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The Merciful Deity Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara at the Smithsonian

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The Merciful Deity Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara at the Smithsonian
Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (Gwaneum) Korea, Goryeo Dynasty, circa 1220–1285. Gilt wood and gilt copper and iron with crystal inlays. National Museum of Korea, Seoul
Lorraine Ferrier
Updated:

Life can be hard. When faced with fear, crisis, and hardship, some Buddhists call out to Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara for help. Avalokiteshvara immediately responds by bestowing fearlessness, according to Chapter 25 of the Buddhist scripture known as the Lotus Sutra.

Stated in the same chapter:

He rains down sweet dew and Dharma rain, Which extinguish the flames of affliction.

Dharma refers to the Buddha’s teachings that Buddhists believe to be the universal, eternal truth.
Lorraine Ferrier
Lorraine Ferrier
Author
Lorraine Ferrier writes about fine arts and craftsmanship for The Epoch Times. She focuses on artists and artisans, primarily in North America and Europe, who imbue their works with beauty and traditional values. She's especially interested in giving a voice to the rare and lesser-known arts and crafts, in the hope that we can preserve our traditional art heritage. She lives and writes in a London suburb, in England.
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