Hello,
This is Paramabandhu.
Welcome to day 7 of the Avalokitesvara mantra.
Avalokitesvara is an archetypal bodhisattva who is particularly associated with compassion.
One translation of his name is,
He Who Looks Upon the Cries of the World.
The story tells that Avalokitesvara once vowed that he would work unceasingly until all the suffering in the world had been overcome.
He vowed that if he should ever give up on this,
Even for a moment,
Then let his body break up.
After many years of trying to help beings,
He found that he had not brought even one to freedom.
In a moment of doubt,
He had the thought that there was no point in trying to help people and that he should just enjoy the bliss of nirvana for himself.
At that moment,
His body shattered into a thousand pieces and he let out a great cry.
In response,
The Buddha Amitabha put him back together,
But this time with eleven heads and a thousand arms.
The eleven heads were so that he could see in all directions of space and the thousand arms multiplied his ability to help beings.
Each arm holds a different implement and each palm has an eye.
The implement symbolised different ways of responding to beings as each of us has different needs and the eye in the palm indicates really seeing what needs to be done.
Real compassion responds appropriately and wisely to the suffering encountered.
Today's mantra is chanted by the songsters.
When we chant the mantra of Avalokiteshvara,
We can imagine Avalokiteshvara compassionately helping all beings,
Ourselves included.
If you wish,
You could imagine rays of compassion streaming towards you from him and feel compassion arising in your heart.
Begin by settling into a comfortable posture,
Bringing your attention onto your breath,
Allowing your hands to be at rest or if you wish,
Bringing your palms together at your heart as if you were offering a lotus bud,
A symbol for the mind that has the potential to find awakening.
You could either listen to the mantra or join in with the chanting.
Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum This is Paramabandhu wishing you a day of compassion.
At any time of the day you can call on Avalokiteshvara's chant to remind you of compassion.
