Gurus are believed by many to be the most necessary part of life. Guru Purnima is an Indian festival dedicated to Spiritual Teachers and Gurus. This day is traditionally celebrated to pay respects to our Spiritual Teachers and Gurus and express our gratitude. The word GURU is derived from two words, GU and RU. In Sanskrit GU means darkness or ignorance, and RU denotes the remover of that darkness.Therefore, a Guru is one who removes the darkness of our ignorance. With great humility, Guan Yin calls herself a bodhisattva but she is a true Buddha, a totally enlightened being. She has saved innumerable physical lives and inspired and blessed countless spiritual journeys. With these treasures and the Da Bei Zhou mantra, Guan Yin has served all humanity and beyond with her boundless and unending compassion and blessings. Profoundly touched by her sincerity and deep commitment, Qian Guang Jing Wang transmitted 1,000 spiritual hands and 1,000 spiritual eyes to Guan Yin.
When Guan Yin first heard Da Bei Zhou, she was so moved and overwhelmed by its enormous power and light that she made a commitment to chant it every day for all of her lifetimes. The inexpressible power of this mantra is embodied in 88 lines, each bearing the name of a Buddha devoted to serving all souls, with each line holding unique and sacred blessings. Guan Yin learned Da Bei Zhou (the Great Compassion Mantra) from her spiritual father, Qian Guang Jing Wang (Thousand Lights Stillness King). Guan Yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, is revered and honored around the world for being “one who hears the cries of the world.” With the greatest compassion and mercy, she made a total commitment to end all suffering and will help anyone who calls her name.