Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Bodhisattvas
These are beings who have reached the state of enlightenment but work for the salvation of
other beings before they themselves enter nirvana. Unlike buddhas, they are often shown
decorated with crowns and princely jewels.
Found on all altars and replenished twice a day, the seven bowls of water symbolise
either the 'Seven Examined Men' (the first seven monks in Tibet) or the seven first steps
of Buddha.
Chenresig (Avalokiteshvara)
The 'glorious gentle one', Chenresig (Guānyīn to the Chinese) is the Bodhisattva of Com-
passion. His name means 'he who gazes upon the world with suffering in his eyes'. The
Dalai Lamas are considered to be reincarnations of Chenresig (as is King Songtsen
Gampo), and pictures of the Dalai Lama and Chenresig are interchangeable, depending on
the political climate.
In the four-armed version (known more specifically in Tibetan as Tonje Chenpo), his
body is white and he sits on a lotus blossom. He holds crystal rosary beads and a lotus, and
clutches to his heart a jewel that fulfils all wishes. A deer skin is draped over his left
shoulder.
There is also a powerful 11-headed, 1000-armed version, known as Chaktong Chentong.
The head of this version is said to have exploded when confronted with the myriad prob-
lems of the world. One of his heads is that of wrathful Chana Dorje (Vajrapani), and anoth-
er (the top one) is that of Öpagme (Amitabha), who is said to have reassembled Chen-
resig's body after it exploded. Each of the 1000 arms has an eye in the palm. His eight
main arms hold a bow and an arrow, lotus, rosary, vase, wheel, staff and a wish-fulfilling
jewel.
Jampelyang (Manjushri)
The Bodhisattva of Wisdom, Jampelyang is regarded as the first divine teacher of Buddhist
doctrine. He is connected to science and agriculture and school children; architects and as-
trologers often offer prayers to him. His right hand holds the flaming sword of awareness,
which cuts through delusion. His left arm cradles a scripture on a half-opened lotus blos-
