page_title: Faith in Buddhism
section_title: Avalokiteśvara
hierarchical_section_title: Faith in Buddhism / History / Mahāyāna Buddhism / Avalokiteśvara
caption_attribution_description: English: A basalt sculpture of Avalokiteśvara known as the Khasarpana Lokeshvara in the Pala style from Chowrapara Rajshahi. On the bodhisattva's left are Tara and Sudhanakumâra, on the right are Hayagriva and Bhrikuti, and above are five celestial Buddhas on lotus thrones with Amitābha at the top. The sculpture, from the collection of the Indian Museum in Kolkata, India, was on display in an exhibition entitled Treasures from Asia's Oldest Museum: Buddhist Art from the Indian Museum, Kolkata at the Asian Civilisations Museum, Singapore, from 16 June to 16 August 2015.
context_page_description: In Buddhism, faith refers to a serene commitment to the practice of the Buddha's teaching and trust in enlightened or highly developed beings, such as Buddhas or bodhisattvas. Buddhists usually recognize multiple objects of faith, but many are especially devoted to one in particular, such as one particular Buddha. Faith may not only be devotion to a person, but exists in relation to Buddhist concepts like the efficacy of karma and the possibility of enlightenment.
  Faith in early Buddhism focused on the Triple Gem, that is, the Buddha; his teaching; and finally, the community of spiritually developed followers or the monastic community seeking enlightenment. A faithful devotee was called an upāsaka or upāsika, a status for which no formal initiation was required. Early Buddhism valued personal verification of spiritual truth highest in attaining such truth, and considered sacred scriptures, reason or faith in a teacher less valuable sources of authority. As important as faith was, it was merely a first step on the path to wisdom and enlightenment, and was made obsolete or redefined at the final stage of that path.
context_section_description: In East Asian Buddhism, there has been a strong focus on worship of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. His cult originated in the northern borders of India, but he has been honoured for his compassion in many countries, such as China, Tibet, Japan, Sri Lanka and other parts of Southeast Asia, and among diverse levels of society.
  The text called the Avalokiteśvara Sūtra states that Avalokiteśvara will help anyone who speaks his name with faith, fulfilling many kinds of wishes, and awakening people to their compassionate Buddha nature. Avalokiteśvara is strongly connected to the Buddha Amitābha, as it is believed that he lives in the same Pure Land, and will come to the rescue of those who invoke the name of the Buddha Amitābha. Focusing on both mundane benefits and salvation, devotion to Avalokiteśvara was promoted through the spread of the Lotus Sūtra, which includes a chapter about him, as well as through the Perfection of Wisdom sūtras. Avalokiteśvara's devotees often depict him as a female, and in this female form she is known as Guanyin in China, originating from an association with the female Buddhist deity Tārā. Presently, Avalokiteśvara and his female form Guanyin are among the most depicted figures in Buddhism, and Guanyin is also worshiped by Daoists.
caption: Sculpture of Avalokiteśvara, with the five Celestial Buddhas on the top outer edge
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