Tibetan Buddhism relates Chenrezig to the six-syllable mantra Om Mani Padme Hum. Thus, Chenrezig is also called Shadakshari ("Lord of the Six Syllables"). The connection between this famous mantra and Avalokiteśvara already occurs in the Karandavyuha Sutra (probably late fourth or early fifth century), one of the first Buddhist works to have reached Tibet (before the end of the fifth century).

In Shingon Buddhism, the mantra used to praise Avalokiteśvara is On Aro-rikya Sowaka (Oh, Unstained One, Hail!), but Om Mani Padme Hum is occasionally used as well.

The Great Compassion Mantra is a 82 syllable mantra spoken by Avalokiteśvara to the assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and extolling the merits of chanting the mantra. This mantra is popular in China, Japan and Taiwan.

According to the Lotus Sutra:

"If there are measureless sentient beings going through from all kinds of suffering, who upon hearing the name of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, sincerely call on him; the Bodhisattva will immediately answer their prayer and relieve them of all suffering."

According to the Maha-karuna-citta dharani Sutra:

valokitesvara, with his inconceivable miraculous powers, had already attained Buddhahood immeasurable kalpas ago. His title was Light of the Correct Dharma. But out of compassion for all sentient beings, he manifests as a Bodhisattva named Avalokitesvara to perform the work of deliverance. Incidentally, our Buddha Sakyamuni was a disciple of this Buddha at that time. All these may seem contradicting with each other, but in Mahayana Buddhism, all things are equal in enlightenment. Time and space, past and future, superior and inferior are all meaningless with regard to the Absolute Truth. This is the concept of Dharmakaya, the Body of Truth - Vairocana. Thus there is no real difference between ordinary beings, Bodhisattvas and Buddhas; all is illusion, all is Truth.

 

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