I’m trying to create a small meditation garden to in some way honor the memory of my younger brother. The exact date of his death is unknown–his body was found by a neighbor in early February 2 years ago. The cause of death was a massive subdural hematoma.
Since his wife was, at the time, in prison for having attacked him with an axe, she wasn’t involved in his death. Having fun, yet?
My brother was diabetic. He was also alcoholic and he was also depressive. He’d pawned his inheritance (which was his family’s inheritance) to buy alcohol–but what he had was really of value only to the rest of us.
To get back to his death–I figure he was drinking and went upstairs to get laundry out of the dryer. Coming back down, he fell on the stairs and hit the back of his head on one of the risers. He got up, continued down the stairs and fell asleep while continuing to watch the TV. He never woke up.
My question is: Would I be somehow dishonoring Kuan Yin if I put a statue of him/her in my little garden?
Why would you think that? Kuan Yin (or, Guanyin) is "short for Guanshiyin which means ‘Observing the Sounds (or Cries) of the World’ " (Wiki). Doesn’t that seem especially fitting to you?
Because I’m not Buddhist and don’t want to inadvertently step on any toes. Kuan Yin is “compassion.” I have no comprehension of how or why my brother became what he became–it’s totally outside my sphere of understanding and/or reality. But I think I can hear, if I’m quiet enough, the music around me–the cries and the tears–and the songs. If I can do that, I may not understand, but I may learn compassion and acceptance. When I was searching for an appropriate piece of statuary last night, I was thinking of something my brother would appreciate. Then I wondered why? My garden is mine and what I put into it needs only to be appropriate to me.
I don’t think you have to worry about it too much. I’m sorry about your brother. The statue is just a manifestation of your own compassion for him, for the situations he found himself in and that you find yourself in. It’s a reminder for you, right? You’re learning compassion and acceptance from yourself, even if you get some help from a tradition of fellow human beings who value certain aspects of life (such as love, compassion, joy and equanimity) more than other aspects.