Kuan Yin , the Buddha of Great Compassion,  is depicted as holding a vase which contains "the dew of compassion."  She uses the willow branch to sprinkle "the dew of compassion" to purify the defilement of our minds.  The face of Kuan Yin  images is always gentle, calm, and enduringly sweet, an expression which reflects infinite wisdom, serenity, love and compassion.  It has the special quality of calming those who are angry, or are in despair, comforting those who are sorrowful, and bringing forth feelings of love, devotion, and contentment to her faithful.  Her eyes are always depicted as "half-opened and half-closed" which indicates a perfect harmony of outer and inner life as half of the vision is concerning the outer world, while the other half is directed internally for proper self-reflection.  (6/10/2010)