Dmae Roberts explores her own spiritual roots through a presentation of the Awakened Being of Great Compassion, the Bodhisattva Guan Shi Yin. Her moving theme: a daughter struggling to find a home in her multi-racial, multi-cultural background, particularly in terms of her mother's and grandmother's very different spiritualities. This theme speaks to many women and men in similar situations. Guan Yin's influence in Asia is so profound it parallels in many ways the cult of the Blessed Virgin in Roman Catholicism. Guan Yin has distinct resonance with Asian Buddhist women and Ms. Robert's haunting piece brings out the nuances with sensitivity and creativity. While avoiding a facile happy ending, she reaches instead an honesty that inspires hope in the listener: mothers and daughters can stay related through compassion and respect despite the gulf between East and West. This radio work includes story-telling, sound-effects and Chinese language used as aural spice. Suitable for any Asian-related cultural programming.

A truly beautiful presentation that weaves together the themes of the myth of a goddess, a daughter's search for understanding of her cultural inheritance, and her struggle to close the gap of language and faith that separates her from her mother.
Near the beginning especially I loved the long full Chinese reading. I didn't understand a word but was swept along by the cadence and beauty of those mysterious sounds and grateful that here finally was a producer letting her piece breathe, not rushing in with an English translation or some corny music. Well done.
Having said that however, I do feel that this would have been a more muscular piece if it had been forced to be just a bit shorter - perhaps around 30-45 minutes. The readings, however beautifully read, despite the lovely imagery, at a certain point just were too much, too long.
But Dmae's lovely writing and presentation brought my mind back as it started to stray during some of the later readings - and they were small strayings - I loved the way she was able to tie in the central myth with her own personal journey in search of the Lady Buddha and of her mother's love.
But its obvious why this programme is a prize winner. It's a well crafted, superbly written work of art and a proof that radio doesn't always have to be in a hurry.