Wen
Shu Shih-Li, Manjushri Bodhisattva
The
Bodhisattva of Great Wisdom
"Manju" : marvelous, gentle
"shri" : combination of power, glory and merit
The name "Manjushri" means "gentle glory".
He
is the embodiment of great wisdom (Sanskrit language: prajna).
He
appears to those who meditate on him. He instructs them in the
Dharma and stimulates them to develop wisdom. The image of Manjushri
Bodhisattva is often seen in meditation halls, libraries and
scripture study rooms in monasteries.
Depictions
of Manjushri Bodhisattva
His
right hand holds a flaming sword, which represents the sharpness
of prajna that can cut through the growth of suffering and the
net of wrong views. The flame lights up the darkness, just as
the light of wisdom dispels the darkness of ignorance.
His
left hand holds a magnificent blue lotus flower in full bloom,
on which rests the Prajnaparamita Sutra (Great Wisdom Sutra).
This sutra contains the essence of the great wisdom teachings
of the Buddha. The lotus is the promise of the future for all
beings who follow the Teachings.
He
is often depicted as riding a golden-maned lion, which symbolizes
the stern majesty of prajna. The lion is the king of the beasts
and is fearless. Similarly, Manjusri Bodhisattva teaches the
dharma without fear or favour, like the lion's roar.
Sometimes,
the golden-maned lion is replaced by a green lion which symbolises
the wild mind which can only be transformed by meditation.
The
Worship of Manjushri Bodhisattva in China
There
is a famous place in China which is the centre for the worship
of Manjushri Bodhisattva - the Wutai Mountain in the province
of Shanxi in China.
As
written in a sutra, the Buddha predicted that after He passed
away in Final Nirvana, Manjushri Bodhisattva would reside on
a mountain name Wuting in a country in the east called "Great
China", where he would teach the dharma. Hence, Chinese
people regard that mountain, now called Wutai Mountain, as a
sacred place for worshipping Manjushri Bodhisattva. Many temples
dedicated to Manjushri Bodhisattva have been built there.
The
Mantra of Manjusri Bodhisattva:
a prayer for developing wisdom: Om Ah Ra Pa Tsa Na Dhi
