Happy Birthday to the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, who was born #OnThisDay in 1935.
As the spiritual leader of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dalai Lama is understood to be an earthly manifestation of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara (A.K.A. Lokeshvara, Chenrezik, Guanyin, and Kannon). All Bodhisattvas are compassionate role models, guiding Buddhists toward enlightenment, but Avalokiteshvara is the very personification of compassion.
Several graceful, gentle images of Avalokiteshvara appear in our newly-opened Arts of Buddhism and Arts of the Himalayas galleries on the second floor of the Museum.
📷️ Seated Bodhisattva Lokeshvara, 10th century. Bronze, 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 3 in. (14 x 10.8 x 7.6 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Purchased with funds given by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Shields, 72.55. Creative Commons-BY
