Avalokiteshvara, or Chenrezig, is a bodhisattva, and the cherished patron of Tibet . A bodhisattva ( byang chub sempai ) is an enlightened being that chooses to remain in cyclic existence to benefit all beings. The term bodhisattva denotes great compassion but Avalokiteshvara is the Bodhisattva of Inconceivable Compassion. Bodhisattvas have Buddha counter-parts and Avalokiteshvara's Buddha is Amitabha. Amitabha emitted a white ray of light from his right eye, birthing Avalokiteshvara.
There are many different ways that Avalokiteshvara is portrayed, differing in amount of arms and focus of compassion. The image on the preceding page is the supreme manifestation of this bodhisattva, having eleven heads and one thousand arms. In Tibetan this representation is called, chak tong chen tong , meaning one thousand hands and one thousand eyes. Each palm has an eye to see humanity's suffering and to illuminate all with the light of wisdom. |
