Avalokiteshvara, Chenrezig, Tibetan Buddhist Handmade Brocade Thangka

This Avalokitashvara Buddha thangka was handmade in Nepal. This thangka is 34 inches long and 20 inches wide. This thangka is made from brocade material.

Avalokitashvara, Chenrezig, is the Buddha of compassion. In Chinese Buddhism, Avalokitashvara is depicted as the female deity, Guan Yin (Kuan Yin). Avalokitashvara in Buddhism is a Buddha who had the chance to escape into blissful nirvana, but instead stayed here to help us find compassion. In early forms of Buddhism, wisdom was a greater virtue of compassion, but Avalokitashvara helped compassion become as important of a virtue as wisdom. Chenrezig, Avalokitashvara, is the patron Buddha of Tibet. The lamas (like the Dalai Lama) are all believed to be emanations of Avalokitashvara, Chenrezig. Avalokitashvara is the earthly manifestation of Amitabha.

The legend of Avalokitashvara is that he wanted to stay on earth and put an end to suffering. He worked for many years to end the world of suffering, but became despondent upon realizing that, although he had helped many, there were still many more to help. Avalokitashvara became so upset that his head split into a thousand pieces. Upon seeing this Amitabha put Avalokitashvara back together but this time with one-thousand arms. Each of Avalokitashvara's palms has an eye inside, so he can see the suffering of people with the eyes in his palm, and thereby help alleviate suffering more. Avalokitashvara also has nine heads, and the top head is the head of Amitabha.

Om Mani Peme Hung, is the Tibetan form of the mantra, "Om mani Padme Hum," and this mantra is the mantra associated with Avalokitashvara, or Chenrezig. Gen Rinpoche, in explaining the meaning of "Om Mani Padme Hum," once said, "The mantra Om Mani Padme Hum is easy to say yet quite powerful, because it contains the essence of the entire teaching. When you say the first syllable Om it is blessed to help you achieve perfection in the practice of generosity, Ma helps perfect the practice of pure ethics, and Ni helps achieve perfection in the practice of tolerance and patience. Pad, the fourth syllable, helps to achieve perfection of perseverance, Me helps achieve perfection in the practice of concentration, and the final sixth syllable Hum helps achieve perfection in the practice of wisdom."