Manjusri – The Royal Prince in the Buddha’s Realm

This article was originally published in Feng Shui Times on 29 June 2001.

Millions of years ago, there was a wise teacher called Amala-Surya-Tathagata. The king who rules the kingdom had a daughter named Da Hui. One day Princess Da Hui knelt down before Amalas-Surya-Tathagata and asked him to transform her into a man, so that she could achieve to Bodhisattvahood.

The teacher replied, “So long as you aspire to be the mind of supreme benevolence and accomplish wholesome merits, you will be able to turn into a man.”

Upon hearing this, Da Hui instantly became a man. He thus renounced the world and began his practice. After a long time, he became Manjusri Bodhisattva.

Who is Manjusri?

Gautama Buddha had two close assistants – Samanthabhadra on His right and Manjusri on His left. Manjusri had attained Buddhahood many times. At present He bears the title “Spiritual Buddha Who Joyfully Cares for the Jewels”, and in the future (which will be thousands of years to come) He will be the ‘Buddha Universally Revealed”. It was stated in the Lotus Sutra that Manjusri had trained and disciplined many Bodhisattvas. The introductory chapter of Lotus Sutra stated that Gautama Buddha was once a disciple of Manjusri before He lived the life in which He became a Buddha.

Manjusri – meaning “Gentle and Sweet Glory” is the most popular Buddha embodying transcendental wisdom (full Sanskrit name is Manjusrikumara). Known as the royal prince of the Buddha’s realm, He appears in various forms to release beings from their suffering. Theravada Buddhism portrays Manjusri as a youth seated upon a pale blue lotus which holds a sun and moon disc. The discs signify that He is supported by blissful wisdom and loving compassion. He holds a double-edged sword that severs ignorance in His right hand, and the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra to his heart in his left. His golden yellow image symbolizes wisdom and knowledge. Manjusri is adorned with 6 types of ornaments (necklaces, anklets etc) which represents his fulfillment of the Six Perfections – Generosity, Morality, Patience, Joyful Energy, Meditation and Wisdom.

Manjusri is often depicted seated on a green lion. This indicates that the wild mind, as wild as the king of the jungle can only be calmed through meditation. His wisdom has indeed inspired many monks, practitioners and laymen to overcome all obstacles to attain peace of mind. Some devotees consider Him the god of science and believe when He preaches the Law, every demon is conquered and every shred of evil that might deceive mankind is dispersed.

On hand to attend to Manjusri are the Five Messengers and the Eight Youths. Each of them carries a page that sings His praise and virtues. Indeed, to the Mahayana Buddhists, Manjusri is relied upon to overcome ignorance and to attain the supreme wisdom to be of the highest benefit to all beings.

Research and excavations in various parts of India and China showed that there were not many followers of Manjusri before the 7th century. Figures and texts recorded more of Gautama Buddha and Maitreya Buddha, who is believed to be the next Buddha to descend upon Earth (again, after thousands of years). The famous Hsuan Tsang (7th century) during his journeys noted many images and carvings of Gautama and Maitreya Buddha. The only referance of Manjusri was a single shrine dedicated to Him at Manthuraa. This lack of details about Manjusri is possibly because such figures were not very distinguished symbolically at that time. Hsuan Tsang also recorded more of popular Buddhas and investigated only famous legends. However by the end of the 8th century, there was a healthy Manjusri cult in China, thanks to a mountain called Wu Tai Shan in which Manjusri is said to have appeared before common beings.

The Five-Terrace Mountain (Wu Tai Shan)

In the Shanxi Province in China (near the borders of Hebei), there stands a magnificent mountain known as ‘Wu Tai Shan’. This grand and majestic mountain with 5 flat-topped peaks (which brings the name Five-Terrace Mountain) rises about 3000m above sea level. Today it is a very popular tourist and pilgrimage spot with a prosperous and flourishing Buddhist center.

Wu Tai Shan is seen as the earthly abode of Manjusri since the 5th century. This is because there are reports and written texts of His presence on the mountain, appearing to many monks and travelers. So widespread were the stories of His appearances that by the middle of the Tang Dynasty, it became an international pilgrimage center. During the Qing Dynasty, the famous Emperor Kangxi was a frequent visitor of the mountain.

Manjusri appeared to various people in a few forms – in the form of a child, a beggar, an old man, a glowing cloud or a bright shining light. The earliest known story of His appearance was to an Indian monk, Buddhapalita who made a trip to Wu Tai Shan in 676CE in hope of seeing Manjusri. Upon reaching the mountain, Buddhapalita prostrated on the ground and prayed to Manjusri. When he got up on his feet again, he saw an old man approaching him. The old man asked if Buddhapalita had brought along a certain scripture that can help ease the evil committed by Buddhists in China. He had not, and the old man told him in order to see Manjusri, he had to return to India and retrieve the scripture. Happy with gratitude, Buddhapalita bowed his head in respect and when he looked up, the old man had vanished. When he made his second trip to Wu Tai Shan with the scriptures (689CE) Manjusri revealed Himself to him again and showed him the mountain with its secrets.

Since then Manjusri appeared to many pilgrimages, such as Tao-I who related his experience to emperor Hsuan Tsung. The emperor was impressed and awed by the story that he funded the initial construction of the Golden Pavilion monastery on the mountain. The monastery was completed by the end of the 8th century thanks to the efforts of an Indian monk, Amoghavajra who received more funds from emperor Tai Tsung. A Japanese monk named Ennin stayed for over 2 months on Wu Tai Shan in 840 CE and recorded his wonderful experiences with the manifestations of Manjusri.

In new texts discovered a few years later, it stated that the Buddha had predicted that Manjusri, the God of Wisdom would reside at Wu Tai Shan. It is also believed that He appeared during a time of darkness of Buddhism, where ignorance prevailed, thus causing endless suffering and wrong propaganda of the Dharma. Hence by revealing Himself, Manjusri in a way rescued Buddhism from its decline with His Special Teaching deemed fitting for the circumstances at that time.

Manjusri will become Maitreya Buddha’s teacher in future. Maitreya is slated to become the 5th Buddha to descend upon Earth in this kalpa.

Praise for Manjusri

“Wonderful Auspicious” is replete with great kindness.
Mother of Enlightened One Throughout the Three Periods of time.
His wisdom is beyond measurement.
His left hand brandishes a sharp sword that severs all afflictions.
And his right hand holds the blue lotus which reflects the mark of His virtues,
A peacock and lion – spirit acts as His carriage.
Poisonous dragons and fierce beasts are subdued and become pure and cool.
The Pure Youth with The Five Topknots – This is a provisional manifestation.
Originally, He is the Happy Treasury of the Thus Come One.
Homage to Manjusri Bodhisattva of Great Wisdom, who dwells in the Golden World of Pure Cool Mountain.”

Manjusri is known as ‘Wen Pu’sa’ in Chinese and ‘Monju’ in Japan. The mantra to chant for Him is “Om Arapachana Dhih”.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva

This article was originally published in Feng Shui Times on 29 March 2001. One of my favourite Bodhisattvas.

A friend told me her story: She was sleeping on her bed when she felt something sit on her chest. The thing was heavy and she found it difficult to breathe. It was as if she was paralyzed, for she could not move her limbs or scream for help. Thus she recited this mantra : “Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva” over and over again in her heart. When the thing withdrew itself a little, she recited it verbally and after a while, it disappeared. She described the thing as a ‘shadowish shade of gray darting into the darkness’.

This phenomenon is not unusual for the religious. Most orthodox religions believe that there are other beings in this universe other than humans (and we are not talking about the possibility of Martians). These beings are known as spirits, ghosts, souls – beings that most people have never seen and will never see.

Or could be sleep paralysis, but for the sake of this, let’s go with the ‘thing’.

It is generally believed that these beings have not crossed over to other worlds because of attachment, revenge or for other reasons. Some of these beings enter the human body and cause much suffering and discomfort to the person. Perhaps the most well-known case of exorcism is depicted in ‘The Exorcist’. William Peter Blatty was a student at Washington’s Georgetown University when the local papers published the story of the exorcism of a 13 year old boy. He took an interest in the case and wrote ‘The Exorcist’, which later became a cult film of the same name. In the real life case, the boy had been possessed by a very strong spirit that could not be exorcised by Jesuit priests. In the end, it was said that the Archangel Michael saved the boy.

Such incidents were also recorded in the Bible, where it stated that Jesus performed exorcism on countless of distressed people. After His rise to heaven, His disciples carried on His work. In Mahayana Buddhism, there are many deities who are said to be able to help rid the body of disturbing spirits.

So how are these stories related to the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva?

If you experience any incidents caused by spirits, think of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and recite His name repeatedly. He is a comforter of the poor, sick, depressed, hungry and those troubled by nightmares and spirits. His vow of Bodhisattva is so strong and powerful that all beings respect and are in awe of him.

Origins of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva

During the time of Buddha Lion Power (one of the 5 Buddhas of our kalpa), there was a young lad, son of a respectable elder who saw the divine appearance of the Buddha. He wanted to emulate the Buddha and asked His advice. The Buddha guided him well and the lad made a vow, “I now determine to relieve the sufferings of beings in the six realms of suffering and sorrow, skillfully leading them to Salvation through innumerable kalpas, before I myself attain Buddhahood.”(sic) Thus Ksitigarbha has remained in the Bodhisattva stage for endless kalpas, selflessly freeing other beings from suffering.

In another life, Kstigarbha was reborn as a Brahman girl who respected and paid homage to the Buddha everyday. However her mother was prejudiced against the Buddha and His Teachings. She indulged in idle and slanderous talks against the Triple Gems (the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha).

When she died, her daughter knew that her mother would suffer in hell because of her evil deeds. She gave all her worldly belongings to charity and prayed at the temple everyday. She asked for the Buddha’s guidance to tell her where her mother was reborn. The Buddha allowed her to go to Hell in search of her mother. She met the king of sea-devils who told her about hell and the infinite number of suffering beings. The king also told her that her mother had been reborn in a deep hell, but had gone to heaven because of the girl’s sacrifices and filial devotion. The girl, moved by the pain and suffering she saw, made a vow to the Buddha, “I shall exercise my best to relieve people of their sufferings forever in my live of kalpas to come.” She became Ksitigarbha and the king of sea-devils became the Bodhisattva of Wealth.

According to the ‘Sutras of the Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva’ – one of the most popular Buddhist sutras, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva renewed his vows 3 times in front of Gautama Buddha. In Chapter One, the Buddha was preaching to countless of Bodhisattvas and gods in Tavatimsa Heaven. He then praised Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and revealed His great and compassionate vows. Majusri Bodhisattva asked the Buddha of the number of beings that stood before them. The Buddha told Majusri that He himself did not know the exact number of the beings. They were beings that had been saved by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva through countless kalpas.

In the final chapter of the sutra, Gautama Buddha preached the following to humankind and other realms in the wheel of life:

“Listen to me carefully and I shall tell you in detail. If virtuous ones of the future see the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s image, hear the Ksitigarbha Sutra, chant this Sutra, make offerings to Ksitigarbha, pay homage to him, they will receive these benefits:

1. They will be protected by devas and dragons.
2. Their ability to do good will be increased.
3. Opportunities for doing good will increase.
4. They will strive to attain Buddhahood.
5. They will enjoy sufficiency of food and clothing.
6. They will be free from diseases.
7. Floods and fire will not affect them.
8. Robbers will not trouble them.
9. They will be respected and admired by people.
10. Spirits and devas will protect and assist them.
11. Females shall be reborn as males.
12. The females will become daughters of noble and exalted families.
13. They will be reborn with good complexion.
14. They will be reborn in the heavens for many lives.
15. They will be reborn as kings and rulers of countries.
16. They will have wisdom to recollect their past lives.
17. They will be successful in al their aspirations.
18. They will enjoy happy family relationships.
19. Disasters will not affect them.
20. Their bad karma will be removed.
21. Wherever they go, they are safe.
22. They will always have peaceful dreams.
23. Their deceased relatives will be free from suffering.
24. They will be reborn with happiness.
25. They will be intelligent and skillful.
26. They will have compassion for others.
27. They will finally attain Buddhahood.”

The embodiment of benevolence, Ksitigarbha is the only Bodhisattva depicted in a monk’s attire. He has a kind and compassionate look, carries a staff and is seated with a ‘five-leave’ crown on his head. He also holds a precious pearl in his hand, said to contain vast magical powers beyond description. In the Chinese Buddhist Pantheon, Ksitigarbha is seated just below the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is often confused with Tripitaka of the infamous Journey To The West (Tripitaka was a monk from the Tang Dynasty who made a dangerous journey to obtain the Buddhist scriptures). This is because they both wear monks’ robes with a crown on their heads. Some say that Ksitigarbha is also King Yama, the Lord of Hell. However, Ksitigarbha is a Bodhisattva (the next thing to being a Buddha) and not a mere king of the 5th level of Hell.

The Sanskrit version of the mantra, as mentioned earlier is “Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva” and the Chinese is “Namo Di Zhang Wang Pu’sa”.

The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara

This article was originally published in Feng Shui Times on 16 February 2001.

In many Buddhist temples, there will be images of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara or popularly known as “Guan Shi Yin Pu’sa” (Guan-Yin for short). Most images depict the Avalokitesvara as a benevolent woman clad in white robes, holding a vase of pure water in one hand and a willow twig in the other. However, the Avalokitesvara originated as a man. So how did this transformation of gender come about?

In Buddhism, it is believed that all Bodhisattvas are asexual. They appear in various forms in different circumstances. The Avalokitesvara for example, has 33 manifestations which will be listed out later.

Before the Avalokitesvara became a Bodhisattva, he was Prince Bu Xun and lived in the Southern coast of India. After listening to Gautama Buddha’s discourse, he decided to renounce the material world to become a disciple of the Buddha. Avalokitesvara was overcame by the suffering of all beings and made a great vow of compassion to deliver them from further suffering.

In the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368), a Lady Guan printed a “Biography of the Goddess of Mercy”, in which she claimed that the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara was a female. She and other women believed that there are certain tasks that male Bodhisattvas were not ‘fit’ to perform, such as bestowing and delivering babies. Choosing Avalokitesvara for this task was a shrewd and wise choice because Avalokitesvara can transform into 33 manifestations, and a female was part of the transformation. The trend caught on and soon many temples began erecting images of a female Avalokitesvara. The most popular image of the Bodhisattva is of a pretty woman wearing white robes, with kind eyes and jade-white smiling face, wearing fringes with a bun done at the back of her head, a willow in her right hand and a white vase in her left.

One of Avalokitesvara’s appearances is of her with 1,000 hands and eyes. It is one of Avalokitesvara’s 33 transformations but a popular myth surrounds this appearance. Legend has it that she was the 3rd daughter of Prince Zhuang of Chu (722 B.C. – 481 B.C.) named Miao Shan. Miao Shan was a devoted Buddhist who abstained from taking meat and chanted Buddhist sutras every day. When she asked her father’s permission to enter nunhood, he flew into a rage and had her killed. Her soul was brought back by King Yama (Guardian of Hell) to a peaceful place in the province of Zhejiang, where she could practice Buddhism without interference. She attained Enlightenment and spent her days benevolently helping human beings, relieving them of their distress.

One day Prince Zhuang fell seriously ill. Doctors told him that the only cure for his illness was to rub an ointment made from the hands and eyes of a being that was never angry. When Miao Shan heard this, she gouged out her own eyes and cut her hands and made them into medicinal pills for her father. When the prince got better, he was ashamed of his evil deeds and ordered that a statue be made for Miao Shan. Through some miscommunication, the statue ended up having 1,000 eyes and hands.

According to the scriptures, Avalokitesvara was contemplating compassion for the happiness and safety of all beings when he became so ‘stressed’ that his head burst into 1,000 pieces. Amitabha Buddha (not to be confused with Gautama Buddha) saw the situation and helped ‘glue’ back Avalokitesvara’s head. He also bestowed 11 heads, 1,000 eyes and 1,000 arms to the Bodhisattva so that he could alleviate every being’s suffering. That is why when people pray to Avalokitesvara sincerely, He can come to each individual, even though they are at different places at that time.

The 33 Manifestations of Avalokitesvara

According the scriptures, Avalokitesvara can transform into 33 incarnations (depending on situations) and save beings from 13 types of disasters. The following are the 33 manifestations of Avalokitesvara.

1. Avalokitesvara who holds the willow branch
2. Avalokitesvara of the dragon head
3. Avalokitesvara who holds the sutras
4. Avalokitesvara of complete light
5. Avalokitesvara of enjoyment or playfulness
6. Avalokitesvara who wears white robes
7. Avalokitesvara who sits on a lotus leaf
8. Avalokitesvara who views waterfalls
9. Avalokitesvara who gives medicine
10. Avalokitesvara of the fish basket
11. Avalokitesvara the King of Merit
12. Avalokitesvara of moon and water
13. Avalokitesvara of the one leaf
14. Avalokitesvara of blue throat
15. Avalokitesvara, powerful and virtuous
16. Avalokitesvara who extends life
17. Avalokitesvara of various treasures
18. Avalokitesvara of the rock cave
19. Avalokitesvara who bestows calmness
20. Avalokitesvara of 1,000 hands and eyes
21. Avalokitesvara of fearlessness
22. Avalokitesvara who wears robe of leaves (Parnashabari)
23. Avalokitesvara of Vaidurya
24. Avalokitesvara of salvation
25. Avalokitesvara of the clam
26. Avalokitesvara of 6 hours
27. Avalokitesvara of universal compassion
28. Avalokitesvara of Ma-Lang’s wife
29. Avalokitesvara of prayer
30. Avalokitesvara of Oneness
31. Avalokitesvara of non-duality
32. Avalokitesvara holding the lotus
33. Avalokitesvara of pure water

Bits and Pieces

The Avalokitesvara Mantra is ‘Om Mani Padme Hum’. It contains 6 syllabus. Each syllable represents each of the 6 realms in the world of Samsara (Deva, Semi deva, Humans, Animals, Hungry Ghosts or Petas and Hell). When a being from any of the 6 realms hears this mantra, it will immediately cast away all angry thoughts and be enlightened.

The vase held by Avalokitesvara contains ‘Amrita’, meaning the Dew of Compassion. It can purify the defilement of our body, speech and mind. It also contains curative powers and can extend life.

In the practice of Feng Shui, Feng Shui masters who suspect a particular house of being resided by beings other than human would chant the great mantra, “Om Mani Padme Hum”. As mentioned earlier, beings who hear this mantra will be enlightened. Angry spirits would behind their anger (and the house) and more subdued spirits would lay still and be enlightened.

According to a Feng Shui master, a person who has chanted the great mantra “Om Mani Padme Hum” a 100,000 times in the space of his lifetime would be granted one miracle. He would also have ‘priority’ access to Avalokitesvara whenever he calls His name sincerely.

“Think of it as an ISDN line to the great Bodhisattva,” the Feng Shui master says.

The 5 Buddhas Of Our Kalpa

This article was originally published in Feng Shui Times on 2 February 2001. Edited for clarity (I was very young when I wrote this).

Most people know that the founder of Buddhism was Sakyamuni, known also as the Gautama Buddha. But do you know that there are three other Buddhas who had descended in this kalpa with one more to come?

What is kalpa?

Kalpa is a term for a long period of time. Okay, maybe long is an understatement. Reverend Tri Ratna Priya Karuna from the International Buddhist Meditation Center in LA, California describes it as ‘a world period of virtually incalculable length. (This) kalpa is divided into four shorter periods, each of which is so long that it cannot be measured even in terms of thousands of years.’ Think of bags and bags of lavatory rolls with 1 centimeter for 100 years. Now unroll all the lavatory rolls. That is how long a kalpa will be.

In Buddhism, there are many kalpas but let’s just get on with the one we are in now. After all, we are not going to live this life long enough to experience other kalpas.

The kalpa in which we are living now is an extremely favorable kalpa of 5 Buddhas. These 5 Buddhas are special because they came down to the earth to preach the Dharma (Teaching of the Buddha).

Buddhism as we know today is the based on the Teaching of the 4th Buddha, the Sakyamuni Buddha. Sakyamuni lived in present day India around 2,500 years ago. He was born into a royal family as Prince Siddharta Gautama but renounced his princely life at the age of 29 to seek for the Truth of Suffering. He attained Buddhahood by His own efforts at the age of 35 and preached His Teaching to others. Sakyamuni attained Parinibbana when he was 80 years old. Parinibbana is a state where rebirth will not occur again. The being will not be subjected to the wheel of life (also called as Samsara) anymore.

Wheel of life

Let’s rewind to the first Buddha who came down to this world in this kalpa.

After 29 Buddha-less kalpas, Kusanda Buddha was born into a Brahmin family. The brahmins were second in seniority to aristocrats, followed by traders and lowly ones. He live royally, married a Brahmin woman by the name of Roccini and they had a son named Uttara.

At this period of time, an average human life span was 40,000 years. Unbelievable? Remember the kalpas, dear… We are talking about billions of years here. Kusanda spent 4,000 years living in princely comforts.

Kusanda then saw the Four Sights (it is a requirement for the aspiring Buddhas to encounter the Four Sights before they renounce the world. The Four Sights are an old man, a sick man, a corpse and a monk). He renounced the world, meditated for 8 months and attained Buddhahood.

The road to Buddhahood is not as simple as it sounds. It involves a lot of process and rebirths. Nevertheless, it is basically deep concentration, meditation and a strong determination.

After achieving Buddhahood (or Enlightenment), Kusanda Buddha lived for another 28,000 years and taught the Dharma to others.

The 2nd Buddha

Years and years later when the human life span was 30,000 years, Konagamana Buddha was born into a Brahmin family. He then married Rucigatta and they had a son by the name of Satthavata.

As with the first Buddha, Konagamana saw the Four Sights, which led him to renounce the world. He meditated for 6 months before becoming a Buddha.

For the next 21,000 years, Konagamana Buddha preached the Dharma. He passed away at the age 24,000. Yes, still unbelievable… It was unbelievable when UFOs were sighted. Or when experts announced that this world would accommodate 7 billion people in 10 years.

Let’s move on.

After yet another millions of years, Kasyapsa Buddha was born into a Brahmin family. His wife was Sunanda and their son was named Vinjitasena. The average human life span was 20,000 years.

Kasyapsa then saw the Four Sights, relinquished his world of comforts and meditated under the Bodhi Tree before becoming a Buddha.

Kasyapsa Buddha lived for 16,000 years helping different realms of beings get on the right path to Nirvana.

Jackpot Predictions

In Buddhism, rebirth is a way of life. A being can be born into either one of the 6 realms – gods, semi-gods, human, animals, hungry ghosts and hell. The state of your next rebirth depends on your karma, which is the Law of Cause and Effect. The rule is simple – do good and avoid evil, and you will be born into a better realm. The desirable realms are gods, semi-gods and human.

In the process of attaining Enlightenment, Gautama Buddha went through many rebirths. His rebirths were not always of the human realm – there were lives where he was reborn into other realms as well.

During the time of the Kusanda Buddha, Sakyamuni (the 4th Buddha) was King Khema, a devout Buddhist. After renouncing the world in the Kusanda Buddha’s presence, the Buddha predicted that King Khema would become a Buddha named Gautama in this kalpa. (Gautama would be Sakyamuni’s family name).

Sakyamuni was King Pabbata during the time of the Konagamana Buddha. He was a powerful ruler with a strong army. After meeting him, Konagamana Buddha predicted that King Pabbata would become the Gautama Buddha in this kalpa.

When Kasyapsa was Buddha, Sakyamuni was Jotipala the Youth, a famous and extremely accomplished young man. A friend brought him to the Buddha. After listening to the Buddha, Jotipala took his vows and became the Buddha’s disciple. Kasyapsa Buddha then prophesied that Jotipala would become the Gautama Buddha.

Enter The Future

The 5th and final Buddha in this kalpa would be Maitreya Buddha, popularly known as the Laughing Buddha.

Maitreya Buddha would descend on this world after millions of years when the average human life span reaches 100 years. He would be born into a Brahmin family (note that among the 5 Buddhas, only Gautama Buddha was born into a royal family).

Like all the Buddhas before Him, Maitreya would live idyllically until He encounters the Four Sights. He would then severe ties with the material world and live an ascetic life. After 7 days of deep meditation, Maitreya would become a Buddha and proceed to preach the Dharma.

After Maitreya Buddha passes away, His Teaching would continue in this world for 80,000 years. Then it would be time for another kalpa.

The name Maitreya means ‘universal love’, which is apt as He ‘specializes’ in loving kindness.

Currently, Maitreya Buddha is residing in the Pure Land of Tushita (or Tushita Heaven) where he teaches the Dharma to bodhisattvas (beings aspiring to become Buddhas).

“Let yourself be open and life will be easier. A spoon of salt in a glass of water makes the water undrinkable. A spoon of salt in a lake is almost unnoticed.” -The Buddha

Theravada VS Mahayana

This article was originally published in Feng Shui Times on 29 January 2001.

It’s Buddhism. Both originated from India. So why are they divided into 2 or more groups?

Louis Vuitton, Donna Karen, Armani, Versace, Vera Wang, Dolce and Gabbana – they are basically selling clothes. Different brands, yes but still dealing with apparel.

Several hundred years after Gautama Buddha’s death, the Sangha (disciples of Buddha) became divided. This was because the original Teaching – determined by a council of Buddhist monks – catered only to those who renounced the world and spent their time in meditation. A group of monks recognized the need for a new formulation of the Dharma in order to accommodate ordinary laymen.

This brought about the split of The Order Of Monks. The group who retained the original Teaching was called Sthaviravadins (later Theravadins). The group who reconstructed Buddhism became known as the Mahasanghikas (later Mahayanas).

In reality, there is no right or wrong in their different beliefs. Religion is for the benefit of mankind and thus adjusted to suit the living conditions of the people in different regions.

Below shows the differences between Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism:

Theravada Buddhism
(The Teaching Of The Elders, Southern School)

  • Supremacy is Gautama Buddha
  • Aim is to achieve Arahant Ideal. Believes that while attaining Buddhahood is ideal, it is extremely difficult and beyond most people’s capabilities
    *Although the Buddha was also called an Arhat, they are of different natures. In other words, an Arhat is a degree holder of Enlightenment and the Buddha is a Ph.D holder.
    **Arahant carries the same meaning as Arhat.
  • Aspire to achieve Nirvana, or to have a better rebirth in the next life
  • Sacred text is called Tripitaka
  • Believes that the Buddha has 2 Bodies (as a human being and as consciousness)
  • Follows the Noble 8 Fold Path
    – right understanding
    – right thought
    – right speech
    – right action
    – right livelihood
    – right effort
    – right mindfulness
    – right concentration
  • Influential in Sri Lanka, India, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar etc

Mahayana Buddhism
(The Great Vehicle, Northern School)

  • Supermacy are Celestial Buddhas
  • Aim is to achieve bodhisattva Ideal. Believes that restricting oneself to attaining Arahant Ideal is too limiting
    *A Bodhisattva is someone who compassionately delays his or her own Enlightenment in order to help other beings to attain Enlightenment
    **Arhats and Bodhisattvas are of the same rank, albeit with different goals.
  • Aspire to attain Enlightenment, or rebirth in the Pure Land (heaven)
  • Sacred texts are the Sanskrit Sutras
  • Believes that the Buddha has 3 Bodies – Trikaya (as in the body of Gautama Buddha, as a holder of the Dharma and as a deity)
  • Follows the 6 Paramitas:
    – giving
    – morality
    – patience
    – effort
    – concentration
    – wisdom
  • Influential in China, Tibet, Korea, Japan etc

Nevertheless, Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism are unified by these points :

  1. The only Master is the Buddha.
  2. Do not believe that the world is created and ruled by a single almighty God.
  3. Accept the 4 Noble Truths (Truth of Suffering, Truth of the Cause of Suffering, Truth of the End of Suffering, Truth of the Path Leading to the End of Suffering) and the Law of Karma (Law of Cause and Effect)
  4. Believe that all things are impermanent.
  5. Believe that the purpose of life is to develop compassion for all living beings without discrimination.
  6. Believe in only 3 ways of achieving Enlightenment – as a disciple, as a Bodhisattva and as a Buddha.
  7. Accept that Buddhism varies in different countries, but the variation should not be confused with the core Teaching of the Buddha.
  8. Co-exist with each other without seeking to change each other’s views.
  9. Believe that the 5th and final Buddha of our time will be Maitreya Buddha.

Although there are differences between these 2 forms of Buddhism, the essential subject, which is the Teaching of the Buddha remains the same.

In the same way, men are from Venus, women – or to be politically correct, womyn; womban; person of gender – are from Mars. At the end of the day, all human.

There are two ways to slide easily through life; to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways save us from thinking. – Alfred Korzybski