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Chenrezig - The Bodhisattva of Compassion

Of all the deities in Mahayana Buddhism, the bodhisattva Chenrezig, also called Avalokiteshvara, is the most celebrated. He is the lord endowed with complete illumination, who refrains from entering the blissful state of nirvana to remain here below and save the creatures of the earth. This devotion to the salvation of others emphasizes the profound compassion this bodhisattva represents.

In the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon of enlightened beings, Chenrezig is renowned as the embodiment of the compassion of all the Buddhas. Chenrezig is visualized in many forms, with various numbers of faces and arms, and various colors and ornaments. This four-armed form is a radiant white Budhda form representing the purity and power of the enlightened mind's loving kindness and compassion. He sits on a lotus and the flat disc of the moon, with another moon disc behind him, reflecting his total purity. Two of his four arms are joined in the prayer position holding the wish-fulfilling gem. In his other left hand he holds a lotus flower and in his right hand, a crystal mala, which he is using to count repetitions of the mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, Hail to the Jewel in the Lotus, which liberates all beings from suffering. He wears the silks and ornaments of a bodhisattva, representing all his special qualities, and the soft skin of an antelope over his shoulder, symbolizing his complete freedom from violence. He smiles with deep understanding, love and compassion as his eyes look upon all beings. His four arms and hands signify the four immeasurables: immeasurable loving kindness, immeasurable compassion, immeasurable joy, and immeasurable equanimity. Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Boundless Compassion, is the very embodiment and realization of the four immeasurables.

Gestures and Attributes

Chenrezig is depicted here in his four-armed form, which symbolizes his whirlwind of constant activity in the world. Two of his hands are pressed together at his heart where they hold the wish-fulfilling jewel of enlightenment, the cintamani. This jewel manifests whatever a faithful seeker may pray for, and is also a metaphor for the profound teachings and virtues of the Buddha. Chenrezig's clasped hand position further expresses his gratitude and respect for Buddha Amitabha.

In his upper right hand, he holds a crystal mala, or Buddhist rosary, that he unceasingly counts and which represents his continuous compassionate activity in the world. And in his upper left hand, he holds a beautiful lotus flower in full bloom. Just as the lotus arises, dazzling and pure, from dark muddy waters, Chenrezig constantly manifests amidst the misery and suffering of our world, but is never stained or tainted by samsaric conditions. His blossoming lotus is meant to inspire us to do the same, by unfolding the pure compassion of our true natures even amidst the challenges of worldly existence.

Symbolism

On Chenrezig's left side, at the level of his heart, is the gentle face of a wild  deer; the deer's skin is draped over his shoulder. The deerskin is an ancient  symbol of renunciation, as wandering mendicants often took the skin of a deer as a meditation seat, and sometimes as a garment and blanket. This symbolic meaning applies, as Chenrezig, a Bodhisattva, has renounced the snares of worldly existence, but here it further symbolizes his boundless compassion for sentient beings.  According to legend, Chenrezig once took rebirth as a wild deer, but he had such heartfelt compassion for the hunter who chased him that he willingly  laid down his life.

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