DEVOTION TO SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA AND KUAN YIN BODHISATTVA:
Malaysian Buddhists of Chinese descent had been following the traditional beliefs and practices of Mahayana Buddhism handed down from their forefathers for hundreds of years. It was only about 40 to 50 years ago that they began to be exposed to Theravada Buddhist teachings in Sri Lankan, Thai and Burmese Buddhist temples. It is not surprising therefore that the majority of those who lean more towards the Theravada Buddhist tradition still find themselves continuing to observe Mahayana Buddhist beliefs and practices to some extent. Devotion to Kuan Yin is still strong in them as can be evidenced by the keeping of a Kuan Yin image in their home altars, and to whom they pay homage in their daily devotions and prayers. They continue to recite the Kuan Yin mantra, and many of them still chant her name and pray for help in times of distress and difficulties.
Although Mahayana Buddhist devotees do not venerate Sakyamuni Buddha as much as they do Kuan Yin, the Theravada Buddhists definitely give an equally important place in their devotions to Sakyamuni Buddha or Gautama Buddha, if not more. According to Theravada Buddhist belief, devas possess limited powers of granting worldly favours to those who seek their help. To them, Kuan Yin Bodhisattva is likened to a deva to whom they could pray when in need of worldly favours, such as the blessing of an offspring, success in business ventures and recovery from illnesses. For attainment of enlightenment, they believe in relying wholly on their own efforts to remove the ten fetters which tie worldlings down to samsara. This is the compromise that they adopt to avoid a conflict in their devotions to Sakyamuni Buddha and Kuan Yin Bodhisattva They do not believe that Kuan Yin Bodhisattva can help them in their efforts to attain enlightenment. As a matter of fact, they do not even rely on Sakyamuni Buddha to attain the final goal of enlightenment. However, there are many who, not having understood well the Theravada Buddhist teachings, believe that the Buddha, although having realized Mahaparini-bbana, still lives on somewhere and is still able out of His great compassion (Mahdkarund) for suffering humanity, to grant worldly favours, in the same way as Kuan Yin Bodhisattva, to those who call His name and pray to Him with devotion and veneration.
Tan Teik Beng - Beliefs and Practices Among Malaysian Chinese Buddhists
