Manjushri
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Manjushri é um grande Buda e um bodhisattva. Nos ensinamentos budistas ele é o Bodhisattva da Sabedoria. Sabedoria significa sábio controle – de si mesmo, da aura, de todo o ser. É o sábio controle de todos os assuntos que são confiados a alguém e das pessoas que estão sob os seus cuidados.
A sabedoria é a virtude mais apreciada no Budismo e tem sido chamada “Mãe de Todos os Budas”, porque somente a sabedoria pode libertar totalmente um ser do sofrimento. No entanto, sem amor e fidelidade à vontade de Deus, só a sabedoria não basta.
Os budistas veem Manjushri como “arauto da emancipação”. É também reverenciado como patrono das artes e das ciências, mestre da eloquência e principal guardião e patrono dos astrólogos. Tradicionalmente, os escritores budistas pedem-lhe ajuda e, com frequência, iniciam os seus livros dedicando-lhe versos ou orações.
Também o invocam pedindo inteligência, sabedoria, domínio no ensino, poder da explanação, eloquência e memória. O mestre é o patrono da literatura que usa a Palavra conscientemente, como instrumento de libertação, como espada afiada que ceifa a ignorância. Podemos invocá-lo para alcançarmos uma iluminação suave e amorosa.
Embora seja considerado um bodhisattva, acredita-se que ele tenha alcançado a iluminação do Buda. Algumas tradições afirmam que há éons, em outro universo, Manjushri se tornou um Buda completamente iluminado.
Na doutrina budista
Segundo a doutrina budista, Manjushri compadeceu-se da população da China, que vivia muito longe da Índia, onde o Senhor Gautama encarnara. Ele fez o voto de ajudar os chineses, e estabeleceu a Terra Pura no Paraíso das Cinco Montanhas, no norte daquele país. A Terra Pura é um reino ou paraíso espiritual, criado pelos Budas e governado por um deles. Foi criado para os discípulos e é ideal para o discipulado.
Alguns textos informam que Manjushri tem uma Terra Pura em outro universo, onde se manifesta como o Buda perfeito, que verdadeiramente é. A Terra Pura, no norte da China, é um dos locais favoritos dos peregrinos. Devotos de Manjushri dirigem-se para lá na esperança de vislumbrá-lo. Dizem que somente os verdadeiramente puros podem vê-lo. Ainda assim, reconhecê-lo requer certa mestria, pois ele geralmente aparece disfarçado de homem pobre ou de órfão.
For those whose karma prevents them from seeing him physically, he sometimes appears in dreams that may be out-of-body experiences, remembered clearly just before we reenter our bodies in the morning. One Zen master says, “There are some student monks who look for Manjushri at Five-Mountain Paradise, but they have already taken the wrong road. There is no Manjushri at Five-Mountain Paradise. Do you wish to know where he is? There is something this very moment at work in you, showing no tendency to waver, betraying no disposition to doubt—this is your living Manjushri.” In other words don’t look for him outside of yourself, look for him working inside of you within the very walls of your being.
The Sanskrit name Manjushri means “gentle glory” or “sweet glory.” In Tibetan iconography Gautama Buddha is often depicted with Manjushri on his left and Maitreya on his right. Manjushri represents the wisdom aspect of the bodhisattva ideal and Maitreya the compassion aspect. Thus, Maitreya and Manjushri represent two sides of the coin of the bodhisattva path.
Professor Robert Thurman writes, “There are different persons on different stages of the path at different times. Different teachings are elaborated for their benefit that emphasize wisdom or compassion. The team of Maitreya and Manjushri, heading the two main branches of the great tree of this philosophical tradition, assure [us] that the balance never goes too far in either direction.”[1]
In Buddhist art, Manjushri is often portrayed as a handsome sixteen-year-old prince. His complexion is usually a golden yellow, and he holds in his left hand the stem of a blue lotus blossom. On the blossom rests a book representing one of the Prajna Paramita scriptures, which deal with the realization of prajna, or wisdom. With his right hand he wields a flaming sword of wisdom to vanquish all ignorance. This sword has been referred to as “a sword of quick detachment.”
Manjushri’s mantras
The ascended master Manjushri says, “If you choose to recite my mantras, I will assist you in coming to the oneness of the mind of God.”[2] The following are Manjushri’s mantras:
Om Ah Ra Pa Tsa Na Dhih is given to help develop wisdom, memory and the understanding of the scriptures. The final syllable, Dhih, is Manjushri’s bija, or seed syllable. The essence of a cosmic being is concentrated in his bija. The bija may be given alone or repeated as many times as possible after the final repetition of the mantra.
Om Wagi Shori Mum is given to increase the effectiveness of communication and to deliver the Word. It means “Hail to the Lord of Speech!” Manjushri is known as the Lord of Speech and is revered as a master of eloquence.
Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha invokes the wisdom of the Prajna-paramita scriptures and can also be given to Manjushri. It means “Gone, gone, gone beyond, gone wholly beyond—Enlightenment, hail!” or “Proceed, proceed, proceed beyond, proceed completely beyond—be founded in enlightenment!” This mantra can propel us beyond illusion and the illusory self into Reality and the Real Self.
Advice for the path
Manjushri says:
I AM for your taking wise dominion over the earth and for your wise taking care of all resources available to you.
I AM for practicality. I AM for your making that which is the nearest right move, even though it be not the perfect move of the moment that you would prefer.
Above all, do not stagnate. Do what you can do within the hour, within the day, within the year. Plan well. But for God’s sake, do not do nothing! For this is not the age of do-nothingness for the chelas of Manjushri and Maitreya and Gautama. This is the age of accelerated doingness.
We see many on earth operating at high stress levels because they attempt to catch up with the workings of the mind of God within themselves, but they go about it in a human way, and thus, their bodies suffer. Sometimes, just when they are at the peak of their careers, they find that they must deal with problems in their physical bodies that are overwhelming.
I say, light the way! Be the lamplighters in the earth and know that the lighting of the way to balance in the four lower bodies is the great gift of kindness, the great gift of enlightenment that you can give to many....
I AM Manjushri, and I have a great sense of humor. And you will know that sense of humor in your own life if you give my mantras. For it is humor on the Path that truly delivers you from the all-too-serious levels of fallen angels.[3]
See also
Sources
Mark L. Prophet and Elizabeth Clare Prophet, The Masters and Their Retreats, s.v. “Manjushri.”