The Original Causes and Conditions:
Manjushri as a Buddha Since Countless Ages Past
The stories of Manjushri Bodhisattva’s generation of the Bodhicitta (the mind of awakening) and his practice of the Bodhisattva Path throughout past lives are described in Buddhist teachings as extending beyond the limits of time and space — reaching throughout the three periods of time and across the ten directions.
Buddhist scriptures describe that Buddha Shakyamuni once praised Manjushri Bodhisattva for his ancient vows, profound patience, and deep realization.
The Story of Youth Jiehù and the Beginningless Virtue of Manjushri
The Samadhi Ocean Sutra of Contemplating the Buddha (Guan Fo Sanmei Hai Jing) records:
Countless immeasurable ages ago, far beyond ordinary calculation, there was a Buddha named:
Bao Weide Tathagata (The Tathagata of Precious Majestic Virtue).
During the time of this Buddha, there was a noble elder’s son named Jiehu (戒护).
According to Buddhist tradition, while still in his mother’s womb, Jiehu received the Three Refuges:
- Refuge in the Buddha
- Refuge in the Dharma
- Refuge in the Sangha
When Jiehu saw the Buddha’s dignified appearance and noble qualities, he developed great joy and admiration, unable to turn his gaze away.
From that time onward, he encountered countless Buddhas — described in the scripture as numbering beyond calculation — and cultivated vast roots of virtue before them.
These Buddhas guided beings through their enlightened forms and taught the practice of Buddha contemplation samadhi.
The young Jiehu continuously served and accompanied these Buddhas without interruption.
According to this Buddhist account:
This Jiehu Bodhisattva is the present Manjushri Bodhisattva.
The Great Vows of King Pufu in the Distant Past
The Mahāratnakūṭa Sūtra (The Great Jewel Heap Sutra) records another account.
In a distant past extending beyond seventy hundred thousand asaṃkhyeya kalpas and countless Ganges-sand-like ages, Manjushri Bodhisattva was said to have appeared in the world of Non-Arising during the era of Thunder Sound Buddha (Leiyin Buddha).
At that time, he manifested as King Pufu.
For eighty-four thousand years, King Pufu respectfully made offerings to Thunder Sound Buddha, never experiencing weariness despite the passage of countless years.
Later, sitting alone in contemplation, he reflected:
“I have already accumulated vast roots of virtue. Yet I have not determined where these virtues should be dedicated. Should I seek the position of Indra, the Great Brahma King, or a Universal Monarch? Or should I seek the path of the Śrāvaka or Pratyekabuddha?”
After receiving encouragement from heavenly beings, King Pufu generated the aspiration for:
Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi
(The Unsurpassed Complete Enlightenment)
and firmly established the aspiration to never turn back from the Bodhisattva path.
Before Thunder Sound Buddha, he made great vows.
Manjushri as a Buddha in the Remote Past
According to Mahayana Buddhist teachings, Manjushri Bodhisattva had already attained Buddhahood in an unimaginably distant past.
The Śūraṅgama Samadhi Sutra records:
“In the immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable countless ages of the past, there was a Buddha named Longzhongshang Tathagata... His world was called Equality.
When he first turned the Dharma Wheel, he taught and guided seventy billion Bodhisattvas, eighty billion beings who attained Arhatship, and ninety-six thousand beings who entered the path toward Pratyekabuddhahood. Afterward, countless assemblies of disciples continued to practice.
After this Buddha entered Nirvana, the Dharma remained for one hundred thousand years.”
The scripture then asks:
“Kashyapa, do you think the Longzhongshang Buddha of the Equality World at that time was someone different? Do not hold such doubt. Why? Because he was none other than Manjushri, the Dharma Prince.”
Ancient Manifestations Before Birth
The Bodhisattva in the Womb Sutra — Chapter on Manjushri’s Transformations records Buddha Shakyamuni saying to Manjushri:
“You manifested transformations during the past seventy-nine kalpas, teaching while within the womb in the Flower Light World, leaving behind complete relics.”
The verse states:
“Manjushri originally attained Buddhahood;
Within the womb, he manifested transformations.
Today I dwell within this womb,
Comparing this with your former realm.”
These passages express the Mahayana Buddhist view that enlightened beings may manifest through countless forms and circumstances in order to guide sentient beings.
The Buddha of the Constant Joy Land
The Ārya Aṅgulimālīya Sūtra records another teaching of Buddha Shakyamuni:
In the northern direction, beyond countless Buddha lands, there exists a world called:
Changxi (Constant Joy).
The Buddha of that world is named:
Huanxi Zang Mani Baoji Tathagata
(The Tathagata of the Joyful Treasury of Mani Jewel Accumulation).
The scripture describes that this realm is purely Mahayana, without the paths of Śrāvakas or Pratyekabuddhas.
It then asks:
“Is that Tathagata someone different?
No. That Buddha is Manjushri Bodhisattva.”
The Prophecy of Manjushri Becoming Universal Vision Buddha
In Buddhist tradition, Manjushri Bodhisattva is also said to have received a prediction of future Buddhahood.
The Sutra of Compassionate Flower (Karunāpuṇḍarīka Sūtra) records that when Amitabha Buddha was once the Universal Monarch Wuzhengnian, his three princes generated the Bodhicitta before Baozang Buddha.
They vowed:
“In future ages, I shall practice the Bodhisattva path without limitation...”
They wished to establish a pure Buddha land extending throughout countless worlds, where beings would be free from suffering and where the causes of confusion and defilement would not exist.
They aspired that:
- All beings would be transformed through wisdom.
- The world would be adorned with purity and virtue.
- Bodhisattvas practicing the Six Paramitas would fill the realm.
- Every Bodhisattva would have been guided from the beginning of awakening.
The Buddha praised this great aspiration made for the benefit of all beings.
The Bodhisattva was therefore named:
Manjushri Bodhisattva
and was predicted to become a future Buddha known as:
Pujian Tathagata
(The Tathagata of Universal Vision)
His future Buddha land would be called:
The Pure and Immaculate Treasure Realm.
Turning the Wheel of Non-Retreating Dharma:
Manjushri — The Mother of Buddhas and Teacher of Bodhisattvas
According to Mahayana Buddhist scriptures, Manjushri Bodhisattva is regarded as a great teacher of countless Buddhas throughout the past ages.
Buddhist tradition teaches that Manjushri has guided innumerable practitioners toward the realization of Buddhahood. Therefore, he is honored as:
“The Mother of All Buddhas in the Ten Directions”
and
“The Teacher of All Bodhisattvas.”
These titles express the profound role of wisdom as the foundation of awakening within Mahayana Buddhism.
The Wheel of the Non-Retreating Dharma
The Sutra of the Non-Retreating Dharma Wheel records Manjushri Bodhisattva saying to Buddha Shakyamuni:
“Before the Tathagata generated the aspiration for Bodhi, I had already turned this Wheel of the Non-Retreating Dharma.”
This passage expresses the Buddhist view that Manjushri represents the primordial wisdom that guides beings toward unwavering awakening.
The Avataṃsaka Sūtra (Flower Ornament Sutra), Chapter on Entering the Dharma Realm, states:
“Manjushri constantly serves as the mother of countless hundreds of thousands of millions of nayutas of Buddhas, and constantly serves as the teacher of countless hundreds of thousands of millions of Bodhisattvas. He guides and matures all sentient beings, and his name is widely known throughout the worlds of the ten directions.”
The Mother of Buddhas: The Source of Awakening Wisdom
The Mahayana Sutra of Contemplating the Mind-Ground of Original Birth states:
“The great and noble Manjushri, revered among sages,
is regarded as the mother of Buddhas throughout the three times.
When Buddhas of the ten directions first generate the mind of awakening,
it is through the transformative power of Manjushri’s guidance.”
The scripture further says:
“All Tathagatas, during the stages of their practice, have received guidance and encouragement. At the beginning of generating faith and aspiration, they were guided by Manjushri. For this reason, all who attain perfect enlightenment throughout the lands of the ten directions regard Manjushri as their spiritual mother.”
Within this symbolism, “mother” represents the origin and nurturing power of wisdom that gives rise to enlightenment.
“Manjushri Was Once My Teacher”
The Sutra of the Offering Bowl (Fang Bo Jing) records Buddha Shakyamuni saying that Manjushri:
“Was originally my teacher.”
The scripture further describes:
“Manjushri is the father and mother within the path of Buddhahood.”
It also states:
“The countless Buddhas of the past were all once disciples of Manjushri. The Buddhas of the future will also arise through his compassionate power and profound virtue.”
Because Manjushri deeply understands skillful means (upāya) and guides beings according to their conditions, Buddhist teachings explain that he continues to assist sentient beings rather than entering complete final liberation.
The Relationship Between the Buddha and the Teacher
The Guangpu Sutra explains:
“Originally he was the teacher of the Sage of Benevolence (Shakyamuni Buddha), yet now he appears as a disciple.”
The reason, according to the scripture, is:
“Two supreme ones do not manifest together in the same role.”
Thus, in this world, Manjushri appears as a disciple receiving teachings from Buddha Shakyamuni, while in other realms he may appear as a Buddha or a teacher.
This reflects the Mahayana Buddhist teaching of compassionate manifestation according to circumstances.
Manjushri as the Wonderful Light Bodhisattva
According to the Lotus Sutra (Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra), Introduction Chapter, Manjushri Bodhisattva’s former manifestation was Wonderful Light Bodhisattva (Miaoguang Bodhisattva).
In that life, he upheld and taught the Lotus Sutra for eighty small kalpas.
During that era, the eight sons of Sun-Moon-Lamp Radiance Buddha all received teachings from Wonderful Light Bodhisattva.
Through his guidance, they firmly established the aspiration for:
Anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi
(The Unsurpassed Perfect Enlightenment)
Among those who received teachings from him were traditionally identified:
- Dipamkara Buddha (Burning Lamp Buddha)
- Maitreya Bodhisattva
Thus, Buddhist tradition regards Manjushri’s wisdom lineage as extending throughout countless ages, continuously guiding beings toward awakening.
Symbolic Meaning in Mahayana Buddhism
Within Mahayana Buddhist philosophy, the title:
“Mother of Buddhas”
does not refer to biological origin, but symbolizes:
- The birth of awakened wisdom
- The foundation of enlightenment
- The nurturing power of Prajñā (transcendent wisdom)
The title:
“Teacher of Bodhisattvas”
represents the role of wisdom in guiding practitioners on the path of compassion, insight, and liberation.
Therefore, Manjushri Bodhisattva is revered as the embodiment of primordial wisdom, the force that illuminates the path toward awakening.
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