The meaning of the Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara initiation:

     The three principal aspects of the path to Buddhahood are renunciation, Bodhicitta, and wisdom. Bodhicitta is a mind striving to achieve Buddhahood for the sake of all sentient beings. In Vajrayana Buddhism, the principal aspects of the path are combined in a unique and powerful way.

     Vajrayana initiation empowers properly motivated practitioners, conferring permission to arise as a specific deity. After empowerment, practitioners visualize arising as a deity in formal meditation on a sadhana. This visualization practice is a skilful method for practitioners to develop a potent combination of the wisdom and purpose.

     This initiation of the Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara will provide Vajrayana practitioners with permission to study and practice the Sadhana of the Buddha of Compassion, Avalokiteshvara. The Thousand Armed Avalokiteshvara practice relies upon a proper motivation of renunciation and Bodhicitta to provide a foundation, which is conjoined with an understanding of emptiness in the process of arising as the deity.

     At Avalokiteshvara 2005, those who are not Vajrayana practitioners will have a unique opportunity to be blessed by the holy presence of the Dalai Lama. His Holiness will also give a teaching on compassion to a multicultural audience consisting both, his devoted disciples, scholars and the general public.

Refuge and Bodhicitta

I go for refuge until I am enlightened to the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Supreme Assembly.
By the virtuous merit that I collect by practicing generosity and other paramitas, may I attain the state of a Buddha in order to benefit all sentient beings.

(Practioners will need to maintain a vegetarian diet on the day of the initiation, and in addition will need to abstain from ‘black’ foods: e.g., garlic, onions, eggs and radishes .)