"The first two, the inner arms, have palms joined at the heart, holding a
sky-blue, wish fulfilling jewel. This symbolizes that in whatever way
Chenrezig manifests to benefit beings, the quality of Chenrezig's mind
is never separate from the all pervasive, non referential state of
dharmakaya (primordial wisdom).
"The
four arms and hands signify the four immeasurables: immeasurable loving
kindness, immeasurable compassion, immeasurable joy, and immeasurable
equanimity. Chenrezig, the Bodhisattva of Boundless Compassion, is the
very embodiment and realization of the four immeasurables. The four
immeasurables are the vehicles through which Chenrezig benefits beings;
therefore, Chenrezig has four arms.
"In the outer right hand,
Chenrezig is holding crystal beads and moving them the way we use a mala
to count mantras. This symbolizes that there is not one moment when
Chenrezig does not benefit beings. Like the steady movement of counting
the beads, Chenrezig is continuously benefiting sentient beings and
turning the wheel of enlightened activity.
"In the outer left
hand, Chenrezig holds a lotus flower. This symbolizes that, in
benefiting sentient beings, Chenrezig manifests in whatever forms are
necessary in accordance with the mental capacities, circumstances, and
aptitudes of sentient beings. For instance, if Chenrezig appeared in the
form of a human among certain kinds of sentient beings, (animals, for
instance), these animals might run away. For this reason, Chenrezig may
appear in the form of an animal. In a similar way, Chenrezig may appear
in any of the different realms, such as the hell realm or the hungry
ghost realm. However Chenrezig may appear, he remains free from any of
the samsaric stains of the various realms, the way a lotus flower
growing in a swamp appears free of the stain of the mud. The left hand
of Chenrezig, holding the flower, symbolizes that stainlessness."
Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche
