Kannon Bodhisattva

Kannon Bodhisattva is Kuan Yin and Kuan Yin (a.k.a. Guan Yin) is the Isis, Innana, Ishtar, Virgin Mary all over again.

Except in China, where ancestor worship is/was BIG, Guan Yin had real appeal as a household goddess.

Is she even Buddhist?
I doubt it.

Idolatry?
I tend to think so.

Re: Tripitaka:
"They are not, however, regarded as sacred, perfect and complete descriptions of the truth. To view any scripture in this way is a form of idolatry. All books, texts, and bibles, however inspired, are human creations and subject to error and imperfection. Buddhist scriptures are to be used as reflections and pointers. They are being used correctly when they stimulate mindfulness, virtue and insight - when they lead to open and receptive states of mind rather than to unskillful mind states, such as greed, hatred and delusion."
source

If you are unaware of Buddhist teaching on idolatry, then go find out.

more
even more

Showtime!

Ya' see, in the ministerial supply biz, aside from microphones, flexi-bibles, accordions, bowling shoes, and costumes,they sell Bling-bling. Now I'm talkin' item #71177 here. Naturally, that's an electroplated cross full o' rhinestones*.
Click on either picture for a bigger view (air sickness bag not included).

It is amazing how many people bring this stuff into them places that buy gold and expect it to have some value - any value. How much do you want for the paper bag?

*Rhinestones are cheap, even tawdry, fake gems that are associated with country and western costumes and tacky Las Vegas lounge acts. The word is a translation of the French caillou du Rhin. Originally a rhinestone was a common rock crystal found the Rhine River in Germany. Today, they accent trash (animate and inanimate).

The Nature of Nirbana

And when He was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God comes not with observation: Neither shall they say, Look here! or, look there! For, behold (become aware), the kingdom of Heaven (nirbana) is within you." (Luke 17:20-21)

Coptic (Egyptian) Gospel of Thomas 113
Jesus’ disciples said to him, “When will God’s Kindom come?”
“It will not come by watching for it. It will not be said, ‘Look, here!’ or ‘Look, there!’ Rather, God’s Kindom is spread out upon the earth, and people don’t see it.”

So, like other borrowed matter, the local culture (in this case Armenia) had no way to ingest the foreign and imported teaching and, therefore, had to corrupt it to local lore.

Quote 1 allows us to escape our custodial duties as gardeners of the environment. Quote 2 - the more authentic of the two - makes it clear that our custodial duties as gardeners of the environment is part and parcel of being in this place.

We are 'making our beds.' In the life cycles which follow, we will be sleeping in those beds.