POSTCARD Chenrezig / Avalokiteshvara

Avalokiteshvara (Tib: Chenrezig) - The Bodhisattva of Great Compassion Avalokiteshvara (‘The One who hears the cries of the world’) is the Buddha of Great Compassion and Protector of Tibet. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is considered to be the earthly incarnation of Avalokiteshvara. Long ago Avalokiteshvara made the vow not to return to Nirvana until all living beings had been liberated from suffering. To accomplish this he travels to all realms of the universe, offering his compassionate blessings to all beings. In this four-armed form, Avalokiteshvara represents the Four Immeasurable Qualities of a Bodhisattva: love, compassion, joy and equanimity. In his left hand he holds a blue Utpala lotus flower, symbolizing his loving Bodhicitta motivation (the wish to reach enlightenment in order to help all sentient beings). Avalokiteshvara reminds us that awakening is not an escape or retreat from personal problems, but rather reaching outward and embracing the entire world with the love and compassion of our heart.