| Millions of years ago, there was a wise | | | | travelers. So widespread were the stories of |
| teacher called Amala-Surya-Tathagata. The | | | | His appearances that by the middle of the |
| king who rules the kingdom had a daughter | | | | Tang Dynasty, it became an international |
| named Da Hui. One day Princess Da Hui knelt | | | | pilgrimage center. During the Qing Dynasty, |
| down before Amalas-Surya-Tathagata and asked | | | | the famous Emperor Kangxi was a frequent |
| him to transform her into a man, so that she | | | | visitor of the mountain.Manjusri appeared to |
| could achieve to Bodhisattvahood.The teacher | | | | various people in a few forms - in the form |
| replied, "So long as you aspire to be the | | | | of a child, a beggar, an old man, a glowing |
| mind of supreme benevolence and accomplish | | | | cloud or a bright shining light. The earliest |
| wholesome merits, you will be able to turn | | | | known story of His appearance was to an |
| into a man."Upon hearing this, Da Hui | | | | Indian monk, Buddhapalita who made a trip to |
| instantly became a man. He thus renounced the | | | | Wu Tai Shan in 676CE in hope of seeing |
| world and began his practice. After a long | | | | Manjusri. Upon reaching the mountain, |
| time, he became Manjusri Bodhisattva.Who is | | | | Buddhapalita prostrated on the ground and |
| Manjusri?Gautama Buddha had two close | | | | prayed to Manjusri. When he got up on his |
| assistants - Samanthabhadra on His right and | | | | feet again, he saw an old man approaching |
| Manjusri on His left. Manjusri had attained | | | | him. The old man asked if Buddhapalita had |
| Buddhahood many times. At present He bears | | | | brought along a certain scripture that can |
| the title "Spiritual Buddha Who Joyfully | | | | help ease the evil committed by Buddhists in |
| Cares for the Jewels", and in the future | | | | China. He had not, and the old man told him |
| (which will be thousands of years to come) He | | | | in order to see Manjusri, he had to return to |
| will be the 'Buddha Universally Revealed". It | | | | India and retrieve the scripture. Happy with |
| was stated in the Lotus Sutra that Manjusri | | | | gratitude, Buddhapalita bowed his head in |
| had trained and disciplined many | | | | respect and when he looked up, the old man |
| Bodhisattvas. The introductory chapter of | | | | had vanished. When he made his second trip to |
| Lotus Sutra stated that Gautama Buddha was | | | | Wu Tai Shan with the scriptures (689CE) |
| once a disciple of Manjusri before He lived | | | | Manjusri revealed Himself to him again and |
| the life in which He became a Buddha.Manjusri | | | | showed him the mountain with its |
| - meaning "Gentle and Sweet Glory" is the | | | | secrets.Since then Manjusri appeared to many |
| most popular Buddha embodying transcendental | | | | pilgrimages, such as Tao-I who related his |
| wisdom (full Sanskrit name is | | | | experience to emperor Hsuan Tsung. The |
| Manjusrikumara). Known as the royal prince of | | | | emperor was impressed and awed by the story |
| the Buddha's realm, He appears in various | | | | that he funded the initial construction of |
| forms to release beings from their suffering. | | | | the Golden Pavilion monastery on the |
| Theravada Buddhism portrays Manjusri as a | | | | mountain. The monastery was completed by the |
| youth seated upon a pale blue lotus which | | | | end of the 8th century thanks to the efforts |
| holds a sun and moon disc. The discs signify | | | | of an Indian monk, Amoghavajra who received |
| that He is supported by blissful wisdom and | | | | more funds from emperor Tai Tsung. A Japanese |
| loving compassion. He holds a double-edged | | | | monk named Ennin stayed for over 2 months on |
| sword that severs ignorance in His right | | | | Wu Tai Shan in 840 CE and recorded his |
| hand, and the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra to | | | | wonderful experiences with the manifestations |
| his heart in his left. His golden yellow | | | | of Manjusri.In new texts discovered a few |
| image symbolizes wisdom and knowledge. | | | | years later, it stated that the Buddha had |
| Manjusri is adorned with 6 types of ornaments | | | | predicted that Manjusri, the God of Wisdom |
| (necklaces, anklets etc) which represents his | | | | would reside at Wu Tai Shan. It is also |
| fulfillment of the Six Perfections - | | | | believed that He appeared during a time of |
| Generosity, Morality, Patience, Joyful | | | | darkness of Buddhism, where ignorance |
| Energy, Meditation and Wisdom.Manjusri is | | | | prevailed, thus causing endless suffering and |
| often depicted seated on a green lion. This | | | | wrong propaganda of the Dharma. Hence by |
| indicates that the wild mind, as wild as the | | | | revealing Himself, Manjusri in a way rescued |
| king of the jungle can only be calmed through | | | | Buddhism from its decline with His Special |
| meditation. His wisdom has indeed inspired | | | | Teaching deemed fitting for the circumstances |
| many monks, practitioners and laymen to | | | | at that time.Manjusri will become Maitreya |
| overcome all obstacles to attain peace of | | | | Buddha's teacher in future. Maitreya is |
| mind. Some devotees consider Him the god of | | | | slated to become the 5th Buddha to descend |
| science and believe when He preaches the Law, | | | | upon Earth in this kalpa.Praise for |
| every demon is conquered and every shred of | | | | Manjusri"Wonderful Auspicious" is replete |
| evil that might deceive mankind is | | | | with great kindness. |
| dispersed.On hand to attend to Manjusri are | | | | |
| the Five Messengers and the Eight Youths. | | | | Mother of Enlightened One Throughout the |
| Each of them carries a page that sings His | | | | Three Periods of time. |
| praise and virtues. Indeed, to the Mahayana | | | | |
| Buddhists, Manjusri is relied upon to | | | | His wisdom is beyond measurement. |
| overcome ignorance and to attain the supreme | | | | |
| wisdom to be of the highest benefit to all | | | | His left hand brandishes a sharp sword that |
| beings.Research and excavations in various | | | | severs all afflictions. |
| parts of India and China showed that there | | | | |
| were not many followers of Manjusri before | | | | And his right hand holds the blue lotus |
| the 7th century. Figures and texts recorded | | | | which reflects the mark of His virtues, |
| more of Gautama Buddha and Maitreya Buddha, | | | | |
| who is believed to be the next Buddha to | | | | A peacock and lion - spirit acts as His |
| descend upon Earth (again, after thousands of | | | | carriage. |
| years). The famous Hsuan Tsang (7th century) | | | | |
| during his journeys noted many images and | | | | Poisonous dragons and fierce beasts are |
| carvings of Gautama and Maitreya Buddha. The | | | | subdued and become pure and cool. |
| only referance of Manjusri was a single | | | | |
| shrine dedicated to Him at Manthuraa. This | | | | The Pure Youth with The Five Topknots - This |
| lack of details about Manjusri is possibly | | | | is a provisional manifestation. |
| because such figures were not very | | | | |
| distinguished symbolically at that time. | | | | Originally, He is the Happy Treasury of the |
| Hsuan Tsang also recorded more of popular | | | | Thus Come One. |
| Buddhas and investigated only famous legends. | | | | |
| However by the end of the 8th century, there | | | | Homage to Manjusri Bodhisattva of Great |
| was a healthy Manjusri cult in China, thanks | | | | Wisdom, who dwells in the Golden World of |
| to a mountain called Wu Tai Shan in which | | | | Pure Cool Mountain."Manjusri is known as 'Wen |
| Manjusri is said to have appeared before | | | | Pu'sa' in Chinese and 'Monju' in Japan. The |
| common beings.The Five-Terrace Mountain (Wu | | | | mantra to chant for Him is "Om Arapachana |
| Tai Shan)In the Shanxi Province in China | | | | Dhih".Do you like this article? offers a free |
| (near the borders of Hebei), there stands a | | | | resource of articles regarding Feng Shui, |
| magnificent mountain known as 'Wu Tai Shan'. | | | | applied Feng Shui, Philosophy, Religion & |
| This grand and majestic mountain with 5 | | | | Chinese culture. To read more articles such |
| flat-topped peaks (which brings the name | | | | as this one, click here.This article is |
| Five-Terrace Mountain) rises about 3000m | | | | written by the editor of FengShuiTimes.com, |
| above sea level. Today it is a very popular | | | | Suan Tew and is reprinted by with |
| tourist and pilgrimage spot with a prosperous | | | | permission.Corey Tsang is the resident Feng |
| and flourishing Buddhist center.Wu Tai Shan | | | | Shui expert of Dragon-Gate.com, and is |
| is seen as the earthly abode of Manjusri | | | | well-known for his bi-monthly newsletters on |
| since the 5th century. This is because there | | | | Feng Shui Tips and Feng Shui Alerts of the |
| are reports and written texts of His presence | | | | Month. |
| on the mountain, appearing to many monks and | | | | |