四臂觀音是佛菩薩之菩提心所化現，是很久以前已成正等正覺之古佛，稱為「正法明如來」，為救度不同眾生而示現不同的相，世人稱為大慈大悲的觀世音菩薩，與娑婆世界之眾生特別有緣，因為他經常示現救度眾生，因此觀世音菩薩最為受人供奉。
在金剛乘中，最為人喜愛修的法門是「四臂觀音」和「千手千眼觀音」。四臂觀音的報身相中：白色身代表清淨無暇，四臂代表四種佛行，即「息」、「增」、「懷」、「誅」等。
「息」是平息所有的痛苦、障礙及困難。
「增」是增加福報、智慧、長壽、財富等。
「懷」是救度眾生、領導他們修行。
「誅」是誅滅眾生種種惡念、克服外界魔障等。
Four-Armed Chenrezig manifests from the bodhicitta of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. He is an ancient Buddha who attained complete, perfect enlightenment long ago, known as Tathagata Samantabhadra of Righteous Dharma. To liberate diverse sentient beings, he manifests in various forms and is widely revered as the infinitely compassionate Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva. He shares a special karmic affinity with beings of the Saha World. Because he constantly appears to rescue all beings, Avalokiteśvara is among the most widely venerated Bodhisattvas.
Within the Vajrayana tradition, the most popular practices centre on Four-Armed Chenrezig and Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteśvara. In the sambhogakāya form of Four-Armed Chenrezig, his white body symbolises unblemished purity. His four arms represent the four enlightened activities: pacifying, increasing, magnetising and subjugating.
• Pacifying: to calm all suffering, obstacles and hardships.
• Increasing: to cultivate merit, wisdom, longevity, wealth and other blessings.
• Magnetising: to guide and lead sentient beings along the spiritual path for their liberation.
• Subjugating: to dispel harmful thoughts within beings and overcome external demonic hindrances.