Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) felt such despair over the world's endless need for help that the bodhisattva's head burst into 10 pieces. Seeing this, their spiritual guide, Amitabha, shaped the pieces into 10 heads and placed his own on top to assist in contemplating ways to save others. Thus the Eleven-Headed Guanyin was born. The Thousand-Armed Guanyin is a further elaboration of this manifestation's desire to help all creatures.