Buddha and Bodhisattva

According to Chinese Pure Land Buddhism, Guan Yin Bodhisattva is one of the attendants on the left side of Amitabha Buddha, together with Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva on the right. Together, they are the “Holy Trinity of the West”. To save sentient beings, Guan Yin manifests in different forms. This is an especially popular form and is one of Guan Yin’s thirty-three incarnations. The “Water-Dripping Guan Yin” worshiped by Zu-Lin Temple carries a bottle in her left hand. The water dripping from it symbolises the nectar of Great Compassion washing away the sufferings of the world and to provide nutrition and salvation for all. A verse in praise of Guan Yin goes: “The nectar in her bottle is always available/The willow in her hand will never ages. /Wherever people pray she will respond/She is a boat on the sea of suffering.”

滴水观音
根据汉传佛教净土信仰，观世音菩萨（亦称观自在菩萨）乃阿弥陀佛左侧的胁侍，加上右侧胁侍的大势至菩萨，合称 “西方三圣”。
为广化众生，观音菩萨经常需要示现各种形象去拯救众生的苦难，因此化身特多，最为民间所熟悉和信仰。
此滴水观音即三十三观音之一，又称“洒水观音”。竹林寺供奉的这尊滴水观音，左手持瓶作泻水状，寓意将大悲甘露洗净众生烦恼，润泽万物，度化世人。

观世音菩萨赞偈：
瓶中甘露常时洒
手内杨柳不计秋
千处祈求千处应
苦海常作渡人舟

Amitabha Buddha
Amitabha Buddha, also known as the Buddha of Immeasurable Light and Life, is the Buddha of the Western Paradise. According to the Infinite Life Sutra, prior to his enlightenment, there was a king who lived during the time of Lokesvaraja. Aspiring to be enlightened. a king abdicated and became a monk known as Dharmakara (Dharma Treasure). After studying the pure lands of the various Buddhas, Dharmakara made forty-eight vows and cultivated for aeons before becoming Amitabha Buddha. He is currently preaching the Dharma in his Pure Land, which is many Buddha lands away from our planet. Amitabha Buddha welcomes all who call on his name into the Pure Land. As such, he is also known as the Buddha who welcomes.

阿弥陀佛(梵语Amitābha)， 又名无量佛、无量光佛、无量寿佛等，是西方极乐世界的教主。
阿弥陀佛成道之本缘，据无量寿经卷上载，过去久远劫世自在王佛住世时，有一国王发无上道心，舍王位出家，名为法藏比丘，于世自在王佛处修行，熟知诸佛之净土，历经五劫之思虑而发殊胜之四十八愿。此后，不断积聚功德，而于距今十劫之前，愿行圆满，成阿弥陀佛，在离此十万亿佛土之西方，报得极乐净土。迄今仍在彼土说法，即净土门之教主，能接引念佛人往生西方净土，故又称接引佛。

Also known as “Compassionate Bodhisattva” or “Ajita Bodhisattva”, Maitreya Bodhisattva currently resides in the Tushita Heaven. After ten billion years have passed, he will descend into this “Saha world” and become a Buddha. As such, he is often known as “Maitreya Buddha”. After the Song and Yuan dynasties, Chinese Buddhist temples worshipped Maitreya as a laughing and potbellied Monk Budai (Cloth Sack). The more orthodox representations of Maitreya which depict him as cross-legged and wearing a crown are less common. Before he attained nirvana, Monk Budai left behind a verse which says: “Maitreya, the true Maitreya,/has many billions of incarnations,/frequently he instructs people of the world/Yet the people do not recognise him. The monk became regarded as an incarnation of Maitreya.

弥勒菩萨(Maitreya)，亦称为慈氏菩萨、阿逸多菩萨，现居“兜率天”内院修行，数十亿年后，将在未来的“娑婆世界”降生成佛，故也常被尊称为“弥勒佛”。

宋、元以后，汉传佛教寺院所供奉的弥勒造像则是按照笑容可掬、袒露大腹的契此和尚(即布袋和尚)形象塑造。至于标准的交脚弥勒、天冠弥勒已不多见。这是由于契此和尚在圆寂前，曾留下偈颂“弥勒真弥勒，化身千百亿，时时示时人，时人自不识”，故被认为是弥勒菩萨的化身。

Dragon Lady (Guan Yin’s attendant on her right). 
Guan Yin’s two attendants are Sudhana on the left and Dragon Girl on the right. According to the Devadatta chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Dragon Girl was the daughter of Sagara, the Dragon King. After listening to the Buddha expound the Dharma, she attained buddhahood. According to the scriptures, the Dragon Girl is wise and familiar with the various karmic conditions of sentient beings and has attained dharani. She is well-versed in the esoteric teachings of the buddhas and is skilful in meditating and practicing them. After aspiring for enlightenment, she had unshakeable resolve. To help sentient beings, Dragon Girl serves as Guan Yin’s attendant.

Sudhana (Guan Yin’s attendant on her left)
According to the Avatamsaka Sutra, Sudhana was instructed by Manjusri Bodhisattva to seek instructions from various wise teachers. After touring 110 cities and venerating 53 teachers, Sudhana met Samanthabhadra Bodhisattva and attained buddhahood. Guan Yin Bodhisattva was the 27th teacher that Sudhana met. In the end, Sudhana agreed to serve Guan Yin as her attendant, so as to help sentient beings.

观世音菩萨右胁侍
龙女
观世音菩萨两旁，左胁侍是善财，右胁侍是龙女。
根据《法华经·提婆达多品》所述，龙女过去是婆竭罗龙王的女儿，在参加法华会时，听闻佛法而立身成佛。依经上讲，龙女“智慧利根，善知众生诸根行业，得陀罗尼， 能够知诸佛所说甚深密藏，悉能受持，深入禅定，了达诸法，于刹那顷，发菩提心，得不退转”。最后龙女为了协助观世音菩萨普度世人而留在观世音菩萨身边，当右胁侍。

观世音菩萨左胁侍
善财童子

据《华严经》记载，善财童子（梵文Sudhana Kumara）得文殊菩萨教诲，去各佛国参拜善知识（导人为善道而得解脱之贤者，称为善知识）。
他游历了一百一十个城市，一共参拜了五十三位善知识，遇普贤菩萨而成就佛道，其中观世音菩萨是童子所参拜的第二十七位善知识。最终，童子选择留在观世音菩萨身边，协助菩萨普度世人，为左胁侍。

Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s Sanskrit name is Avalokitesvara. She is also known as Guan Yin, Guan Yin Niang Niang, Guan Zhi Zhai, etc. Guah Shi Yin Bodhisattva is one of Amitabha Buddha’s attendants. She wears a precious crown (which bears an image of Amitabha Buddha) while she seeks the sounds of the suffering. In Buddhism, Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva is a personification of compassion. Whenever sentient beings meet with difficulties or suffering, Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva’s compassionate vow-power will save them.

观世音菩萨
观世音菩萨 ( 梵 文Avalokiteśvara)，也称为观音菩萨、观自在菩萨、观音娘娘等。观世音菩萨是阿弥陀佛的二胁侍菩萨之一，头戴宝冠。因其一心辅助阿弥陀佛，以寻声救苦的方式救度世人，所以宝冠上有阿弥陀佛的佛像。
观世音菩萨是佛教中慈悲和智慧的象征，当众生遇到任何困难和苦痛，观世音菩萨都以大悲愿力广度众生。

According to historical records of Indian Buddhism, Wei Tuo Bodhisattva (Sanskrit: Skanda) is a divine being in Brahminism. He was absorbed in the Buddhist pantheon and became a Dharma protector. He is one of the eight generals under the command of Southern Heavenly King Virūlhaka and is the commander of the thirty generals under the command of the Four Heavenly Kings. He wears a coat of armour and carries a diamond pestle. He is often installed in the Hall of the Heavenly Kinds behind Maitreya Bodhisattva. He is a protector deity who faces Shakyamuni Buddha.

韦驮菩萨
韦驮菩萨(梵文Skanda)又名韦驮天。据印度佛教史记载，韦驮菩萨本是印度婆罗门教的天神，后被佛教吸收为伽蓝之守护神，为南方增长天王的八大神将之一，位四天王下三十二将军之首。
祂身披甲胄，手持金刚杵(或以杵柱地)，通常会被安置在天王大殿弥勒菩萨之后，面对着释迦牟尼佛像，为护法天神。

Also known as “Child Delivering Mother”, this compassionate form depicts Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva carrying a male baby. In the Lotus Sutra, it is written that anyone who desires a son will get a son endowed with blessings and wisdom if they pray to Guan Shi Yin Bodhisattva. If they desire a daughter, they will get a daughter with exquisite features.  In the Buddhist canon. there are six, seven and even thirty-three forms of Guan Yin. However, there is no “Child Delivering Guan Yin”. This was probably created by folk religion. In the past, devotees who had no children prayed to Guan Shi Yin with faith and thereafter had their wish fulfilled. This led to the creation of this holy form. 

送子观音
送子观音俗称“送子娘娘”，是面露亲切慈爱的观世音菩萨怀抱男童圣像。
《法华经》云：“若有女人设欲求男，礼拜供养观世音菩萨，便生福德智慧之男；设欲求女，便生端正有相之女。”在佛教典籍中，观世音有六观音、七观音乃至三十三观音等说法，但却没有“送子观音”，因为这形象主要是由民间所创造。在以前，一般膜拜观世音菩萨而无子女的善信，深信慈悲为怀的观世音菩萨会在自己的真心礼拜下实现送子的心愿，以致后来就有了送子观音的圣像。

The Lapis Lazuli Master of Healing (Bhaisajya Guru Vaidurya Pabharaja) is also known as the Medicine Buddha who averts disaster and prolongs life. He is the Teacher of the Eastern Lapis Lazuli Pure Land. His Pure Land is described as Lapis Lazuli because it is pure and luminous. The Medicine Buddha, the Sun Bodhisattva and the Moon Bodhisattva is regarded as the “Holy Trinity of the East”. According to Buddhism, the Medicine Buddha made twelve vows to fulfil the wishes of sentient beings, deliver them from suffering and heal their diseases.

药师琉璃光如来
药师琉璃光如来，梵文为Bhaisajya Guru Vaidurya
Pabharaja，也被称为药师佛、药师如来、琉璃光佛、消灾延寿药师佛，为东方净琉璃世界之教主。以琉璃为名，乃取譬琉璃之光明透彻以喻国土清静无染污之寓意。
世人将药师琉璃光如来、日光菩萨、月光菩萨合称 “东方三圣”。
据佛教传说，药师佛往昔行菩萨道时发了十二大愿(又称十二上愿)，每愿都为了满众生愿，拔众生苦，医众生病。

Guan Sheng Di Jun was a general in the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history and was deified by emperors for his loyalty and righteousness. He is deeply venerated by the Chinese people. He is regarded as a protector deity in Chinese Buddhist temples.

伽蓝菩萨（关圣大帝）
关帝圣君是三国时期之著名战将，因乃刚乃正乃忠乃义，被历代皇帝加封廿三次之多，由‘将’而‘侯’而‘王’加封至‘帝圣’，数千年来，备受海内外炎黄子孙敬拜。
中国佛教界常尊关帝为伽蓝菩萨(梵语“僧伽蓝摩”的简称)，视为佛教寺院的守护神。

In Sanskrit, Kinnara means “Heavenly Music”. Kinnaras are protector deities in Buddhism and are part of the Eight Heavenly Dragons. According to legend, Shaolin Monastery was once surrounded by an army of Red Turbans (Mongols) when one of the cooks in the temple kitchen suddenly turned into a fierce Kinnara who stood on the hilltop waving a burning pole. At the sight of this frightening being, the Red Turbans beat a hasty retreat. From then on, Kinnara became worshiped as a protector deity in temple kitchens. He is also known as 監齋使者 (Ambassador who supervises how vegetarian food is prepared), In the Sutra of Sariputra’s enquires, it is written that Kinnara acquire his body because he helped people on the spiritual path by encouraging them and protecting them from evil practices.

大圣紧那罗王菩萨
圣紧那罗王菩萨(梵语Kimnara)，意为“音乐天”、“歌乐神”，是诸天音乐神之一，也是佛教“天龙八部”之护法神之一。
在中国佛教里，紧那罗曾化身为少林寺香积厨火头老和尚，持三尺拨火棍打退围寺的红巾军，因之被少林寺尊为护法伽蓝，又称其为“监斋菩萨”。
《舍利弗问经》记载：“紧那罗神者，昔好劝人发菩提心，未正其志，逐诸邪行，故得今身。”