Kuan Yin, the Chinese goddess of karuna, represents all that is good and pure in humankind. She is revered throughtout China as a guardian angel for humanity, a shelter for children, mothers and men of the sea.
Although treated poorly by her cruel father, Kuan Yin became a friend to all, including the birds and animals of the forest. This so enraged her father that he had her murdered, and her reign as goddess of karuna began. Her story transcends time and continent in fairy tales such as Cinderella and Snow White. Her qualities of compassion and mercy are authentically embodied in modern-day heroes as Ghandi and Mother Therese.
These symbols of all that is good--real heroes and heroines, fairy tale characters and the goddess--represent what we wish for our world today, what we pray for our children to know in generations to come. Kuan Yin vowed never to leave earth untl the last human being was free from pain, and has sent various versions of herself through the ages to guide all people in an attempt to ease all pain--a job even a goddess must find to be a great challenge.
--adapted from The Barefoot Book of Goddesses by Kris Waldherr