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