西藏｜約18世紀｜捲軸絲綢裝裱｜畫面60x39cm｜來源：德國萊茵地區私人收藏。｜THANGKA DEPICTING THE BODHISATTVA AVALOKITESHVARA
Tibet.｜Ca. 18th c.｜The scroll depicts the transcendental paradise Sukhâvatî (The happy one) which is in the west of the compass card and headed by the transcendent Buddha Amitâbha - whose skin is red like the setting sun. For an assistant to liberate the suffering beings of the world Amitâbha has created the white skinned Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (The Lord who [pitifully] looks down) on the beings. His main quality is his compassion. In his central hands he holds the wish fulfilling jewel cintâmani, his outer hands hold the rosary with 108 beads and a lotus flower that symbolises ethical purity. For help Avalokiteshvara is called by the words "Om. Mani padme. Hûm." He is able to multiply himself - as the thangka shows.|The lower part of the scroll depitcs helpers of Avalokiteshvara having rolled out cloth bridges across the river of suffering to enable pious people to reach the door to paradise. The two golden foot prints in front of the door are those of the historical Buddha Gautama who is extinct in nirvâna. The Sukhâvatî paradise is not the final aim of Buddhists, but a realm without enticements. As soon as the believer has worn out his bad karma he from there reaches nirvâna.|In the upper corners of the scroll the perceiver sees on the left the Bodhisattva Manjushri with the sword of wisdom and on the right the fierce Mahâkâla as protector (Dharmapâla) of the Buddha's teaching. 60 x 39cm. Condition A/B.｜Provenance:|-Private collection Rhineland.