Avalokiteshvara

Item Code: L39759
Size: 49 x 75 cm

Why Avalokiteshvara has 1000 arms?

At one time in the past, the Lord of great compassion, the Noble Avalokitesvara, raised the idea of enlightenment, the bodhicitta, and then for countless aeons accumulated merit. After passing through the bodhisattva levels, he received the special Great Light empowerment. Then, as he entered the ranks of the Noble sons of the Buddha, he made this vow:
"Throughout the samsaric world realms in the limitless space of the ten directions. I will benefit beings. I must liberate all beings from samsara. Not until all beings are established on the level of Buddhahood, not even one left behind in samsara, will I myself enter Buddhahood. Only when all beings without exception have been guided to Buddhahood, will it be well for me to achieve it. Until then I will remain in samsara for the benefit of all beings. And to ensure it, may my body be shattered into a thousand pieces if I should ever break this vow."
From then on Avalokitesvara resided at the Potala Mountain. Through his limitless emanations, at every moment, he accomplished the ripening and liberation of innumerable sentient beings- it is an extent beyond our means to express. And in this manner he passed uncountable years- many, many kalpas. Then at one time, he thought it possible that now he had delivered all beings from samsara. With his omniscient vision he looked, and saw that the realms of sentient beings had nither increased nor diminished. Not only had they not decreased in number, but now those sentient beings near him were in the Age of Darkness, and were even more difficult to subdue.
Then saying, "Now, I cannot benefit even one sentient being," Avalokitesvara broke the vow he had previously made, and his body shattered into a thousand pieces.
Then the Guru Lama who by his vow always holds us in his compassion, the Noble world protector, who has conquered, and because of his immeasurable light is called the Buddha Amitabha, vividly appeared and said:
"Son of my family, it is not well that you have thus broken your vow. Now you must replenish your broken vow, and make an even greater resolution to benefit beings."
The shattered body of a thousand pieces, by Amitabha's blessing, was united into one body with eleven heads and a thousand arms.