Thangka Mandala Avalokiteshvara

Thangka "Avalokiteshvara" by Tibetan Buddhist Art. A thangka is a Tibetan Buddhist scroll painting. This thangka is a reproduction on canvas of the original thangka painted by Carmen Mensink. This high-quality reproduction is sewn in Nepal in brocade fabrics. This is done in a traditional way, with, among other things, the 'curtain' for protection when the thangka is transported, and bands and ribbons to hang it up.

Avalokiteshvara is Bodhisattva of Compassion and is also called Chenrezig in Tibetan. With the thangka you get a card with the mantra of Avalokiteshvara on the front and the following English text on the back:

The Tibetan word for mandala, dkyil-khor, literally means 'that which encircles a center'. A mandala is the celestial residence of a meditational deity. The structure of the palace models that of ancient Indian palaces.

Avalokiteshvara (Tib.: Chenrezig) is the Buddhist deity who personifies the virtue of compassion. Chenrezig is represented with either 4 or 1000 arms, to symbolize his vast ability to help alleviate the suffering of beings. Although depicted on a flat surface, the mandala is actually three-dimensional. The purpose of the mandala is to serve as a tool on our spiritual journey. It's like a road map that leads the practitioner to enlightenment.

Each aspect of the constructed mandala has deep meaning. The doorways on all four directions represent the Four Immeasurable Thoughts: love, compassion, joy and equality. The thousand-armed Avalokiteshvara is represented in the center of the mandala by the seed syllable Hri. This syllable is the sound emanation of Avalokiteshvara. To protect the mandala from negative energies and conditions, it is surrounded by a vajra fence and the fire wall.

The dimensions of the thangka are: top 38.5 cm, bottom 46.5 cm and length 55.5 cm. The reproduction is approximately 20.5 cm x 20.5 cm.

This thangka is a publication of Tibetan Buddhist Art - Copyright: © Carmen Mensink .