BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF CHENREZIG

Chenrezig, known in Sanskrit as Avalokiteshvara, is the Tibetan Bodhisattva of Compassion, a fundamental figure in Mahayana Buddhism who vowed to remain in the world and enlighten all beings rather than entering nirvana. He is extremely popular and particularly so in Tibet, where he is its patron, Bodhisattva. His mantra, "Om Mani Padme Hum," is chanted to invoke his compassionate energy and to cultivate compassion in oneself.

Mantra

The mantra of Chenrezig is Om Mani Padme Hum and means "The Jewel is in the Lotus". It is a six-syllable mantra and is the quintessence of Chenrezig, the Compassion Buddha, and is practiced to cultivate compassion and wisdom within the practitioner. Each of the syllables is practiced for a specific realm:

• OM     White     Gods
• MA     Green     Demigods
• NI     Yellow     Humans
• PAD     Blue     Animals
• ME     Red     Pretas
• HUM     Black     Hell-beings

By chanting this mantra, practitioners invoke Chenrezig's compassionate energy, purify negative emotions, and benefit all sentient beings.

Iconography Of Chenrezig

First Two Hands (at the heart): His two central hands are joined at his heart in the prayer gesture (Anjali Mudra).

Upper Right Hand: He holds a crystal mala (rosary). This symbolizes his ceaseless activity of reciting the Om Mani Padme Hum mantra for the benefit of all beings.

Upper Left Hand: He holds a white lotus flower. The lotus symbolizes wisdom and purity, illustrating how Chenrezig's compassion and wisdom remain untouched by the defilements of the world.

The Vow and the Shattered Body

The story of Chenrezig begins with a solemn promise. One thousand young men countless eons ago promised to become Buddhas. Chenrezig was among them, and he made an extraordinary and colossal promise: he would not become enlightened until all beings in the universe were rid of suffering. This was no casual promise, but a deeply felt, unwavering vow.

For ages of time, Chenrezig roamed the universes of existence, from the highest heavens to the lowest hells, helping to guide beings to liberation. As much as he worked, he eventually returned to the top of Mount Meru to survey the universe. What he saw was a lamentable fact: for every being that he had liberated, countless others were pouring into the cycle of suffering. The sheer enormity of the task, and the apparent inability to make any headway, was overwhelming. His resolve weakened in that moment of despondence, and his body, unable to bear the weight of his broken vow, broke into a thousand pieces.

This is no legend; this is a powerful metaphor for the crushing nature of altruism. This is the moment where even the most compassionate heart can be broken by the sheer amount of pain in the world. The legend, however, does not end here.