousand Hand Kwan Yin. Because all the dancers are deaf, there are several white-robed directors on stage helping the female and male dancers synchronize with the music. Their dance is positively kaleidoscopic in its complexity and beauty!

 

[Photos © Debra She Who Seeks, August 2022]

32 comments:

  1. Absolutely gorgeous! You have the most stunning collection of statues.

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  2. The video is amazing! Thank you for sharing it, Debra.

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  3. Love!
    I think this could be my fav altar to date. I really like the idea of white and red.
    And that video is mesmerizing. I watched it twice. I can't believe the dancers are deaf...


    XOXO

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  4. So beautiful! Difficult to believe they are all deaf!

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  5. yin yang. many definitions. the light and the dark. if yin: Kwan Yin a thousand hands of compassion: what and who is the yang?
    the Ol'Buzzard

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  6. On a related note: Al Roker (NBC morning weather) calls it the "Full Sturgeon Moon" and it will be very bright. So the Perseid Meteor Shower which also occurs tonight will not be as clearly visible due to the brightness of the moon.

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  7. Amazing video! Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  8. Perfect altar; stunningly beautiful video!! TFS!

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  9. At first in the fingernail shot I thought you were all ready for Valentine's Day....then looked at the post heading. She is a lovely goddess. What do you do with the pass alter goddess? Do you display them all or store them till it's their alter time?

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  10. Your full moon altar is beautiful and the dancers' costumed routine is visually stunning! However, all those arms, eyes on hands and flickering finger points also reminded me of a peacock's tail and crustaceans' creepy legs....

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  11. @ Mistress Maddie -- I put up a new altar every month and dismantle the previous one, putting everything away back where it came from. Most of my Goddess statues live in a large display cabinet in my living room most of the time.

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  12. What a wonderful post! The dancing is so beautiful. Thanks for explaining the function of the people in white robes, too.

    I always look forward to your monthly altar entries,and the explanation with them.

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  13. The dance is amazing. I'm glad I watched it.

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  14. Stunning! So amazing to think they’re deaf.
    Mesmerising

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  15. A thousand hand GuanYin is very renown in oriental nations. She lessens all forms of suffering lending a hand in every form and entity. Almost every family has one either in the home or in their own hearts.

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  16. Simply incredible. I wonder if the lead dancer gives instructions.

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  17. Awesome coordination deaf or not.

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  18. That was so pretty to watch. Thank you.

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  19. Wow! that dancing is amazing. Such precision.

    Imagine how much you could get done with a thousand hands! If you had the brain to match that is.

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  20. The altar is beautiful. The dance is stunning.

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  21. Ooh, yes, that dancing is incredible. Thanks for sharing, Deb.

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  22. Kwan Yin, quiet Goddess of Compassion, a guiding light. A statue of her can be found in every room of my house (ok, not the bathroom). I love the altar - simple and poignant.

    That dance was amazing! Truly kaleidoscopic and absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Debra.
    E

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  23. I turn into a wolf on a full moon. That's how I know there is one.

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  24. I too love how you honor and ritualize the passing of the seasons with such apropos and beautiful things.

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  25. What the world needs are about a billion of her.
    The video is absolutely breathtaking and mesmerizing.

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  26. Your altar is lovely, and the video is mesmerizing, Debra!

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