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“自在观音”其实是观世音菩萨的通称。而通常所见的翘首搭足的自在观音应称为“水月观音”为宜。之所以称为自在观音乃是因为观世音菩萨神通变化自在，又因其于理事无碍之境观达自在，故云“观自在”，在佛典中常常是结跏趺坐的形象。而在当时常见的右腿抬起，跣足半跏趺坐，左手自然悬出轻搭膝面的观音形象称为“自在观音”乃是一种错误的称呼。故后来自在观音多称之为水月观音。

在佛传之初，水月观音不过是千手千眼观音在水中的幻像而已。随着唐后观音信仰的盛行，水月观音正式被列入三十三观音相之一，渐渐呈现出汉族女性的面貌，只是衣饰上仍保持着印度贵族袒胸着臂钏的特征。据说最早的汉化水月观音是由唐代周昉所作（他的传世作品代表作为《簪花仕女图》）。自宋以降，民间的水月观音信仰渐渐为白衣观音信仰取代，成为我们熟悉的送子、提篮、滴水、杨柳观音的形象，着带观音巾、身着汉式女装，和蔼亲切，成为完全女性化的佛教神祇。

本站将心性休息法像(Semnyi Ngalso, Resting in the Nature of Mind)和自在姿态(Relaxed Posture)的观音菩萨归类于自在观音; 而一足盘膝一足下垂的自在的形象, 则归类为水月观音; 统称为自在观音.

Sanskrit: Avalokita. Tibetan: spyan ras gzigs sems nyid ngal gso. The posture of Chittavishramana (Semnyi Ngalso, Resting in the Nature of Mind 心性休息法像) is similar to both the Simhanada (狮吼) form and the Lokeshvara in a 'Relaxed Posture' with the right knee raised. The special iconographic characteristic of Semnyi ngalso is the left hand pressed down on the seat behind the left thigh. He holds the stem of a lotus flower which blossoms over the left shoulder. The right hand is open and the arm extended in a gesture of generosity. Sometimes the right hand holds a small garland of beads (mala). The right leg is extended and the left is positioned in a horizontal manner on the seat.

The 'Resting in the Nature of Mind' Lokeshvara is related to Amoghapasha and Khasarpani/Khasarpana Lokeshvara(空行观音). An important difference between Chittavishramana and khasarpani is that the latter has the hand laced at the heart. The use of Sanskrit names between the three is quite fluid and can be very confusing.

It can be very difficult sometimes to distinguish between sculptural forms of Semnyi Ngalso Lokeshvara and Green Tara(绿度母). Often the only discernible differences are the size of the two breasts. In those situations Semnyi Ngalso does not have a deer skin over the shoulder. Typically Semnyi Ngalso does not have a small form of Amitabha Buddha on the crown of the head which can be common for many other forms of Lokeshvara.

[Chittavishramana Lokeshvara] “White Khasarpani with one face and two hands, the right in supreme generosity, the left pressing on the seat [while] holding the stem of an eight petalled white lotus. An antelope skin hangs over the left shoulder, adorned with heavenly garments and jewellery, seated with the right foot extended in a playful half posture.” (Based on Tropu Lotsawa and the Mitra Gyatsa).

观音菩萨
观音菩萨:骑犼观音

自在观音普遍的形象为左手抚于莲坐上并置于左腿后方, 左腿水平置于莲座上, 左肩莲花盛开; 右腿抬起, 右手低垂张开, 右臂伸展并轻抚于右腿上. 这种造型与空行观音很相似, 最大的区别是空行观音的左手置于心脏前; 而空行观音又与绿度母很难区分, 有时仅仅是胸部大小的区别. 而一足盘膝，一足下垂(至莲座下方)，很自在的形象, 本站归类为水月观音, 其典型形象为右腿曲蹲，左脚轻踏荷叶，重心落在左胯，右手微抬微翘，左手为支撑点，无拘无束，自由自在。

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