Deities and Faith
How does Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun’s vow to relieve suffering resonate with Guanyin and Kṣitigarbha?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
To know Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun, begin with his great vow to deliver beings. In Taoist faith, he is also called Dongji Qinghua Dadi. His image as Heavenly Worthy Who Relieves Suffering expresses responding to suffering and willingness to help.
The ten directions in “Heavenly Worthy Who Relieves Suffering in the Ten Directions” include east, west, south, north, the four diagonals, above, and below, signifying completeness. The title expresses a wish to deliver beings everywhere, not only one place. Different names and manifestations in different worlds express that same intention. I once began from worship at Yilan’s Sanqing Temple, but exact locations and other titles still need checking and should not become a current temple itinerary.
For a simple comparison with familiar Buddhist faith, consider Guanyin’s virtue of responding to cries and Kṣitigarbha’s great vow to relieve suffering. Yet I cautioned against direct equivalence or declaring them the same being. Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun is important in Taoist deliverance rites. Da Shi Ye also has differing accounts of manifestation according to faith perspectives, without requiring one exclusive account.
I also used Taiyi Jiuku Tianzun to illustrate Taoist recitation of sacred names for connection and requests. Hearing only part of a comparison between Buddha names and divine names must not lead to denying the Taoist practice altogether. Our worship and familiarity with his image and virtue help create a familiar inner connection when reciting.