Many Buddhist sutras state that the Bodhisattva Kuan-yin attained the state of Buddhahood long ago. Kuan-yin is referred to as the Tathagata who clearly understands the True Law. Even Sakyamuni himself, the founder of Buddhism, acknowledges Kuan-yin's supremacy.
話說回來，在許多佛教經典中卻又指出，觀音菩薩其實早在久遠以前就已經修成佛果，稱為「正法明如來」，連佛祖釋迦牟尼都曾皈依在祂門下。