Manifestations of Avalokiteshwara

This is a beautiful old Weeping Willow that I pass by on my bike a few times a week. All along the River Main in the 10 km I travel it is the only one and it has a lovely presence. Here in the pictures today, you can see how it is just starting to open itself up to Spring. I found these few wispy branches hanging over the river to be especially beautiful and fragile this morning.

Here are a lot of branches hanging, almost looking like a waterfall of leaves.

And in this last picture you can see the massiveness of the tree itself.

This all fits in very well with the first of the Thirty-three Transformation Forms of Guanyin. The first is called Willow Leaf Guanyin also known as Bhaisajya-raja Avalokitshwara. This form of the Bodhisattva hold a vase in the left hand a stalk of willow leaves in the right. Many say this refers to the the Bodhisattva's flexibility to adapt to the mind of sentient beings, like willow leaves in the wind. Or that the vase has an elixir that can cure all physical and spiritual illnesses. I think both are nice ideas!

Oh willow deeply rooted upon the shore

With branches as thin as a breeze of wind

Bending each way

While leaves reach down

To the waves beneath them

Teardrops not ready to fall