The Many Forms of
Avalokiteshvara
Meher McArthur
Buddhistdoor Global | 2016-11-25 |
To
many practitioners of the Mahayana schools of Buddhism of East Asia
and the esoteric traditions of the Himalayas and Japan,
bodhisattvas, or “enlightenment beings,” hold as much importance in
daily practice and beliefs as Shakyamuni Buddha himself. Unlike the
Buddha, who attained enlightenment and then transcended the human
realm, bodhisattvas are said to have postponed their own
enlightenment, or nirvana, to remain in this world to help other
sentient beings attain enlightenment. Of the many bodhisattvas in
the Buddhist pantheon, the most widely revered is Avalokiteshvara
(meaning “the lord who gazes down”), a compassionate being who is
believed to possess the ability to look in all directions to see
who is suffering and to offer salvation. One of the most
fascinating figures in Asian Buddhist imagery, Avalokiteshvara is
represented in a multitude of forms, from a simple princely
bodhisattva holding a lotus, to a complex, multi-armed deity, and
even a mother holding a child. In recent years, this bodhisattva’s
presence has extended beyond the realm of Buddhism and into areas
of secular life.
Avalokiteshvara’s devotion
to helping others is understood to be limitless, and to many
Buddhists he is seen as embodying the compassion of all Buddhas.
According to certain Buddhist texts, the deity took a vow to
postpone his own enlightenment until all blades of grass and grains
of sand have become enlightened; only then will he transcend this
material realm to become a Buddha. In the Lotus Sutra, a text
revered by many practitioners throughout East Asia, the deity is
the subject of a whole chapter, which describes him as possessing
many different powers and the ability to assume many forms in order
to share the Buddha’s teachings and relieve the suffering of
followers. This colorful description accounts for his diverse
representations in Buddhist imagery. In many paintings and
sculptures, Avalokiteshvara is shown in the typical garb of a
bodhisattva, a prince-like figure wearing robes, a crown, and
jewelry (to symbolize his presence in our material realm).
Avalokiteshvara can be distinguished from other bodhisattvas by the
lotus he holds in one hand, symbolizing the potential in us all to
attain enlightenment (just as a pure lotus can grow in the muddiest
water). He also typically wears a small image of Amitabha Buddha
(or Amitayus), in his crown, representing his spiritual association
with this particular Buddha.
In China, the deity is
known as Guanyin, and for several centuries has been depicted in
both male and female forms. The fluid gender of this deity in a
number of Buddhist cultures has been the subject of copious
research in Asia and beyond, but may best be explained as a
consequence of his freedom to assume any form to respond to the
many needs of followers. Many Chinese Guanyin figures have a
graceful feminine appearance, but are either considered male or
without gender. However, from around the 12th century onwards in
China, the deity became associated with a princess named Miaoshan,
a figure in an ancient tale who demonstrated tremendous compassion.
From this period, female figures of Guanyin became very popular,
with some renderings depicted the deity with prominent breasts and
cradling a baby, representing her power to give and protect
children. With the arrival of Jesuit missionaries in southern China
in the early 17th century, these images of Guanyin became
associated with images of the Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus, and
Guanyin became known in the West as the Buddhist “Goddess of
Compassion,” or “Goddess of Mercy.”
One of the bodhisattva’s
most powerful and complex forms has 11 heads and 1,000 arms. This
form of Avalokiteshvara is portrayed most often in the esoteric
traditions of Tibet and Japan. The heads represent his 11 principal
virtues (including non-attachment, non-violence, and faith), which
he uses to conquer the 11 desires that obstruct the path to
enlightenment. Avalokiteshvara’s 1,000 arms symbolize his many
powers, which he uses to save all beings and lead them toward
enlightenment. The central pair of arms is shown in a gesture of
prayer, and the outer arms hold many different attributes,
including weapons that represent the various ways in which he can
offer help to his followers. The hands are often adorned with eyes
that signify his omniscience and ability to see in all directions
to identify suffering. To Vajrayana Buddhists, Avalokiteshvara (or
Chenrezig), has particular significance in all of his forms and is
considered the patron deity of Tibet, watching over the Land of the
Snows. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is believed to be an incarnation
of this bodhisattva and, as such, a living symbol of infinite
compassion.
In Japan, Avalokiteshvara
(or Kannon), has been one of the most influential Buddhist deities.
Because Japanese Buddhism includes devotional sects, esoteric
practices, and Zen meditational Buddhism, it is perhaps in Japan
where images of Avalakiteshvara are most diverse, and have long
been depicted in paintings, cast in bronze, sculpted into stone,
and carved out of wood, coated with lacquer, and sprinkled with
gold powder. In the Zen tradition, which usually rejects iconic
imagery, the deity has been the subject of many monochrome brush
paintings and is a reminder of the importance of compassion. In
these paintings, the deity is often depicted with a playful or
mischievous expression.
One of the most surprising
depictions of the Avalokiteshvara dates to 1934. In 1930, two
Japanese brothers, Goro and Saburo Uchida, founded a company that
specialized in precision optical instruments. Four years later,
they created their first camera, which they named the Kwanon, after
the deity Kannon, presumably because of his association with
flawless, precise vision. Their logo featured a simple
black-and-white image of Kannon with 1,000 arms. In 1947, the
company’s name was changed to Canon, and the Buddhist logo was
dropped. Despite fluctuations in Japan’s economic circumstances,
the company remains one of the country’s largest public companies
to this day. Inspired by the most compassionate of all Buddhist
deities, the name was an auspicious choice indeed!