Manjushri Bodhisattva Is Not Only a Reincarnated Ancient Buddha, but Also the Teacher of Immeasurable Past Buddhas

The virtues of Manjushri Bodhisattva defy all measurement; Long ago he became the supreme Dharma King of the dragon race. Taking pity on sentient beings deluded in their own nature, He specially assists Shakyamuni in sustaining the profound Dharma. As the teacher of the seven Buddhas, his essence is inscrutable; As the mother of all bodhisattvas, his functions are boundless. Abiding in the Land of Eternal Still Light to respond to all aspirations, The reflection of the single moon shines in every river alike.

The fourth day of the fourth lunar month is the auspicious birthday of Manjushri Bodhisattva. Together with Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, he serves as one of Shakyamuni Buddha’s left and right attendant bodhisattvas; the three of them—Shakyamuni Buddha, Manjushri, and Samantabhadra—are collectively known as the "Three Sages of the Avatamsaka Sutra". The Bodhisattva takes great wisdom as his fundamental vow, cuts off beginningless ignorance through wisdom practice, and is thus known as Manjushri the Greatly Wise Bodhisattva. He attained Buddhahood eons ago, and is the teacher of all Buddhas.

Manifestation in the Saha World

Manjushri Bodhisattva, also known as Manjushri the Pure Youth Bodhisattva, the Youthful Manjushri Bodhisattva, Manjushri the Child, and other such appellations, is widely known for his iconic form: he holds a vajra king sword in his right hand, a blue lotus in his left, with a Sanskrit manuscript casket containing the Prajnaparamita Sutra resting on the lotus, and rides a fierce blue lion.

According to the Manjushri Parinirvana Sutra, Manjushri Bodhisattva’s manifested body was born in the home of the Brahmin Vande of Tola Village in Shravasti during the Buddha’s lifetime. He was born from his mother’s right side, with a purple-golden body and all the auspicious marks of a great being. The moment he touched the ground, he could speak like a heavenly child, seven kinds of treasures covered his body, and all manner of auspicious signs manifested in his home. When he grew up, he sought teachings on renunciation from various sages, but none of the Brahmins or debaters could match his wisdom or respond to his questions. He then took refuge in the Buddha, left home to practice the Dharma, abided in the Samadhi of the Unsurpassed Seal, and performed rare and arduous practices. Through the power of this samadhi, he benefited sentient beings and assisted the Buddha in spreading the Dharma.

Fundamental Origins and Causal Conditions

Manjushri Bodhisattva attained Buddhahood long ago. The Manjushri’s Transformation in the Womb Chapter of the Bodhisattva in the Womb Sutra states: "Manjushri originally attained Buddhahood, and now manifests transformations while in the womb... I now dwell in this womb, just as you abide in your buddha-realm." The Angulimala Sutra also records: "Forty-two Ganges-sand-sized buddha-fields to the north of this world lies a country called Constant Joy, where the Buddha is named the Tathagata of Joyful Mani Treasure Accumulation... That land has no shravakas or pratyekabuddhas; it is a purely Mahayana realm with no designations for any other vehicles... Could that Tathagata be anyone other than Manjushri? Manjushri is that very Buddha."

Manjushri Bodhisattva is not only a reincarnated ancient Buddha; Buddhist scriptures also record that he is the teacher of immeasurable Buddhas of past eons, having guided countless practitioners to attain the fruit of Buddhahood. He is thus known as "the Mother of the Buddhas of the Ten Directions, the Teacher of All Bodhisattvas".

The Avatamsaka Sutra (Entering the Dharma Realm Chapter) states: "Manjushri is eternally the mother of measureless hundreds of thousands of billions of nayutas of Buddhas, eternally the teacher of measureless hundreds of thousands of billions of nayutas of bodhisattvas. He teaches and matures all sentient beings, and his name is universally renowned across the ten directions."

The Mahayana Sutra of the Contemplation on the Original Mind states: "Manjushri the Great Sage serves as the mother to all Buddhas of the three time periods. The initial aspiration of all Tathagatas across the ten directions arises from the power of Manjushri’s teaching." It also says: "All Tathagatas, while on the bodhisattva path, were once guided by him to first arouse the mind of faith. For this reason, all those who attain enlightenment in the buddha-lands of the ten directions all take Manjushri as their mother."

Arousing the Mahayana Dharma

Shakyamuni Buddha taught the Dharma for 49 years, beginning with the Avatamsaka Sutra and ending with the Nirvana Sutra. Manjushri Bodhisattva was the foremost attendee at all Mahayana Dharma gatherings held throughout this period, and nearly all major Mahayana sutras widely circulated in the Han cultural sphere were initiated by Manjushri Bodhisattva.

For instance, the Shurangama Sutra opens with the episode of Manjushri Bodhisattva rescuing Venerable Ananda from the chamber of sensual desire. The Vimalakirti Sutra elucidates profound Dharma principles through the dialogues between Manjushri Bodhisattva and Vimalakirti the Great Lay Practitioner.

In the Avatamsaka Sutra, Venerable Sariputta led 6,000 newly ordained bhikshus to visit Manjushri Bodhisattva. The Bodhisattva encouraged all the bhikshus to arouse the great bodhicitta, universally practice all bodhisattva paramitas, liberate all sentient beings, and accomplish the power of the Tathagata’s meritorious achievements. He also led the 6,000 bhikshus to southern India to spread Mahayana Dharma. At the Great Stupa Temple east of the City of Awakening, he expounded the Sutra of Universal Illumination of All Dharma Realms to guide the naga families to the Dharma. Sudhana the Boy Attendant heard Manjushri Bodhisattva teach the Dharma at the Great Stupa Temple. After receiving Manjushri’s teachings at the culmination of the ten stages of faith, he visited and learned from various spiritual teachers one by one, attaining realization as he heard the teachings. This is the famous "Sudhana’s Fifty-Three Visits to Spiritual Teachers".

Teaching the Practice of Buddha Recitation

According to the Record of the Sages and Virtuous Ones of the Pure Land, Master Fazhao, the fourth patriarch of the Chinese Pure Land (Lotus) School, once beheld Manjushri Bodhisattva appear before him in a vision. The Master bowed and asked: "For ordinary beings of this Dharma-ending age, distanced from the era of the sages, of limited wisdom, and heavily burdened by defilements, the Buddha-nature cannot be manifest. The Dharma is vast and boundless; I do not know which practice is the most essential?"

Manjushri Bodhisattva replied: "You should now practice Buddha recitation; now is the opportune moment. Among all spiritual practices, none surpasses Buddha recitation; making offerings to the Triple Gem allows you to cultivate both merit and wisdom. These two paths are the most beneficial and essential. In past eons, I attained omniscience through contemplating the Buddha, practicing Buddha recitation, and making offerings. Therefore, all dharmas, the Prajnaparamita, profound samadhis, and even all Buddhas all arise from Buddha recitation. Thus it is known that Buddha recitation is the king of all dharmas."

The Master then asked: "How should I practice recitation?" Manjushri replied: "To the west of this world dwells Amitabha Buddha, whose vow power is inconceivable. You should recite continuously without interruption. At the end of your life, you will definitely be reborn in the Western Pure Land and never regress." The Bodhisattva then stretched out his golden arm to touch the Master’s crown, and said: "By practicing Buddha recitation, you will soon attain unexcelled, complete, and perfect enlightenment. If any good man or woman wishes to attain Buddhahood swiftly, no practice surpasses Buddha recitation, which will enable you to quickly attain unexcelled enlightenment." Master Fazhao rejoiced, bowed, and took his leave.

May all sentient beings awaken their inherent wisdom, dispel the darkness of ignorance, follow the Bodhisattva’s teachings, practice single-minded Buddha recitation, and return together to the Pure Land. Homage to Manjushri the Greatly Wise Bodhisattva!