Augh! I am in the middle of something and haven't got the time to type out and organize all my thoughts on this matter. I shall return and comment more, but I just want to toss out this idea re Kannon's particular brand of 'mercy': one of the main mythological aspects of a bodhisattva is that they have reached enlightenment but chose not to enter Nirvana and instead help others to reach enlightenment too. Obviously, Saiyuki plays with the concepts of enlightenment and heaven a bit, but I think this idea fits with Kannon rather well. She meddles with the lives of the people on earth, yes, but that seems to me to fit in with her position as a bodhisattva. We've been lead to believe she's doing this strictly for her own entertainment, but perhaps that's not so. I think it's possible she has a plan in mind, and is nudging everyone along toward a particular goal she's chosen. And if her goal is to get all of them 'enlightened', that would make a lot of sense, considering her status as a bodhisattva.
Of course, this opens up whole other realms of possibility as to what would happen if the Ikkou ever did reach enlightenment. Would they reascend to heaven? Would they become bodhisattvas themselves? Would they choose to stay on the 'wheel' and keep getting reincarnated? I don't know.
Ack, this got sort of long anyway. Must dash, will comment more later!
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Date: 2008-06-01 10:55 pm (UTC)Of course, this opens up whole other realms of possibility as to what would happen if the Ikkou ever did reach enlightenment. Would they reascend to heaven? Would they become bodhisattvas themselves? Would they choose to stay on the 'wheel' and keep getting reincarnated? I don't know.
Ack, this got sort of long anyway. Must dash, will comment more later!