Eight great bodhisattvas

From Rigpa Wiki

Eight Great Bodhisattvas, or 'Eight Close Sons' (Skt. aṣṭa utaputra; Wyl. nye ba'i sras brgyad) — the main bodhisattvas in the retinue of Buddha Shakyamuni:

• Mañjushri,
• Avalokiteshvara,
• Vajrapani,
• Maitreya,
• Kshitigarbha,
• Akashagarbha,
• Sarvanivaranavishkambhin, and
• Samantabhadra.

Each fulfils a particular role to help beings. Symbolically they represent the pure state of the eight consciousnesses.

Contents 1 Qualities of the Eight Bodhisattvas 2 Notes 3 Further Reading 3.1 In Tibetan 3.2 In English 4 External Links

Qualities of the Eight Bodhisattvas

Although the eight bodhisattvas or ‘close sons of the Buddha’ all possess the same qualities and powers, each one displays perfection in a particular area or activity.

• Manjushri embodies wisdom;
• Avalokiteshvara embodies compassion;
• Vajrapani represents power;
• Kshitigarbha increases the richness and fertility of the land;
• Sarvanivaranavishkambhin purifies wrong-doing and obstructions;
• Maitreya embodies love;
• Samantabhadra displays special expertise in making offerings and prayers of aspiration; and
• Akashagarbha has the perfect ability to purify transgressions.

Khenpo Chöga says:

Among the immeasurable qualities of the Buddha, eight of his foremost qualities manifest as the eight bodhisattvas:

1) the personification of the Buddha’s wisdom (Wyl. ye shes kyi rang gzugs) is Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī;

2) the personification of the Buddha’s compassion (Wyl. snying rje’i rang gzugs) appears as Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara;

3) the personification of the Buddha’s power or capacity (Wyl. nus pa’i rang gzugs) is Bodhisattva Vajrapāṇi;

4) the personification of the Buddha’s activity (Wyl. phrin las) is Bodhisattva Maitreya;

5) the personification of the Buddha’s merit (Wyl. bsod nams rang gzugs) arises as Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha;

6) the personification of the Buddha’s qualities (Wyl. yon tan gyi rang gzugs) appears as Bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhī;

7) the personification of the Buddha’s blessings (Wyl. byin rlabs kyi rang gzugs) arises as Bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha; and

8) the personification of the Buddha’s aspirations (Wyl. smon lam gyi rang gzugs) is manifest as Bodhisattva Samantabhadra.^[1]

Notes

1. ↑ In Drops of Nectar: Khenpo Kunpal's Commentary on Shantideva's Entering the Conduct of the Bodhisattvas, www.kunpal.org, vol. 1 p.282

Further Reading

In Tibetan

• Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Tayé, nye ba'i sras brgyad kyi rnam thar la bsngags pa bstod chen rgya mtsho rnam bshad
• Mipham Rinpoche, byang chub sems dpa' chen po nye ba'i sras brgyad kyi rtogs brjod nor bu'i phreng ba (Translated by Lama Yeshe Gyamtso. See below)
• Mipham Rinpoche, nye sras brgyad kyi sgrub pa rin chen gter bum

In English

• Jamgön Mipham, A Garland of Jewels, (trans. by Lama Yeshe Gyamtso), Woodstock: KTD Publications, 2008

External Links

• Bodhisattva Outline Page at Himalayan Art