Chenrezig

Chenrezig aka Avalokitesvara aka Avalokiteshvara

Chenrezig, also known as Avalokitesvara, “One who looks with an unwavering eye” is the most revered of all Bodhisattva, embodying the compassion of all Buddhas. He listens to the prayers of all sentient beings in times of challenge and difficulty.

In one prominent Buddhist story, Chenrezig vows never to rest until he has helped free all sentient beings from Samsara, but despite his best efforts, his task is overwhelming. So, in his effort to reach out to so many cries of suffering, his arms are shattered into pieces, making them many, to better reach out to those in need.

Sometimes Chenrezig visualized with eleven heads and a thousand arms fanned out around him. Tibetan Buddhism relates Chenrezig to the six-syllable mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum, and when this mantra is spoken aloud or in silence, it invokes his benevolent power and intervention.

Chenrezig is considered the patron of Tibet. And, in fact, the living Buddha, the Dalai Lama, is an incarnation of him.

In China, Chenrezig is often depicted in a female form and he is known as Kuan Yin or Guanyin.