Item: Avalokiteshvara (Bodhisattva & Buddhist Deity) - Chaturbhuja (4 hands)

Avalokiteshvara, Chaturbhuja (Tibetan: chen re zi, chag shi pa. English: the All Seeing Lord with 4 Hands).

"As the nature of all buddhas, Avalokiteshvara, in colour like stainless conch and crystal, very resplendent, smiling, peaceful and radiant. With four hands the first are folded at the heart, the lower hold a crystal mala and jewelled lotus, two beautiful feet seated in vajra posture, adorned with many attractive silks and jewels, beautified with dark blue hair in tufts [some] loose. On the crown of the head, the wisdom of all buddhas, is the Lord, source of all refuge gathered as one, in essence the Guru in the aspect of Amitabha, in the manner of the Lord of the Family, seated happily." (Ngorchen Konchog Lhundrup, 1497-1557).

Avalokiteshvara is the patron bodhisattva of Tibet and is practiced by all Buddhist traditions of the Himalayas and Central Asia. There are numerous Sarma (new) lineages and different forms of practice which span all four tantric classifications as well as uncounted Kama (oral) and Terma (treasure) traditions from the Nyingmapa (old) School.

Jeff Watt 7-98