Material: cloth. embroidery. scroll. (Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara)

Size: about 122 x 83 cm

Description:

Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara (Tibetan: སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས།, transliterated: Chenrezig) is an extremely important bodhisattva in Tibetan Buddhism. It symbolizes great compassion and represents boundless mercy and wisdom. It is one of the incarnations of Avalokiteśvara. Its image of a thousand hands and a thousand eyes has profound religious and cultural significance in Tibetan Buddhism and is closely related to specific myths and legends. The following will be described from the perspective of the meaning and the origin of the myth:

1. The significance of the Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara in Tibetan Buddhism

1. **The symbol of great compassion**:

- The Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara with its "thousand hands" symbolizes the infinite power of compassion, which can save countless sentient beings at the same time; the "thousand eyes" represent boundless wisdom, which can see through the suffering and needs of sentient beings. This image emphasizes the omnipresent and omnipotent ability of Avalokitesvara to save.

- In Tibetan Buddhism, the Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara (Tibetan: Chenrezig) is regarded as the patron saint of Tibet and is closely linked to Tibetan culture and religious beliefs. Tibetans believe that successive Dalai Lamas are the incarnations of the Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara, who undertake the mission of guiding sentient beings out of the sea of ​​suffering.

2. **Equal salvation of sentient beings**:

- The image of the Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara embodies the Bodhisattva's equal compassion for all sentient beings, regardless of race, class or good or evil, and saves them with selfless love and wisdom. Its thousand hands and thousand eyes also symbolize that the Bodhisattva can adapt to the needs of different sentient beings in countless ways (convenient methods).

3. **Salvation of the six realms of reincarnation**:

- In Tibetan Buddhism, the Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara is believed to help sentient beings free themselves from the suffering of the six realms of reincarnation, especially those suffering in the evil realms of hell, hungry ghosts, and animals. Tibetans often recite the Avalokitesvara mantra "Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ" to pray for the blessing of Avalokitesvara.

4. **Symbols of culture and art**:

- The image of the Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara is very common in Tibetan Buddhist art, often seen in thangkas, murals, and sculptures. Its complex and solemn shape reflects the Tibetan Buddhist's profound understanding of compassion and wisdom, and also embodies the exquisite craftsmanship of Tibetan art.

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II. The origin of the myth of the Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara

There are multiple versions of the myth of the Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara in Tibetan Buddhism, which are different from the legends in Indian Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism, but the core revolves around the compassionate vows of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. The following is one of the common myths of the Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara in Tibetan Buddhism:

1. **Avalokitesvara vows to save sentient beings**:

- According to legend, Avalokitesvara (Chenrezig) made a great vow in ancient times, vowing to save all sentient beings in the six realms of reincarnation, so that they can escape from the sea of ​​suffering and achieve Buddhahood. He promised that if he could not fulfill this wish, his head would be broken into thousands of pieces and his body would be shattered into thousands of pieces.

- Avalokitesvara went through countless kalpas and worked tirelessly to save sentient beings, but found that the suffering of sentient beings was endless, and sentient beings in reincarnation were constantly reborn due to ignorance and karma, making it difficult for all of them to be liberated. Avalokitesvara felt tired and frustrated, and even doubted his own vows.

2. **The birth of the thousand-piece head and the thousand-armed and thousand-eyed**:

- Because he could not fulfill his great wish to save all sentient beings, Avalokitesvara's head was broken into thousands of pieces due to his unfulfilled wish, and his body was broken. At this time, the Buddhas (such as Amitabha or Sakyamuni Buddha) reshaped his head into eleven faces (symbolizing observation of the ten directions and infinite wisdom) out of compassion, and gave him a thousand hands and a thousand eyes. Each hand holds a different instrument, symbolizing a different way of salvation; the eyes on each hand represent the ability to see through the suffering of sentient beings.

- The birth of this image marks that Avalokitesvara has gained infinite compassion and wisdom, and can save countless sentient beings at the same time with countless incarnations.

3. **Origin with Tibet**:

- In the legend of Tibetan Buddhism, Avalokitesvara is closely related to the origin of Tibet. It is said that the creation of Tibet is related to the incarnation of Avalokitesvara. A myth mentions that Avalokitesvara incarnated as a monkey, combined with a Rakshasa woman, and gave birth to the ancestors of the Tibetan people. In addition, Tibetan Buddhism believes that the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama are both incarnations of Avalokitesvara, continuing his compassionate cause.

- Another legend mentions that Avalokitesvara taught the six-syllable mantra "Om Mani Padme Hum" to Tibetans as the core mantra for practice, helping sentient beings purify their karma and gain liberation.

III. The practice of Avalokitesvara in Tibetan Buddhism

1. **The practice of the six-syllable mantra**:

- The six-syllable mantra of Avalokitesvara "Om Mani Padme Hum" is the most common mantra in Tibetan Buddhism. Tibetans believe that chanting this mantra can gain the blessing of Avalokitesvara, purify the mind, accumulate merit, and ultimately escape from the cycle of reincarnation.

- Each word of the six-syllable mantra corresponds to the six realms of reincarnation, symbolizing the salvation of all sentient beings by Avalokitesvara.

2. **Rituals and offerings**:

- The practice of Avalokitesvara in Tibetan Buddhism includes special rituals, mandala offerings, and meditation visualization. Practitioners visualize the image of Avalokitesvara and meditate on his compassion and wisdom to purify their own karma and increase their compassion.

- Thangkas or statues of the Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara are often enshrined in temples as objects of worship and blessing for believers.

3. **Festivals and Activities**:

- The Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara is often enshrined and praised in Tibetan Buddhist festivals or rituals. For example, in the Potala Palace or Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, believers will worship and perform rituals centered on the Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara.

IV. Summary

The Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara is the ultimate symbol of compassion and wisdom in Tibetan Buddhism. Its image of a thousand hands and a thousand eyes embodies its boundless ability to save and its equal care for all living beings. Its mythological story originates from the great aspirations of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva to save all living beings, as well as the thousand-armed and thousand-eyed incarnations bestowed by the Buddhas. In particular, it is closely linked to the origin of Tibet and the legend of the incarnation of the Dalai Lama in Tibetan Buddhism. Through the practice of the six-syllable mantra and the ritual of offering, Tibetans regard the Thousand-armed Avalokitesvara as a spiritual pillar, praying for its blessing to escape the suffering of reincarnation and achieve liberation and enlightenment.