The Tale of Avalokiteshvara | Chenrezig
The tale of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and the emergence of Buddha Tara.
Countless aeons ago, in a time long past, Avalokiteshvara was known as Prince Sudhana,
a compassionate and noble soul. Witnessing the boundless suffering that plagued the world,
Sudhana made a resolute vow, one that resonated throughout the heavens and the earth.
I shall not rest until I have liberated all sentient beings from their agonizing reality.
However, as the passage of time unfolded the fabric of existence, Sudhana felt the weight
of his vow pressing upon him. The enormity of the task he had undertaken seemed insurmountable,
and his heart grew heavy with the realization of the ceaseless suffering endured by all living
beings. Seeking guidance and wisdom to illuminate his path, Sudhana embarked on a profound journey
that would span lifetimes. He encountered a multitude of enlightened teachers and bodhisattvas
along the way, each bestowing upon him profound insights into compassion, wisdom and the profound
nature of reality. With each lesson learned and each insight gained, Sudhana's understanding
deepened. As his spiritual journey progressed, he developed extraordinary powers, enabling him to
hear the anguished cries of suffering beings echoing across the realms. His heart swelled with
boundless compassion and he pledged, wherever suffering persists, there I shall manifest to
provide solace. And so the Prince Sudhana was transformed into the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara,
the embodiment of compassion itself. In his iconic form, he bore a thousand arms,
each with an all-seeing eye in the palmer symbol of his ability to reach out to and perceive the
suffering of all beings no matter how distant or obscure. Avalokiteshvara's resolute vow and
compassionate nature made him a revered figure, transcending the boundaries of time and place.
His existence represented the boundless determination to alleviate the suffering of
others and the selflessness inherent in the path to enlightenment. But Avalokiteshvara's
compassionate journey did not end there. As his compassion continued to guide him,
he encountered a divine legend, a tale of compassion begetting compassion.
In a world where suffering was like an unrelenting storm, Avalokiteshvara's tears fell,
shedding crystalline droplets of pure compassion. These tears converged to create a vast,
serene lake, reflecting the suffering of countless beings. Witnessing this act of boundless compassion,
the Buddhas of the five Buddha families manifested themselves, casting forth five
colored lights from their hearts. These radiant lights descended upon the lake,
and from the very center of Avalokiteshvara's tears, a lotus blossomed forth in magnificent
brilliance. This lotus was no ordinary bloom. It was a vessel of enlightenment,
and its petals unfurled to reveal a radiant figure, a sublime lady of compassion.
This celestial lady spoke to Avalokiteshvara, her voice a melody of love and solace.
Do not weep, for I shall aid you in liberating all living beings from suffering.
In response, the Buddhas of the five Buddha families proclaimed in unison,
You are the Buddha Aryatara, Om Tare Tutare Ture Soha. And so from the tears of compassion
and the unity of enlightened beings emerged Buddha Tara, the swift and heroic one,
born from the tears of the protector of the three worlds.
Together with Avalokiteshvara, they embodied the essence of compassion,
guiding all sentient beings towards the path of liberation and enlightenment,
illuminating the way through the boundless ocean of suffering towards the shore of eternal peace.