Difference between revisions of "Samantabhadra"
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[[File:Massive_golden_buddha_on_the_sumit_of_Eimei_Shan.jpg|thumb|200px|Samantabhadra]] | [[File:Massive_golden_buddha_on_the_sumit_of_Eimei_Shan.jpg|thumb|200px|Samantabhadra]] | ||
<poem> | <poem> | ||
| − | [[Samantabhadra]] ([[Sanskrit]]: [[समन्तभद्र]]; literally [[Universal Worthy]]), is a [[Bodhisattva|bodhisattva]] in [[Mahayana|Mahayana]] [[Buddhism]] associated with [[Buddhist practice]] and [[meditation]]. Together with [[Shakyamuni_Buddha|Shakyamuni Buddha]] and fellow [[Bodhisattva|bodhisattva]] [[Manjusri|Manjusri]] he [[forms]] the [[Shakyamuni|Shakyamuni]] {{Wiki|trinity}} in [[Buddhism]]. He is the {{Wiki|patron}} of the [[Lotus]] [[Sūtra]] and, according to the Avataṃsaka [[Sūtra]], made the ten great [[vows]] which are the basis of a [[Bodhisattva|bodhisattva]]. In [[China]], [[Samantabhadra]] is associated with [[action]], whereas the [[Bodhisattva|bodhisattva]] [[Mañjuśrī]] is associated with [[Wisdom]]. In [[Japan]] this [[Bodhisattva|bodhisattva]] is often venerated by the [[Tendai]] and [[Shingon]] sects, and as the protector of the [[Lotus]] [[Sūtra]] by the [[Nichiren]] sect. | + | [[Samantabhadra]] ([[Sanskrit]]: [[समन्तभद्र]]; literally [[Universal Worthy]]), is a [[Bodhisattva|bodhisattva]] in [[Mahayana|Mahayana]] [[Buddhism]] associated with [[Buddhist practice]] and [[meditation]]. Together with [[Shakyamuni_Buddha|Shakyamuni Buddha]] and fellow [[Bodhisattva|bodhisattva]] [[Manjusri|Manjusri]] he [[forms]] the [[Shakyamuni|Shakyamuni]] {{Wiki|trinity}} in [[Buddhism]]. He is the {{Wiki|patron}} of the [[Lotus]] [[Sūtra]] and, according to the [[Avataṃsaka]] [[Sūtra]], made the ten great [[vows]] which are the basis of a [[Bodhisattva|bodhisattva]]. In [[China]], [[Samantabhadra]] is associated with [[action]], whereas the [[Bodhisattva|bodhisattva]] [[Mañjuśrī]] is associated with [[Wisdom]]. In [[Japan]] this [[Bodhisattva|bodhisattva]] is often venerated by the [[Tendai]] and [[Shingon]] sects, and as the [[protector]] of the [[Lotus]] [[Sūtra]] by the [[Nichiren]] sect. |
| − | Samatabhadra is the [[supreme]] [[embodiment]] of [[Buddhahood]]. [[Samantabhadra]] transmitted the [[Dzogchen]] teachings in the three [[heavenly realms]] of [[Akanishtha]], [[Tushita]] and the [[Realm]] of the 33 [[Gods]]. About fifty years after [[Buddha]] [[Shakyamuni's]] [[parinirvana]], the [[sambhogakaya]] [[buddha]] [[Vajrasattva]] -- who is inseparable from [[Buddha Shakyamuni]] -- transmitted the 6,400,000 [[tantras]] of the [[Great]] Completion to the first [[human]] [[guru]] of the [[Vajrayana]], the Awareness-Holder [[Garab Dorje]]. | + | [[Samatabhadra]] is the [[supreme]] [[embodiment]] of [[Buddhahood]]. [[Samantabhadra]] transmitted the [[Dzogchen]] teachings in the three [[heavenly realms]] of [[Akanishtha]], [[Tushita]] and the [[Realm]] of the 33 [[Gods]]. About fifty years after [[Buddha]] [[Shakyamuni's]] [[parinirvana]], the [[sambhogakaya]] [[buddha]] [[Vajrasattva]] -- who is inseparable from [[Buddha Shakyamuni]] -- transmitted the 6,400,000 [[tantras]] of the [[Great]] Completion to the first [[human]] [[guru]] of the [[Vajrayana]], the Awareness-Holder [[Garab Dorje]]. |
In the [[Nyingma school]] of [[Tibetan_Buddhist|Tibetan Buddhist]] [[Vajrayana]], [[Samantabhadra]] is considered a [[primordial]] [[Buddha]] in indivisible [[Yab-yum|yab-yum]] union with his [[consort]] [[Samantabhadri|Samantabhadri]]. | In the [[Nyingma school]] of [[Tibetan_Buddhist|Tibetan Buddhist]] [[Vajrayana]], [[Samantabhadra]] is considered a [[primordial]] [[Buddha]] in indivisible [[Yab-yum|yab-yum]] union with his [[consort]] [[Samantabhadri|Samantabhadri]]. | ||
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==Origins== | ==Origins== | ||
| − | In the [[Lotus]] [[Sūtra]], [[Samantabhadra]] is described at length in the epilogue, called the [[Samantabhadra]] [[Meditation]] [[Sutra]] ({{Wiki|Chinese}}: 觀普賢菩薩行法經; pinyin: [[Guān Pǔxián Púsà Xíngfǎ Jīng]]), with special detail given to [[visualization]] of the [[Bodhisattva|bodhisattva]], and the [[virtues]] of devotion to him. | + | In the [[Lotus]] [[Sūtra]], [[Samantabhadra]] is described at length in the epilogue, called the [[Samantabhadra]] [[Meditation]] [[Sutra]] ({{Wiki|Chinese}}: 觀普賢菩薩行法經; pinyin: [[Guān Pǔxián Púsà Xíngfǎ Jīng]]), with special detail given to [[visualization]] of the [[Bodhisattva|bodhisattva]], and the [[virtues]] of [[devotion]] to him. |
[[Samantabhadra]] is also a key figure in the Āvataṃsaka-[[Sūtra]], particularly the last chapter, the [[Gaṇḍavyūha-Sūtra]]. In the climax of the [[Gaṇḍavyūha]]-[[Sūtra]], the student [[Sudhana]] meets [[Samantabhadra]] [[Bodhisattva|Bodhisattva]], who teaches him that [[Wisdom]] only [[exists]] for the sake of putting it into practice; that it is only good insofar as it benefits all [[living beings]]. | [[Samantabhadra]] is also a key figure in the Āvataṃsaka-[[Sūtra]], particularly the last chapter, the [[Gaṇḍavyūha-Sūtra]]. In the climax of the [[Gaṇḍavyūha]]-[[Sūtra]], the student [[Sudhana]] meets [[Samantabhadra]] [[Bodhisattva|Bodhisattva]], who teaches him that [[Wisdom]] only [[exists]] for the sake of putting it into practice; that it is only good insofar as it benefits all [[living beings]]. | ||
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[[Dzongsar]] Khyentse [[Rinpoche|Rinpoche]] following the [[Nyingmapa|Nyingmapa]] [[Dzogchen]] [[tradition]] qualifies the {{Wiki|nature}} and [[essence]] of [[Samantabhadra]], the [[Primordial]] [[Buddha]], as the origin-less wellspring of the timeless and unbounded [[Atiyoga|Atiyoga]] teachings, and honours the converse [[view]] entertained by some [[interested]] parties which hold that the [[Dzogchen]] teachings originated with either the [[Bonpo]] [[tradition]] or the {{Wiki|Chinese}} [[Monk|monk]] [[Moheyan]] (1990: p.xxi): | [[Dzongsar]] Khyentse [[Rinpoche|Rinpoche]] following the [[Nyingmapa|Nyingmapa]] [[Dzogchen]] [[tradition]] qualifies the {{Wiki|nature}} and [[essence]] of [[Samantabhadra]], the [[Primordial]] [[Buddha]], as the origin-less wellspring of the timeless and unbounded [[Atiyoga|Atiyoga]] teachings, and honours the converse [[view]] entertained by some [[interested]] parties which hold that the [[Dzogchen]] teachings originated with either the [[Bonpo]] [[tradition]] or the {{Wiki|Chinese}} [[Monk|monk]] [[Moheyan]] (1990: p.xxi): | ||
| − | : [[Samantabhadra]] is not [[subject]] to limits of [[time]], place, or [[physical]] [[conditions]]. [[Samantabhadra]] is not a colored [[being]] with two [[eyes]], etc. [[Samantabhadra]] is the unity of [[awareness]] and [[emptiness]], the unity of [[appearances]] and [[emptiness]], the [[nature of mind]], natural clarity with unceasing [[Compassion]] - that is [[Samantabhadra]] from the very beginning. | + | : [[Samantabhadra]] is not [[subject]] to limits of [[time]], place, or [[physical]] [[conditions]]. [[Samantabhadra]] is not a colored [[being]] with two [[eyes]], etc. [[Samantabhadra]] is the {{Wiki|unity}} of [[awareness]] and [[emptiness]], the {{Wiki|unity}} of [[appearances]] and [[emptiness]], the [[nature of mind]], natural clarity with unceasing [[Compassion]] - that is [[Samantabhadra]] from the very beginning. |
[[Samantabhadra]] is usually presented with {{Wiki|colour}} black. The [[Dorje]] Zahorma hat, that is a special [[form]] of the [[Dorje]] Zahorma hat which is particular to Chatral [[Rinpoches]] [[tradition]], is emblazoned with an {{Wiki|image}} of [[Samantabhadra]]. | [[Samantabhadra]] is usually presented with {{Wiki|colour}} black. The [[Dorje]] Zahorma hat, that is a special [[form]] of the [[Dorje]] Zahorma hat which is particular to Chatral [[Rinpoches]] [[tradition]], is emblazoned with an {{Wiki|image}} of [[Samantabhadra]]. | ||
| − | '[[The_Mirror_of_the_Mind_of_Samantabhadra|The Mirror of the Mind of Samantabhadra]]' ([[Tibetan]]: {{BigTibetan|ཀུན་ཏུ་བཟང་པོ་ཐུགས་ཀྱི་མེ་ལོང}}, Wylie: kun tu [[bzang po]] thugs kyi [[me long]]) is one of the [[Seventeen_tantras|Seventeen Tantras]] of [[Dzogchen]] [[Upadesha|Upadesha]]. | + | '[[The_Mirror_of_the_Mind_of_Samantabhadra|The Mirror of the Mind of Samantabhadra]]' ([[Tibetan]]: {{BigTibetan|ཀུན་ཏུ་བཟང་པོ་ཐུགས་ཀྱི་མེ་ལོང}}, Wylie: kun tu [[bzang po]] [[thugs]] kyi [[me long]]) is one of the [[Seventeen_tantras|Seventeen Tantras]] of [[Dzogchen]] [[Upadesha|Upadesha]]. |
=== In [[Sri Lanka]] === | === In [[Sri Lanka]] === | ||
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(T.) kun-tu bzan-po (kind to all). | (T.) kun-tu bzan-po (kind to all). | ||
| − | (M.) qamugha sain (all goodness). | + | (M.) qamugha sain (all [[goodness]]). |
(C.) P'u hien (Pu Hien). | (C.) P'u hien (Pu Hien). | ||
(J.) Fu-gen. | (J.) Fu-gen. | ||
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[[Samantabhadra]] is the first [[Dhyani-Bodhisattva]] corresponding with the five [[celestial]] [[Jinas]], or [[Dhyani-Buddhas]], and is one of the group of eight DhyaniBodhisattva found in Northern [[Buddhist]] [[temples]]. He is represented with the five-leaved {{Wiki|crown}}, the ornaments and princely garments of the [[Bodhisattva]], and holds his [[symbol]], the [[cintamani]], in his left hand, or it may be supported by a [[blue lotus]] at his left shoulder. The right hand makes [[vitarka]] [[mudra]]: the hand raised — the thumb and index {{Wiki|touching}} at the tips forming the 'triangular pose'. He may be either seated or [[standing]]; and is sometimes with his [[sakti]] in the [[yab-yum]] [[attitude]]. | [[Samantabhadra]] is the first [[Dhyani-Bodhisattva]] corresponding with the five [[celestial]] [[Jinas]], or [[Dhyani-Buddhas]], and is one of the group of eight DhyaniBodhisattva found in Northern [[Buddhist]] [[temples]]. He is represented with the five-leaved {{Wiki|crown}}, the ornaments and princely garments of the [[Bodhisattva]], and holds his [[symbol]], the [[cintamani]], in his left hand, or it may be supported by a [[blue lotus]] at his left shoulder. The right hand makes [[vitarka]] [[mudra]]: the hand raised — the thumb and index {{Wiki|touching}} at the tips forming the 'triangular pose'. He may be either seated or [[standing]]; and is sometimes with his [[sakti]] in the [[yab-yum]] [[attitude]]. | ||
| − | When in the group of eight [[Bodhisattva]], he is [[standing]] with his hands in 'argument' and '[[charity]]' [[mudra]], holding the stems of lotus-flowers which support his special [[symbol]], the [[cintamani]], at the right, and an accessory [[symbol]], the [[vajra]], at the left. | + | When in the group of eight [[Bodhisattva]], he is [[standing]] with his hands in 'argument' and '[[charity]]' [[mudra]], holding the stems of [[lotus-flowers]] which support his special [[symbol]], the [[cintamani]], at the right, and an accessory [[symbol]], the [[vajra]], at the left. |
In [[Japan]] one finds [[Samantabhadra]] (Fu-gen) at the right of [[Amitabha]] in a {{Wiki|triad}} with [[Manjusri]], seated on an [[elephant]] and holding a [[lotus-flower]]. The [[elephant]] may be crouching, but is more usually [[standing]], and may have three heads or one head with six tusks (the more usual [[form]]). As [[Kongosatta]] is sometimes represented supported by an [[elephant]] with three heads, he is often confused with Fu-gen (v. [[Kongosatta]]). | In [[Japan]] one finds [[Samantabhadra]] (Fu-gen) at the right of [[Amitabha]] in a {{Wiki|triad}} with [[Manjusri]], seated on an [[elephant]] and holding a [[lotus-flower]]. The [[elephant]] may be crouching, but is more usually [[standing]], and may have three heads or one head with six tusks (the more usual [[form]]). As [[Kongosatta]] is sometimes represented supported by an [[elephant]] with three heads, he is often confused with Fu-gen (v. [[Kongosatta]]). | ||
| − | In [[China]] the {{Wiki|triad}} of Pu-hien ([[Samantabhadra]]) with [[Amitabha]] and [[Manjusri]] is also popular. He is practically never represented alone, and is always on an [[elephant]] and usually holds a scroll (v. PI. xxxiv, fig. a). The place of [[pilgrimage]] of Pu'hien is on Mount Omi (Wo-mei shan) in the province of Si-ch'wen, where, in one of the [[monasteries]], there is a very fine bronze statue of the [[god]], seated on an [[elephant]]. | + | In [[China]] the {{Wiki|triad}} of Pu-hien ([[Samantabhadra]]) with [[Amitabha]] and [[Manjusri]] is also popular. He is practically never represented alone, and is always on an [[elephant]] and usually holds a scroll (v. PI. xxxiv, fig. a). The place of [[pilgrimage]] of [[Pu'hien]] is on Mount Omi (Wo-mei shan) in the province of Si-ch'wen, where, in one of the [[monasteries]], there is a very fine bronze statue of the [[god]], seated on an [[elephant]]. |
</poem> | </poem> | ||
{{W}} | {{W}} | ||
Revision as of 08:13, 12 January 2014
Samantabhadra (Sanskrit: समन्तभद्र; literally Universal Worthy), is a bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism associated with Buddhist practice and meditation. Together with Shakyamuni Buddha and fellow bodhisattva Manjusri he forms the Shakyamuni trinity in Buddhism. He is the patron of the Lotus Sūtra and, according to the Avataṃsaka Sūtra, made the ten great vows which are the basis of a bodhisattva. In China, Samantabhadra is associated with action, whereas the bodhisattva Mañjuśrī is associated with Wisdom. In Japan this bodhisattva is often venerated by the Tendai and Shingon sects, and as the protector of the Lotus Sūtra by the Nichiren sect.
Samatabhadra is the supreme embodiment of Buddhahood. Samantabhadra transmitted the Dzogchen teachings in the three heavenly realms of Akanishtha, Tushita and the Realm of the 33 Gods. About fifty years after Buddha Shakyamuni's parinirvana, the sambhogakaya buddha Vajrasattva -- who is inseparable from Buddha Shakyamuni -- transmitted the 6,400,000 tantras of the Great Completion to the first human guru of the Vajrayana, the Awareness-Holder Garab Dorje.
In the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana, Samantabhadra is considered a primordial Buddha in indivisible yab-yum union with his consort Samantabhadri.
==Origins==
In the Lotus Sūtra, Samantabhadra is described at length in the epilogue, called the Samantabhadra Meditation Sutra (Chinese: 觀普賢菩薩行法經; pinyin: Guān Pǔxián Púsà Xíngfǎ Jīng), with special detail given to visualization of the bodhisattva, and the virtues of devotion to him.
Samantabhadra is also a key figure in the Āvataṃsaka-Sūtra, particularly the last chapter, the Gaṇḍavyūha-Sūtra. In the climax of the Gaṇḍavyūha-Sūtra, the student Sudhana meets Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, who teaches him that Wisdom only exists for the sake of putting it into practice; that it is only good insofar as it benefits all living beings.
In the Āvataṃsaka Sūtra, The Buddha states that Samantabhadra Bodhisattva made ten great vows in his path to full Buddhahood:
- To pay homage and respect to all Buddhas.
- To praise all the Buddhas.
- To make abundant offerings. (i.e. give generously)
- To repent misdeeds and Evil karmas.
- To rejoice in others' merits and virtues.
- To request the Buddhas to continue teaching.
- To request the Buddhas to remain in the world.
- To follow the teachings of the Buddhas at all times.
- To accommodate and benefit all living beings.
- To transfer all merits and virtues to benefit all beings.
The ten vows have become a common practice in East Asian Buddhism, particularly the tenth vow, with many Buddhists traditionally dedicating their merit and good works to all beings during Buddhist liturgies.
==Iconography==
===In Mahayana Buddhism===
Unlike his more popular counterpart Manjusri, Samantabhadra is only rarely depicted alone and is usually found in a trinity on the right side of Shakyamuni, mounted on a white elephant. In those traditions that accept the Avatamsaka Sutra as its root instruction, Samantabhadra and Manjusri flank Vairocana Buddha, the central Buddha of this particular Sutra.
Known as Pǔxián in Chinese, he is sometimes shown in Chinese Art with feminine characteristics, riding an elephant with six pairs of tusks while carrying a Lotus leaf 'parasol' (Sanskrit: chhatra), bearing similar dress and features to some feminine depictions of Kuan yin. It is in this guise that Samantabhadra is revered as the patron bodhisattva of the monasteries associated with Mount Emei in western China. Some believe that the white elephant mount of Samantabhadra was the same elephant that appeared to Queen Maya, the mother of The Buddha, to herald his birth.
Among those esoteric traditions that treat Samantabhadra as the 'Primordial' (Sanskrit: Dharmakaya) Buddha, he is often represented 'naked' ("sky clad"; Sanskrit: digambara), with a dark blue Body, in union with his consort Samantabhadri.
===In Esoteric Buddhism===
In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, particularly the Nyingma school, Samantabhadra is considered the most primordial Buddha, akin in status to Vajradhara for the Sarma traditions. Samantabhadra appears in the Vajrayana tantric text the Kunjed Gyalpo Tantra, as the Primordial Buddha, the 'embodiment' (Sanskrit: kaya) or 'field' (Sanskrit: kṣetra) of 'timeless awareness, gnosis' (Sanskrit: jñāna) awakened since before the very beginning. Therefore in Tibetan Buddhism the Nyingma, or 'Old Translation' school, the Sakya and the Bön schools view Samantabhadra as the Primordial Buddha. In the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana, Samantabhadra is considered a primordial Buddha in indivisible yab-yum union with his consort Samantabhadri. However, the Kagyu and Gelug schools use Vajradhara to represent the Primordial Buddha.
Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche following the Nyingmapa Dzogchen tradition qualifies the nature and essence of Samantabhadra, the Primordial Buddha, as the origin-less wellspring of the timeless and unbounded Atiyoga teachings, and honours the converse view entertained by some interested parties which hold that the Dzogchen teachings originated with either the Bonpo tradition or the Chinese monk Moheyan (1990: p.xxi):
Samantabhadra is not subject to limits of time, place, or physical conditions. Samantabhadra is not a colored being with two eyes, etc. Samantabhadra is the unity of awareness and emptiness, the unity of appearances and emptiness, the nature of mind, natural clarity with unceasing Compassion - that is Samantabhadra from the very beginning.
Samantabhadra is usually presented with colour black. The Dorje Zahorma hat, that is a special form of the Dorje Zahorma hat which is particular to Chatral Rinpoches tradition, is emblazoned with an image of Samantabhadra.
'The Mirror of the Mind of Samantabhadra' (Tibetan: ཀུན་ཏུ་བཟང་པོ་ཐུགས་ཀྱི་མེ་ལོང, Wylie: kun tu bzang po thugs kyi me long) is one of the Seventeen Tantras of Dzogchen Upadesha.
=== In Sri Lanka ===
- See also: Saman
Sri Lankan people venerates Samantabhadra Bodhisatva as Saman (also called Sumana, Samantha, Sumana Saman, Sinhalese: සුමන සමන් දෙවි). The name Saman means "the rising morning sun". God Saman is considered one of the guardian deities of the island and Buddhism. His main shrine is located in Ratnapura, where there is an annual festival held in his honor.
Samantabhadra (First Dhyani-Bodhisattva)
(Universal Kindness).
(T.) kun-tu bzan-po (kind to all).
(M.) qamugha sain (all goodness).
(C.) P'u hien (Pu Hien).
(J.) Fu-gen.
Mudra: vitarka (argument). vara (charity).
Symbol: cintamani (magic jewel).
Colour: green.
Emblem: utpala (blue lotus).
Vahana: elephant.
Dhyani-Bodhisattva of the first Dhyani-Buddha, Vairocana.
Samantabhadra was looked upon, among the ancient Northern Buddhist sects, as Highest Intelligence, a primordial Buddha; but his popularity diminished when the two great sects, the Kar-gya-pa (Red Bonnets) and Ge-lug-pa (Yellow Bonnets), set up Vajradhara as AdiBuddha.
Certain of the Yogacarya sects claim that Samantabhadra, instead of Vairocana (his Dhyani-Buddha), was the founder of the Yoga system, and look upon him as divinity of Religious Ecstasy. He is the special divine patron of those who practise Hokkesammai (ecstatic meditation).
Samantabhadra is the first Dhyani-Bodhisattva corresponding with the five celestial Jinas, or Dhyani-Buddhas, and is one of the group of eight DhyaniBodhisattva found in Northern Buddhist temples. He is represented with the five-leaved crown, the ornaments and princely garments of the Bodhisattva, and holds his symbol, the cintamani, in his left hand, or it may be supported by a blue lotus at his left shoulder. The right hand makes vitarka mudra: the hand raised — the thumb and index touching at the tips forming the 'triangular pose'. He may be either seated or standing; and is sometimes with his sakti in the yab-yum attitude.
When in the group of eight Bodhisattva, he is standing with his hands in 'argument' and 'charity' mudra, holding the stems of lotus-flowers which support his special symbol, the cintamani, at the right, and an accessory symbol, the vajra, at the left.
In Japan one finds Samantabhadra (Fu-gen) at the right of Amitabha in a triad with Manjusri, seated on an elephant and holding a lotus-flower. The elephant may be crouching, but is more usually standing, and may have three heads or one head with six tusks (the more usual form). As Kongosatta is sometimes represented supported by an elephant with three heads, he is often confused with Fu-gen (v. Kongosatta).
In China the triad of Pu-hien (Samantabhadra) with Amitabha and Manjusri is also popular. He is practically never represented alone, and is always on an elephant and usually holds a scroll (v. PI. xxxiv, fig. a). The place of pilgrimage of Pu'hien is on Mount Omi (Wo-mei shan) in the province of Si-ch'wen, where, in one of the monasteries, there is a very fine bronze statue of the god, seated on an elephant.
