News and Views on Tibet

A Buddhist god with a lot to do

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What is the first thing you notice about this sculpture? Perhaps you are amazed to discover that the figure has so many arms and heads. This is no ordinary human being! So who is it?

This is a sculpture of Avalokiteshvara, the Buddhist god of compassion. He is one of the most popular gods in Tibet, a country nestled between China and India.

According to Buddhist legend, Avalokiteshvara set before himself a most difficult task: He vowed that he would not rest until he had freed all beings in the world from suffering. Although he worked long and hard to accomplish this, he realized that there were still many unhappy beings yet to be saved. With so much work ahead of him, he became overwhelmed and his head split into thousands of pieces. Fortunately, Buddha put him back together again. With 11 heads looking out to the front and side, Avalokiteshvara possesses the special gift to see everywhere at once and reach out to those in need.

Each of his eight hands holds a symbolic object or makes a meaningful sign. His lower right hand with palm open expresses charity, or giving. The next one up holds the Wheel of the Law or the teachings of the Buddha. Above that, he holds rosary beads that Buddhists use while meditating or chanting. Avalokiteshvara’s lower left hand grasps a water pot to ease the thirst of his devoted followers.

You can learn more about art from Tibet, Nepal and India at the Norton Simon Museum’s Family Festival of Himalayan Stories on June 29 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Call (626) 844-6980 or visit http://www.nortonsimon.org for more information.

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