This beautiful and powerful form of the Bodhisattva Avalokita, standing with feet together, has eleven faces signifying he has attained all ten levels of a Bodhisattva.
The peaceful eleventh face of Buddha Amitabha signifies that Avalokita is a Buddha and that he represents the compassion of all the Buddhas.
The first pair of hands are held at the heart, holding a magic wish-fulfilling gem. The second right hand holds a rosary the meaning being, we must recite his holy mantra, the third eliminates the hunger and thirst of pretas, and the fourth holds the wheel of all spiritual teachings.
The second left hand holds the white lotus of compassionate action, the third a vase containing the nectar of immortality, and the fourth a bow and arrow symbolizing meditation and enlightenment.
There is a peaceful eye in the palm of each of the remaining 992 hands. His radiant body is adorned with all kinds of jeweled ornaments.
This form of Avalokita has a special fasting and purification practice associated with the eight Mahayana precepts. The precepts are upheld in order to purify our negative karma of body, speech and mind, and to pacify our strongest delusions arising from desirous attachment and hatred – two causes of our sufferings in all our lifetimes.
Another very special benefit is that this practice creates bountiful merits that lead us over time to let go of our self-cherishing tendencies thus filling us with Bodhicitta (Compassion) and bringing happiness to all sentient beings.
His spiritual energy in the form of sound that helps to transform the mind (Mantra):
OM MANI PADME HUNG
