Manjusri and Samantabhadra

Week of Sept 05, 2004 – Manjusri and Samantabhadra


In the Hua Yen School of Buddhism, the two most important Bodhisattvas are Manjusri and Samantabhadra. The two represent two different sets of virtues/ Buddha’s nature that complement each other; they are the two sides of the Buddha Vairocana - Buddha of Great Illumination. When the virtues of Manjusri and Samantabhadra are completely attained, one attains the Buddhahood of Vairocana.


Manjusri represents:

Wisdom

Preliminaries of practice

Internal abilities to attain realization



Manjusri’s teaching emphasizes:

Understanding - rational

Feeling and sensing – without thinking

Double Denying – not good not bad

Mindfulness – perceiving and observing “Be mindful at each instance”



Samantabhadra represents:

Practices/ deeds/ great vows

Aftermath of practice

External Dharmadhatu (ultimate truth of phenomena) factors to be realized


Samantabhadra’s teaching emphasizes:

Practicing - experience

Existence – experience the existence

Double Establishing – is good and is bad

Confirmation - “Every action is Samantabhadra’s Manifestation a and every vision is Samantabhadra’s Revelation.”


I will further explain how our meditation is related to or guided by Manjusri and Samantabhadra’s teachings in the coming articles.


We should be very grateful that we have a chance to hear and learn about the Hua Yen School of Buddhism as well as Manjusri and Samantabhadra’s teachings. You have cumulated immeasurable merits and virtues in your past lives for you to come across these great Dharma teachings, do treasure this opportunity.