Manjusri Bodhisattva

Discover Manjushri Bodhisattva's Wisdom and Legends at Mount Wutai
Manjusri Bodhisattva
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Manjushri Bodhisattva
Manjushri Bodhisattva
Manjushri Bodhisattva is one of the Four Great Bodhisattvas in Buddhism and is considered the embodiment of wisdom. Mount Wutai is believed to be his spiritual abode. Manjushri is often depicted as a fierce and majestic figure, adorned with five tufts of hair and wielding a sword of wisdom, riding a lion. Both his attributes, the sword and the lion, symbolize various virtues and wisdom. In Buddhist beliefs, Manjushri Bodhisattva is a guide for all beings on their spiritual paths. His numerous legends enrich Buddhist culture and provide wisdom and enlightenment to the faithful.
Manjusri, abbreviated as "WenShu," and also known as "Manshushri," translates to “wonderful virtue”, “wonderful head”, or “wonderful auspiciousness”. He was the son of a Brahman named Vimalakirti in Shravasti. At birth, he exhibited many auspicious signs, with a majestic appearance and the thirty-two marks of a great being.
After attaining enlightenment, Manjusri became the foremost disciple of the Buddha and is considered the chief among all bodhisattvas. Therefore, he is respectfully called "the Dharma Prince Manjusri.
The Buddha once stated that in past lives, Manjusri had personally taught him the Dharma. As such, Manjusri is also known as the 'Three-Time Awakened Mother'. Numerous scriptures extol Manjusri as the teacher of all Buddhas. In fact, Manjusri attained Buddhahood in countless past lives, as exemplified by the 'Dragon King Superior Noble Sovereign Tathagata' mentioned in the Surangama Samadhi Sutra and the 'Universal Illuminating Buddha' in the Treasury of the Great Names of the Eighty-Eight Buddhas. These are all references to Manjusri.
Manjushri Bodhisattva manifests in various forms. Sometimes, he holds a lotus, symbolizing the noble purity of wisdom; at other times, he wields a sword, indicating that wisdom can cut through all afflictions. He is sometimes depicted riding a golden lion, representing courage and might, or seated on a lotus throne, signifying purity and untaintedness. In other instances, he rides a peacock, symbolizing freedom and ease.
In China, Mount Wutai is considered the earthly abode where Manjushri Bodhisattva manifests. In Buddhist temples and monasteries, particularly in monastic halls and ordination platforms, one often finds statues of Manjushri depicted as a monk. This form, known as the "monk-like Manjushri," symbolizes the bodhisattva's inner, secret practice of assisting the Buddha in his teachings while outwardly appearing as a bhikshu. Additionally, there is the iconic image of "Manjushri with Five Tufts of Hair," representing the five wisdoms and five Buddhas, suggesting that despite his youthful appearance, Manjushri embodies the supreme wisdom of all Buddhas.
Numerous scriptures attest to Manjushri's extraordinary wisdom and skillful means in expounding the Dharma. For instance, throughout the Buddha's forty-nine years of teaching, Manjushri was present at almost all of the over three hundred Mahayana Dharma assemblies.
In the Vimalakirti Sutra, when all the great arhats and bodhisattvas hesitated to visit Vimalakirti when he was ill, Manjushri boldly led everyone to visit him and engaged in profound discussions with the lay devotee on the 'non-dual dharma'. This is the ultimate manifestation of Manjushri's wisdom and power.
Manjushri Bodhisattva
Manjushri Bodhisattva
In the Lotus Sutra, when the Buddha emitted a white light at the Vulture Peak assembly, Manjushri, deeply understanding the Buddha's intention, requested the Buddha to expound the Dharma, advocating the Perfect Vehicle (Mahayana) of Buddha-nature, thereby laying the foundation for Mahayana Buddhist thought. Manjushri's wisdom also gained him the sincere respect of all the assembled bodhisattvas and arhats, who revered him as a great spiritual teacher. In the Avatamsaka Sutra, it was under Manjushri's encouragement that the young boy Sudhana Journeyed southward to visit 53 spiritual teachers in various countries, pioneering the practice of pilgrimage. And in the Surangama Sutra, when Ananda was bewitched by the magic of the demoness Mohe, Manjushri, sword in hand, went to the houses in the neighborhood and rescued Ananda. This act of protecting a junior disciple and guiding him back to the right path has become a famous story in Buddhism.
Furthermore, the Śūraṅgama Sūtra records that the Buddha once entered deep meditation at Jetavana Monastery in the middle of the night and emitted a radiant light that illuminated the meditation hall of Manjushri. Knowing that the Buddha was displaying his supernatural powers for the benefit of all beings and to expound the profound Dharma, Śāriputra gathered the assembly of monks. In the gathering, the Buddha, in response to a question from Bādhra, told the congregation about Manjushri's great compassion, how he had left home to follow the Buddha and practiced the Śūraṅgama Samādhi. The Buddha also spoke of Manjushri's immeasurable supernatural powers and his ability to manifest in countless forms. He said that if beings merely heard the name of Manjushri, they would be freed from the sins accumulated over twelve hundred kalpas; if they worshiped and made offerings to him, they would be born into the families of Buddhas in every life and would be protected by Manjushri's spiritual power. Manjushri was skilled in explaining the essential teachings of the Dharma. When people had doubts or difficulties, his explanations would bring them immediate enlightenment. His teachings often employed parables, rhetorical questions, citations, negations, and sharp, incisive remarks to awaken sentient beings and skillfully guide them, demonstrating a unique style.
As the Aśoka-rāja Sūtra records, King Ajātaśatru committed the heinous crime of patricide, and was overwhelmed by deep guilt and remorse. Seeking relief from his torment, he invited Manjushri to expound the Dharma. However, Manjushri replied, 'Even if there were as many Buddhas as the sands of the Ganges, none could dispel your doubts for you!' Alarmed by this response, King Ajātaśatru fell from his seat. This was not an act of despair on Manjushri's part, but rather an affirmation of the Buddha's teaching: all dharmas are like empty space—pure and unstained. There is nothing to be contaminated, nor any contamination to be removed.
Manjusri Bodhisattva continues to manifest and teach throughout the world to this day. For instance, Chan Master Wenxi, while making a pilgrimage to Mount Wutai, was blessed with a vision of Manjusri guiding him in the Dharma. Later, Wenxi visited Master Yanshan and attained a sudden realization. Even while serving as the head cook, he experienced enlightenment. On one occasion, Manjusri appeared in the steam rising from a rice pot. Wenxi, without hesitation, struck the apparition with a rice paddle, declaring, 'Manjusri is Manjusri, and Wenxi is Wenxi. Your appearance today cannot confuse me.' Manjusri replied, 'A bitter melon is bitter from root to tip, and a sweet melon is sweet from stem to tip. Even after cultivating for countless eons, you still find fault with me.' Wenxi had already fully realized the non-dual nature of self and other.
The Year Chronicles of Venerable Xu Yun records that when Venerable Xu Yun made a pilgrimage to Mount Wutai, Manjushri Bodhisattva twice transformed into an aged gentleman named Wenji, saving his life from grave illness and expounding the true meaning of the Dharma to him, causing him to realize that the essence of worshipping Buddha lies solely in one's sincere heart.
In Buddhist belief, Manjushri Bodhisattva holds an extremely exalted position. He is considered the foremost among all bodhisattvas and, in Mahayana Buddhism, is second only to the Buddha. As such, he is one of the most revered bodhisattvas in Buddhism. He is a divine being renowned for his extraordinary wisdom. Devotees believe that worshiping Manjushri can bestow upon them knowledge, wisdom, exceptional memory, and eloquence.
Manjushri Bodhisattva
Manjushri Bodhisattva
According to legend, Mount Wutai in Shanxi Province is the place where Manjushri Bodhisattva preached the Dharma. Mount Wutai is also known as Qingliang Mountain or Wufeng Mountain. During the reign of Emperor Ming of Han, Indian monks such as Shemoteng and Zhu Falan entered China and, with their divine eye, discerned that this mountain was the abode of Manjushri and also contained a stupa containing the Buddha's relics, which had been placed there by King Ashoka.
According to the "Swayambhu Purana," in ancient times, the Kathmandu Valley was a large lake. One of the Primal Seven Buddhas, Vipasyi Buddha, cast a lotus root into the lake, predicting that a luminous lotus would grow here, the lake would recede, and a fertile land would emerge. Later, a lotus truly grew here, and the Kathmandu Valley was called "Swayambhu," meaning "self-existent."
Legend has it that when WenShu Bodhisattva heard of the luminous lotus, he rushed here from Mount Wutai, took out his wisdom sword and split the mountain. The lake water flowed away, and the valley became a fertile land. WenShu Bodhisattva also saw the luminous lotus and his self-existent aspect.
In order to correspond to the different causes and conditions of sentient beings, Manjusri manifests in various forms, such as One-syllable Manjusri, Five-syllable Manjusri, Six-syllable Manjusri, Eight-syllable Manjusri, One-hairknot Manjusri, Five-hairknot Manjusri, Eight-hairknot Manjusri, and Child Manjusri. Among them, the most common is the five-hairknot on the head, representing five kinds of wisdom. Generally, Manjusri holds a "wisdom sword" in his right hand and a lotus flower with the "Prajnaparamita Sutra" on it in his left hand. This symbolizes using wisdom as a sharp blade to cut through all kinds of ignorance; the blue lotus represents purity, and the Prajnaparamita Sutra placed on the flower symbolizes wisdom and compassion. The Bodhisattva often rides a lion, symbolizing the mighty power of wisdom; or uses a lotus as a seat, symbolizing purity; or according to the "Manjusri Shili Fa Bao Zang Tuoloni Jing," rides a golden peacock, symbolizing free and unrestrained flight.
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