Guru Rinpoche, also commonly known as Padmasambhava, is perhaps the most important individual, historically speaking, in Tibetan Buddhism. He is often referred to as "the second Buddha", and his appearance in the world was prophesized by Shakyamuni Buddha. Padmasambhava means "the lotus born" and is an allusion to his miraculous appearance in the center of a lotus blossom in the Dhyanakosha Lake.

Guru Rinpoche played the key role in firmly establishing Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet, the Land of Snows. He led the entire country to the Buddhist path, including the followers and deities of the pre-Buddhist, Bon religion. He had a great number of disciples who achieved the ultimate level of realization and disappeared in the rainbow body, rather than having a conventional death. Padmasambhava's life story is filled with amazing events, and he is known to have traveled throughout the Himalayan region, often staying in a particular location for years at a time in meditative retreat. It is still possible to visit the meditation caves where he is known to have resided. Guru Rinpoche lived for an amazingly long time - by some accounts at least 1600 years, before he himself vanished. During his lifetime he had two very important consorts - female practitioner partners, Mandarava and Yeshe Tsogyal. Yeshe Tsogyal especially, is also widely hailed for having played an important role in propagating the Dharma in Tibet. 

Padmasambhava is responsible for establishing some very distinctive teaching methods within the fold of Tibetan Buddhism. The Terma tradition, for example, refers to the "hidden dharma treasure" legacy. During his time on earth, Guru Rinpoche hid a number of teachings, which were to be discovered later by his disciples in their future incarnations. The teachings are discovered when the time is right and this is still happening today. If any of you were not familiar with the Terma tradition or the modern day Tertons (treasure revealers) who continue to discover these hidden teachings, it would no doubt be an interesting and worthy topic to look into. 
Padmasambhava made this well-known prophecy about the spread of Tibetan Buddhism to the Americas.

"When the iron bird flies and horses run on wheels
The Tibetan people will be scattered like ants across the world
And the Dharma will come to the land of the red man"

Om Ah Hung Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hung

This statue is 8-3/4" tall x 5-1/4" wide 
The weight is 3 Lbs 3-3/4 Ounces

Face detail

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Hindu Statue Gallery