The lineage of the four-armed Avalokiteshvara descends directly from the great Buddha Sachen, the founder and forefather of His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin. The great Arhat Atisha famously remarked that the Sakya Khön line would be a continuous stream of emanations of Lord Avalokiteshvara, Lord Manjushri, and Vajrapani, the subduer of evil. Lord Sachen was blessed with many visionary deities from whom he received teachings; in particular, it is the lineage of King Songtsen Gampo that H.H. Sakya Trizin shall bestow.
The Patron of the Land of Snows
Avalokiteshvara is the guardian deity of the Land of Snows. This tradition follows the first Buddhist Dharma King, Songtsen Gampo of the 6th century, the 33rd in the line of the Tibetan Empire. He was the first human born as an emanation of the Great Compassionate One. Out of a deep affection for his then-uncivilised lands, he established a systematic language, introduced the Buddha’s teachings, and penned the first human decree of 16 pure conducts to rule the kingdom harmoniously: love, inspiration, principle, courage, humility, tolerance, forgiveness, rejoice, kindness, balance, financial integrity, wise speech, respect, gratitude, loyalty, generosity.
These principles laid the very foundation for the Buddha’s Dharma to be established. By granting the first empowerment of the four-armed Chenrezig, he planted a seed that has grown so tall that we continue to be guided by leaders who bestow happiness upon the wider world and our communities.
Wisdom Through the Heart Sutra
As we recite daily in the Heart Sutra, whilst the Buddha dwelt upon Vulture’s Peak in Rajgir in a state of profound illumination, the Bodhisattva Mahasattva Arya Avalokiteshvara contemplated the meaning of Prajna Paramita and perceived that all five aggregates are also empty of inherent existence. Through the Buddha’s power, the Venerable Shariputra addressed the Bodhisattva:
“How should a son or daughter of good race who wishes to practice the Prajna Paramita learn?”
Arya Avalokiteshvara replied: “Shariputra, whatever son or daughter of good race who wishes to practice the Prajna Paramita should look in this way. They should correctly understand those five aggregates as inherent emptiness. Form is emptiness, emptiness is also form. Emptiness is not other than form, nor is form other than emptiness. Likewise feelings, opinion, compounded factors and consciousness are emptiness etc.”
Upon hearing this discourse on emptiness, the Buddha affirmed him by saying three times, "Well done!" This teaches us that compassion is the way to understanding absolute emptiness—the final stone to turn before Buddhahood. With his staring eyes, Avalokiteshvara sends many emanations across the realms in different forms—Gurus, Devas, Dakas, Dakinis, and Protectors—to lift sentient beings from suffering so that Samsara can be actual Nirvana.
Our sincere thanks go to His Holiness, our Avalokiteshvara in person, for bestowing and installing his power to expand these manifestations. For those seeking further information regarding the six syllables etc., please search online.