The Patron Compassion Buddha of Tibet, Chenrezig
The Dalai Lama is Regarded as a Reincarnation of this Bodhisattva
Nov 12, 2009
Buddha Avalokiteshvara, fondly known as Chenrezig in Tibet, is considered to be the “Lord of Compassion” whose Mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” is one of the most popular symbols of Buddhism throughout the world. He is considered to be a sambhogakaya form of Buddha Amitabha, one of the Dhyani Buddhas. While the statues of Avalokiteshvara are practically innumerable and widely individualistic in form and expression, there are four major Buddhas, given below, corresponding to four major Buddhist geographical regions that can be regarded as “root” forms of the Compassion Bodhisattva.
Buddha Chenrezig of Tibet
In Tibetan Buddhism, Avalokisteshvara is four-armed, has one face and is normally seen to be seated with both his legs crossed in meditation. His front two hands are held in “Manidhara” (Sanskrit for “jewel (Mani) holding (Dhara)” Mudra. In this Mudra, the two hands are held in front of the chest, at the level of the heart, with the palms clasping a wish-fulfilling jewel between them. This jewel symbolises Chenrezig’s infinite “Bodhichitta” (loving kindness) towards suffering sentient beings and his determination to bring them to salvation. The back right hand holds a crystal bead rosary symbolising the spiritual path to liberation from “Samsara” (the endless knot of materialistic attachments leading to “rooting” afflictions and their accompanying suffering). The back left hand holds a blue “Utpala” flower, a symbol of compassionate motivation.
Tibetan Buddhists regard many important personalities in their history and culture as reincarnations of Buddha Avalokiteshvara:
- Songsten Gampo: this Tibetan king of the seventh century was the main proponent for the spread of Buddhism in Tibet.
- Guru Rinpoche: this Indian-born guru of the eight century was mainly responsible for the consolidation of the Buddhist philosophy in Tibet. He is also known as Padmasambhava (the Lotus-born) and is regarded as a Buddha in his own right. Very often, his statue is to be found on the right of Amitabha Buddha or Akshobhya Buddha on Buddhist temple alters.
- The Dalai Lamas: the spiritual heads of the Gelug-pa school of Buddhism. The institution of the Dalai Lama is the main symbol of not just Tibetan Buddhism but also of the Tibetan cultural identity. The Potala Palace in Lhasa bears this name as “Potala” is the paradise of Avalokiteshvara. How deep the attachment of Tibetans to Chenrezig is can be gauged from popular myths and legends that describe the descent of the Tibetan people themselves from this compassionate being.
Arya Avalokiteshvara of India, Tibet
In this form, Avalokisteshvara has eleven heads and a thousand arms. Ten of the eleven heads correspond to the traditional Buddhist space cosmos which has ten directions, symbolising Arya Avalokiteshvara’s power to see the suffering of sentient beings in all directions. The eleventh head (at the very top) is that of Amitabha Buddha, the celestial Buddha, of which Avalokiteshvara is an emanation. Each of the palms of these thousand arms have an eye, again symbolising Arya Avalokiteshvara’s power to see the suffering of sentient beings in a thousand directions.
This form made its first appearance in western India in the sixth century CE and in the following two centuries became widespread in Tibet, interchangeably revered with the Chenrezig form.
Lokesvara of South-East Asia
In South-East Asian countries, particularly in Cambodia and Vietnam, Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara is known as “Lokeshvara” or “Lord of the Worlds”. This is a much simplified form of the Bodhisattva, normally depicted standing bare-chested wearing a simple “Dhoti” (a sort of light wrap around the hips) held with an ornate belt. He may have two or four arms, with his right hand held up, palm outwards, in the “Abhaya” (protection/blessing) Mudra.
Kwan Yin of China
In China, Avalokiteshvara has a feminine form, that of the gentle “Goddess of Mercy”, Kwan Yin. While this form is usually found seated on a Lotus with her hands in the “Dhyan” (meditation) Mudra, resting on her crossed legs, she can also be found with one hand holding a fly whisk and the other holding a small vial of nectar. In some forms, she has eleven heads and in others, she may have a thousand arms.
Compassion is one of the two pillars of Buddhism, the other being wisdom. In no other aspect is this more clearly visible than in the proliferation of the Compassion Buddha is myriad forms through far flung geographical areas during the spread of Buddhism through the centuries.
Readers of this article may also enjoy reading Buddha Amitayus, Bestower of Longevity, The Blue Buddha of Spiritual Healing and The Adi Buddha and His Five Celestial Buddhas
Sources
Frédéric, Louis. Buddhism: Flammarion Iconographic Guides. Paris: Flammarion, 1995
Too, Lillian. The Buddha Book: Buddhas, Blessings, Prayers and Rituals to Grant You Love, Wisdom and Healing. London: Element, 2003
Willis, Michael. Tibet: Life, Myth and Art. Singapore: Duncan Baird Publishers, 1999
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