Sight of Compassion – Eye-Opening Chenrezig
Eye-Opening Chenrezig (Main figure)
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(Top to bottom): Migchey Chenrezig and Dorje Shugden
Deity: Migchey Chenrezig (Tibetan)
Avalokiteshvara is a popular archetypal Bodhisattva in the Sutras, in which he strives towards enlightenment. Within the teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism, he is said to be a Buddha who attained full enlightenment during a past aeon, only to manifest as a Bodhisattva on the path to inspire and bless many in our current aeon.
Within the sutras and tantras, Avalokiteshvara is known by many names including Lokeshvara, Avalokita, Avalokiteshvara, Lokanatha and Mahakarunika. He is famously considered one of the Eight Great Bodhisattva Disciples of Buddha Shakyamuni, and renowned for his landmark sermon at the behest of Buddha Shakyamuni, as narrated in the Heart Sutra.
The Sanskrit honorific ‘arya’, meaning ‘noble’ or ‘noble one’, is often used at the beginning of the name for each of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas as well as notable enlightened beings such as Tara. Arya Avalokiteshvara, known as Chenrezig in Tibetan, is the patron Bodhisattva of Tibet and is still widely revered and worshipped throughout the Mahayana Buddhist world. Within Tibetan Buddhism, there are many lineages of various forms of Avalokiteshvara that span all four classes of tantra alongside numerous other oral traditions and terma (treasure teachings) traditions that have arisen within the Nyingma order.
‘Migchey Chenrezig’ literally means ‘Eye-Clearing Avalokiteshvara’ and this lineage arose from a Hidden Treasure (terma) teaching of the Nyingma order. It was originally revealed by Nyangral Nyima Ozer in the 12th Century. However, many masters from the Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug orders have since composed their own ritual and sadhana liturgies dedicated to this form of Chenrezig. Within Tibet, this practice was widely disseminated throughout Southern Tibet and from there it spread to Mongolia. In fact, one of the largest statues of this deity lies in Ganden Monastery in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. It is said that the popularity of this practice in 20th Century Mongolia was due to the teachings of His Holiness the 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu, who was the third most important personage in Tibetan Buddhism below only to the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama. This form of Chenrezig is said to remove ignorance and bestow the direct perception of emptiness (sunyata). On an ordinary level, this deity is very beneficial in relieving ailments of the eye.
Deity: Dorje Shugden (Tibetan)
Alternative name: Vajra Rudra (Sanskrit)
Dorje Shugden is an emanation of the Buddha of Wisdom, Manjushri. He took the form of a Dharma Protector in order to safeguard the Buddha’s teachings, especially the important teachings on the Middle Way view. Reminiscent of Manjushri’s form, Dorje Shugden carries a meandering sword and rides a snowlion that represents the fearlessness of a fully enlightened Buddha. Thus, he has great strength to overcome obstacles of the body, speech and mind, and create suitable conditions for our spiritual practice to flourish. Furthermore, he carries a jewel-spitting mongoose and a vajra hook to symbolise that he has the tremendous ability to bestow wealth and resources.
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Beautiful thangka of Eye-Opening Chenrezig and Dorje Shugden . Lovely art piece which is hand painted for us. A clear explanations tells us about this beautiful Chenrezig.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.