Manjusri is Enlightenment：Its Practical DoctrineBased on the Prediction of Manjusri’s Attainment of Buddhahood

• Main Authors: Spring Chou, 周聖貞
• Other Authors: 蔡耀明
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2008
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/76287051346536673184

碩士 === 華梵大學 === 東方人文思想研究所 === 96 === Abstract Based on the concept “Mañjuśrī is Enlightenment”, the thesis intends to discuss three major practical doctrines in Mañjuśrī’s Attainment of Buddhahood: “no bodhi to pursue”, “no bodhi to obtain”, and “no bodhi to be gained”. The purpose of the thesis is to develop a set of practices about the Perfection of the Wisdom, and to discuss the following two viewpoints: 1) Though having achieved anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (Supreme Perfect Enlightenment), Mañjuśrī enters all realms regardless of popular wishes to practise his teachings and to instruct all sentimental beings in a bodhisattva-body, keeping his vow not to reach the stage of buddhahood too quickly. His ideas of “no bodhi to be gained” and “not to acquire bodhi” show his magnificent achievements in realization. 2) “Mañjuśrī is Enlightenment” is the core value of Mañjuśrī’s teachings, practice, and achievements. The thesis aims to display the characteristics of Mañjuśrī’s teachings on the basis of this concept. The thesis attempts to explore the teachings of Manjusri fully and thoroughly. Through the process of research, including the theme, the purpose, the context and layers of teachings, and the insights, two practical doctrines grounded in the idea “Manjusri is Enlightenment” have thus been established: 1) Manjusri and bodhi are no more than names. Their nature is nothing but emptiness. And 2) “Mañjuśrī” and “bodhi” are in fact synonyms. The thesis tries to discuss Mañjuśrī’s teachings, which are founded on the idea “Mañjuśrī is Enlightenment”, from two aspects: Part One, the positions of followers, and the purpose, the process and the stages of practice. And Part Two, the practical doctrines. Since Mañjuśrī’s achievements are both supreme and immense, the thesis attempts to study his practical doctrines in detail. Related topics are: whether Mañjuśrī has accomplished buddhahood or not? How to achieve anuttara-samyak-sambodhi (Supreme Perfect Enlightenment)? And what are the main ideas of “Mañjuśrī is Enlightenment”? Through the discussion of Mañjuśrī’s deeds and teachings, the thesis has come to the following four conclusions: 1) Mañjuśrī imparts sagely wisdom, instructs all sentimental beings, and guarantees guidance in a buddha-body. 2) He answers calls for help, offers guidance, and provides wisdom teachings in different identities. 3) He delivers Buddha's teachings for all beings of life in bodhisattva’s ways. 4) He feels comfortable in absolute emptiness, as if he was playing a game, which is witnessed everywhere. All of Mañjuśrī’s body, language, and mind are free and unimpeded. His ambitions are to transform the corporeal form, the teachings, the sentimental beings he helped and the process of helping them into emptiness, and then to reveal his pure body, language, and mind in accordance with all conditions. This is the supreme demonstration of the concept “Mañjuśrī is Enlightenment” in infinite spatial and temporal aspects.