(Void Tibetan Bodhisattva Tibetan Buddhism Thangka Network Reference Map)
About the Vanity Hidden Bodhisattva
Let's start with the name of the bodhisattva hidden in the void. "Emptiness" means greatness and infinity, and "hiding" not only refers to wealth, but also includes wisdom and merit. Therefore, "hiding in the void" means that the wisdom, merits and wealth of the Bodhisattva are as vast as emptiness.
The Sanskrit of the Vanity Tibetan Bodhisattva is "Akasagarbha" and the Chinese translation is "Star". Buddhist scriptures describe the moment when Sakyamuni Buddha enlightened under the bodhi tree. He looked up and saw a star suddenly flying in the sky. This star is a bodhisattva hidden in the void, representing the universal wisdom of enlightened Sakyamuni Buddha.
Therefore, the jurisdiction of the whole universe, such as the sun, the moon, the stars, the morning light, the wind, the rain and the thunder, belongs to the bodhisattva in the void.
(Virtual Tibetan Bodhisattva Portrait Network Reference Map)
The bodhisattva hidden in the void is also known as the "first assistant minister" of the third Buddha. Merits are all over the void, wisdom is boundless and sand is indescribable, humiliation is like king kong, diligence is like the wind, and it is full of all samadhi. Vanity Tibetan Bodhisattva is the main statue of the tantric mandala Vanity Tibetan Academy, and it is one of the 16 statues of Sakyamuni on the right side of the Sakyamuni Tibetan Academy in the current picture, and it is the mandala fairy in King Kong.
The Spread of Vanity Tibetan Bodhisattva
With the prosperity of esotericism in the Tang Dynasty, the practice of hiding bodhisattvas in the void was also introduced to China. At that time, there were two founders who came to China to preach, one was Vajrayana Bodhisattva, and the other was Sanzang Xumituo Buddha.
The Sanzang of Sumitomo Buddha is hidden in the void of practicing Buddhism. The full name of this method is "The Bodhisattva who hides in the void can fulfill all wishes, and the most kind heart is Dalagni's seeking to smell and hold", which is referred to as "the method of hiding in the void seeking to smell and hold".
(Network reference map of bodhisattva bronze statue in void)
Sanzang Sumitomo passed this method on to Daoci monk, who passed it on to Cao Qin monk, and Cao Qin monk passed this method on to Konghai monk, who later became "Buddhist masters", that is, the founders of Tantric Buddhism.
Monk Konghai studied the Buddha Mantra in the Void with diligent monks in Japan, and then practiced in Tailongshan for seven years, reciting the Buddha Mantra in the Void for one million times, and writing Three Religions to review the various religions.
The method of hiding in the void, seeking knowledge and holding, because it can develop wisdom, make people clear-headed and greatly increase their memory, has become a highly respected method. Vanity Tibetan Bodhisattva is widely circulated among Japanese people, and is highly praised by the people for its wisdom.
Bodhisattva statue hidden in the void
Because there are not many statues of Bodhisattva hidden in the void, it is easy to be confused with Manjushri. We might as well learn about the statue characteristics of the vanity Tibetan Bodhisattva from the Han biography and Tibetan Buddhism.
(Network reference map of bodhisattva bronze statue in void)
The image of bodhisattva in Han Buddhism is mostly based on the description in Guanyin Bodhisattva: wearing five Buddha crowns and a wishful pearl on the top of the head; The right hand bends its arm and holds Bao Huijian, whose blade has various flames; Put your left hand on your waist and hold a lotus or a wishful ball. The sword held by your majesty is regarded as a symbol of wisdom and happiness by all beings.
As mentioned earlier, Manjusri Bodhisattva also holds a sword in his right hand, but his left hand is a scripture, which is the difference of instruments that distinguish the two Buddha statues.
(Void Tibetan Bodhisattva Tibetan Buddhism Thangka Network Reference Map)
In the Tibetan Buddhism Thangka, we can see that the vanity Tibetan Bodhisattva is precious, corresponding to the sun, moon and stars in charge of the universe. Bodhisattva wears a five-wisdom crown, and the high bun is called Baoji, which is equal to the center of the whole universe and represents Xumi Mountain.
Bodhisattva has many accessories, such as earrings, necklaces, brooches, bracelets, anklets and so on, and wears heavenly clothes. Holding a lotus in the left hand, there is a flaming sword in the lotus.
(Empty Tibetan Bodhisattva carved in Aobao, Mediterranean)
The sideways image of the vanity Tibetan Bodhisattva is also a common image in Tibetan Buddhism Thangka, and it is also holding a lotus and a sword. Careful friends will find that whether it is Han Buddhism or Tibetan Buddhism, Bodhisattva Vanity is sitting on a lotus, but there are statues of Bodhisattva Vanity standing in peacetime.
(Virtual Tibetan Bodhisattva Portrait Network Reference Map)
The wisdom, merits and wealth of the bodhisattva hidden in the void are as vast as the void, which can satisfy the good wishes of all practitioners in the world and make infinite benefits to all beings. It is the bodhisattva who takes pleasure in helping all beings.