Art

  • The Descent of Buddha Amida
  • The Bodhisattva of Compassion as the Bringer of Sons
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Tames the Wild Elephant Nalagiri
  • Head of a Bodhisattva
  • Buddha Shakyamuni and the Earth-Touching Gesture
  • Dharmatala and two lokapalas From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • The Death of the Buddha
  • Leaving for Homelessness
  • Head of a Monk
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion in the Posture of Royal Ease
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Attains Awakening Under the Bodhi Tree
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Buddha Dipankara, the Buddha of the Past
  • Buddhist Votive Stela of the Yan Family
  • The Buddha Invokes the Earth Goddess as his Witness
  • Seated Bodhisattva
  • Jizo Bosatsu, Bodhisattva in the Guise of a Monk
  • Dakini Vasya-Vajravarahi
  • Head of the Buddha
  • The Prophecy of the Buddha Dipankara
  • Stupa
  • Machig Labdrön
  • Empress Jito, from the series “Parody of the Ogura Version of ‘One Hundred Poets, One Hundred Poems’ ”
  • Bodhidharma Crosses the Yangtze River on a Reed
  • Portrait of the Zen Priest Gemmon Doyu
  • Buddhist Monastic Rules from the Pali Canon
  • The Four Excursions
  • Padmasambhava
  • Gazelle
  • Ceremonial Dagger Featuring the God of Death
  • Seated Bodhisattva
  • Buddha Shakyamuni From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Amida Nyorai, Buddha of the Western Paradise
  • Thangka of the Twenty-One Taras
  • Jambhala, the God of Wealth
  • Six Persimmons
  • Vijaya Stupa
  • Half-length Portrait of the Zen Patriarch Bodhidharma
  • Shakyamuni Enters Nirvana
  • Vajradhara, the Primordial Buddha
  • Yakshi, Nymph with Lotus Flowers, fragment of a baluster
  • Buddha Shakyamuni at the Moment of his Awakening
  • Travel Shrine
  • Head of a Buddha
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Head of a Lokeshvara
  • Buddha Vairocana
  • Buddhist Votive Tablet
  • The Arhats Kanakavasta, Vajriputra, Kanaka Bharadvaja, and Bhadra From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • The Buddha’s Parinirvana
  • Buddhist Monk
  • Standing Tara
  • Taima Mandala, the Buddha Amida’s Paradise
  • Great Stupa at Sanchi
  • Standing Bodhisattva
  • Vase with Lotus Vines and the Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism
  • Gendün Gyatso, the 2nd Dalai Lama (1476–1542)
  • Mara’s Daughters Tempt the Buddha
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Votive Stela with Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Ushnishavijaya
  • Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Buddhist Pocket-sized Prayer Altar
  • Monumental Head of a Bodhisattva
  • Zen Priest in a Golden Wrap
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, as the Patron of fishermen
  • Hotei, One of the Gods of Good Fortune, with Child
  • Female Monkey with Her Young
  • Budai
  • The Bodhisattva of Compassion Sitting in Meditation
  • The Arhats Panthaka, Gopaka, Nagasena, and Abheda From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Buddha Maitreya
  • Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom
  • Sitatara, White Tara
  • Plaque Showing the Buddha Teaching
  • Stela Showing Scenes from the Life of the Buddha
  • The 4th Dalai Lama Yonten Gyatso (1589–1617)
  • Padmasambhava with his 25 Tibetan Pupils From a series of 7 thangkas
  • The Three Buddhas Dipankara, Shakyamuni, and Maitreya
  • The Four Pleasures of Nan Shenglu (detail)
  • The Descent of Buddha Amida
  • Dharani Sutra of the Heart of the Perfection of Insight
  • Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Sheltered by the Serpent-King
  • The Transcendent Buddha Akshobhya
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Stupa
  • Mahasiddha Virupa
  • Shyamatara, Green Tara
  • The Arhats Vanavasin, Angaja, Kalika, and Ajita From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Dharmapala Yama
  • Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara
  • Rectangular Coin
  • Relief of the Five Transcendent Buddhas
  • Standing Buddha Shakyamuni
  • The Buddha Begins Teaching
  • Votive Stela Depicting Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Head of the Buddha
  • Large Votive Stupa
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Invokes the Earth Goddess as his Witness
  • Standing Buddha
  • The Prophecy of the Wise Asita
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Standing Monk with Hands Folded
  • Praying Priest
  • Buddha Shakyamuni 
  • Bodhidharma
  • Hotei
  • Buddha Shakyamuni Meditating Under the Bodhi Tree
  • Shaka Nyorai, the Historical Buddha
  • Excerpt from the Lotus Sutra
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Monastic Rules for Monks
  • Green Tara (Shyama Tara)
  • Shyamatara, Green Tara
  • The Layman Huashang and Two Lokapalas From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • The Arhats Bakula, Rahula, Cudapanthaka, and Pindola From a series of 7 thangkas with Buddha Shakyamuni and the 18 arhats
  • Padmasambhava with his 25 Tibetan Pupils From a series of 7 thangkas
  • Prince Siddhartha’s Wedding
  • Portrait of the Abbot Ennin
  • Pancha Raksha Manuscript
  • State Oracle Garment
  • Baisajyaguru, the Medicine Buddha
  • Buddha Shakyamuni as a Newborn Infant
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Guhyamanjuvajra
  • The Ascetic Milarepa
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Sakya Pandita (1182–1252)
  • Buddhist Votive Tablet
  • Buddha Shakyamuni with Scenes from his Life
  • Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion
  • Standing Buddha Amida
  • Printing Block for a Prayer from the Text “Embodiment of the Three Jewels” by Jatson Nyingpo (1585–1656)
  • Bust of a Luohan
Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion

Avalokiteshvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion

The Bodhisattva of Compassion appears in various forms; here he is portrayed with eleven heads and eight arms.

Legend has it that the Bodhisattva was so distressed at all the suffering in the world that his head shattered into several pieces. Buddha Amitabha made 10 heads out of them and placed his own head on top; he also gave the Bodhisattva several pairs of arms. The Bodhisattva of Compassion was thus able to see all the world’s suffering and to offer help using his many arms.