He supremely exemplifies the Bodhisattva’s resolve to postpone his own Buddhahood until he has helped every sentient being on earth achieve moksha (liberation) from suffering and samsara – the process of death and rebirth. In Sanskrit, He is referred to as Lokesvara (“Lord of the World”) or Padmapani (“Holder of the Lotus”). In Japan, Avalokitesvara is known as Kannon (Kwannon, Kanzeon). Avalokitesvara is also credited with introducing the prayer formula ”Om mani peme hung” to the people of Tibet. King Songsten-Gampo (the founder of the Tibetan Empire) who brought Buddhism into Tibet is regarded as an incarnation of Chenrezig, as are the successive Dalai Lamas. In Tibetan, He is known as Chenrezig and is said to emanate as the Karmapa (the head of the Karma Kagyu), the Dalai Lama and other high lamas. The sutra narrates a discourse between Avalokitesvara and the Buddhas, wherein one learns that Lord Avalokitesvara brings salvation from all sins, even those that were previously considered to be unforgivable sins that lead to the death of the soul.Īvalokitesvara (also known as ”the lord who looks in every direction”) is one of the most important Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism, who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. Maha Karuna Dharani Sutra (or Nilakantha Dharani), popularly known as the Great Compassion Mantra (or Da Bei Zhou), is an 84-line chant of Mahayana Buddhist origin, first translated from Sanskrit to Chinese in the 7th century.