Orange Manjushri: A Meditation by the 5th Dalai Lama
A depiction of Lord Manjushri as an Indian prince, painted by Venerable Gonsar Rinpoche. Click on the image to enlarge or click here to download high resolution images of Buddhas.
Dear friends around the world,
I have loved Manjushri for as long as I can remember. His is one of the practices that I always recommend to people because consistently over the years, I have seen the results come so quickly that it’s almost unbelievable. So wherever I am, I must always have images of Manjushri with me, otherwise somehow it doesn’t feel complete.
So I have previously blogged about how Manjushri is such an indispensable practice for us. As the attained Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen very clearly said to me a long time ago, if we do not rely on the ‘definitive’ Manjushri, there is no way we can become enlightened. The ‘definitive’ Manjushri is the embodiment of wisdom, which is the realisation of emptiness and without it, we are unable to achieve enlightenment. Therefore, when we rely on Manjushri, we are able to achieve the various types of wisdoms and especially the highest wisdom, which is the realisation of emptiness and bodhichitta.
Although Manjushri currently appears as a bodhisattva, in actuality he has traversed the bodhisattva path. In a time long gone, he became a fully enlightened Buddha who was known as the Tathagatha Lamp of the Nagas. Due to the strong karmic connection with the sentient beings of our time, he manifested as a bodhisattva disciple of the Buddha, called Manjushri, who is famed for his great wisdom.
A beautiful thangka of Lord Manjushri. Click on the image to enlarge or click here to download more high resolution images of Buddhas.
Even Buddha Shakyamuni would recommend students to Manjushri due to their special karmic connection with him. Once, during Buddha Shakyamuni’s time, a repentant King Ajatashatru approached the Buddha. He had committed heavy negative actions of killing his father and raping a nun who was also an attained being. The Buddha realised his affinity was with Manjushri and recommended the king to look for Manjushri. The meeting of the king and Manjushri led King Ajatashatru to the profound realisation of emptiness despite the heavy negative actions he had committed.
Manjushri is also indeed very unique and special as he is practised in all lineages and traditions present today. As the main yidam of Lama Tsongkhapa, Manjushri constantly appears to Lama Tsongkhapa and was able to clarify the subtlest aspects of the teachings and transmit many teachings and transmissions. Hence, it is said that lineage and practices of Lama Tsongkhapa are especially blessed by Manjushri for practitioners to gain quicker attainments.
Therefore, I am sharing with you a meditation upon Orange or Arapachana Manjushri composed by none other than the Great Fifth Dalai Lama who unified Tibet after many damaging civil wars, established diplomatic relations with China and other countries, and wrote a massive 24 volumes’ worth of scholarly and religious works on a wide range of subjects including a prayer to Dorje Shugden. Despite his political and scholarly endeavours, the Great Fifth Dalai Lama was also a secret yogi whose meditations and retreats yielded pure visions.
Orange Manjushri is the main form of Manjushri, appearing as a Bodhisattva prince sitting in full lotus posture while holding a flaming wisdom sword with his right hand. With his left hand at his heart, he grasps the stem of a utpala blossom upon which the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra rests. The propitiation of this form of Manjushri develops wisdom within us, clarity of mind, better memory, critical thinking and artistic talents, purifies negative speech karma and finally, creates the causes for us to develop powerful, beneficial and influential speech.
I have reproduced the translated meditation here for strictly educational purposes with strong hopes that many will be blessed by the practice of Lord Manjushri via the Great Fifth’s lineage and blessings. You may read it only if you have received prior initiation otherwise you will breaking tantric commitments. But you can download and keep in your personal library for the future. May the seeds of the ‘definitive’ Manjushri be implanted in all of you and may those who practise this sadhana become one with Manjushri.
Tsem Rinpoche
Lord Manjushri’s abode, Wu Tai Shan which you can read about here
A Meditation Upon Orange Manjushri
by the Fifth Dalai Lama (1617-1682)
Click here to download the prayers below in PDF form.
Note: in order to self-generate as the deity, one is required to have received an empowerment of Orange Manjushri on the basis of kriyatantra (the lower classes of tantra) or higher. Without such an empowerment, one may still engage in the practice but at the time of self-generation, instead generate Manjushri on the crown of your head.
NAMO GURUJA VAGIH SHARIGYA
I make humble obeisance to you, great Tsong Khapa,
Personification of Manjushri in human form with all the marks and signs of perfection.
Your magnificent attainments were nurtured in the matrix of motherly method and wisdom combined
Of which the vibrant syllable DHIH is an embodiment.Sipping the nectars of the profound teachings
Directly from Manjushri´s masterly eloquence,
You realized the heart of wisdom.
Inspired by your example, I will now set out
A description of the steps for actualization
Of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom,
In accord with your realization.
Refuge and Bodhicitta
I go for refuge until I am enlightened
To the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Supreme Assembly.
By my practice of giving and other perfections,
May I become a Buddha to benefit all sentient beings.May all sentient beings have happiness and its causes.
May all sentient beings be free of suffering and its causes.
May all sentient beings never be separated from sorrowless bliss.
May all sentient beings abide in equanimity, free of bias, attachment and anger.OM SVABHAVA SHUDDHA SARVA DHARMAH SVABHAVA SHUDDHO HAM
Visualisation: Manjushri Front Generation
At my heart is my mind in the shape of an egg, its point upwards. Inside the egg, on a full moon disc, is an orange letter DHI, from which an infinite amount of light emits. It fills the whole of my body, purifying all my negativities and removing all my obscurations accumulated since beginningless time. The light rays leave through my pores and become offerings to the buddhas and bodhisattvas, thereby delighting them. This causes the blessings of the body, speech, and mind of these holy beings to dissolve into light that destroys the darkness of ignorance of all sentient beings, thus placing them in wisdom’s illumination.
The rays then recollect into the syllable DHI. It transforms into light, my ordinary perception and my clinging thereto vanish, and I emerge as Venerable Manjushri, orange in color, with one face and two arms. My right hand brandishes a sword of wisdom in the space above me. At my heart between the thumb and ring finger of my left hand, I hold the stem of an utpala lotus. Upon its petals in full bloom, by my left ear, rests a volume of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra.
I sit in full lotus posture and am adorned with precious ornaments for my head, ears, throat, and shoulders, as well as bracelets and anklets. Draped in a flowing mantle and skirt of exquisite silks, my hair is tied up in five knots and coils counter-clockwise. Bearing an entrancing and serene smile, I sit amidst a mass of light radiating from my body. The letter OM marks the crown of my head, AH my throat and HUM my heart.
HUM emits rays of light that invite the wisdom beings from the inconceivable mansion of their own pure lands. They resemble Manjushri as described above and are surrounded by hosts of buddhas and bodhisattvas.
Invoking and Absorbing the Wisdom Beings
DZA (wisdom beings approach Manjushri)
HUM (wisdom beings dissolve into Manjushri)
BAM (wisdom beings and Manjushri become one)
HO (wisdom beings are inseparable from Manjushri)They absorb into me and thus we become one.
Offerings and Praise
OM ARYA VAGIH SHARA SAPARIVARA ARGHAM PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
OM ARYA VAGIH SHARA SAPARIVARA PADYAM PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
OM ARYA VAGIH SHARA SAPARIVARA PUSHPE PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
OM ARYA VAGIH SHARA SAPARIVARA DHUPE PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
OM ARYA VAGIH SHARA SAPARIVARA ALOKE PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
OM ARYA VAGIH SHARA SAPARIVARA GANDHE PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
OM ARYA VAGIH SHARA SAPARIVARA NAIVEDYA PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
OM ARYA VAGIH SHARA SAPARIVARA SHABDA PRATICCHA HUM SVAHA
Praise
I make obeisance to your youthful form, O Manjushri,
Like that of a dynamic and graceful sixteen year old.
You repose upon the full moon as your cushion
At the center of an expansive, milk-white lotus.I make obeisance to your speech, O Mighty Fulfiller of Wishes,
So mellifluent to the minds of countless sentient beings,
A lucent euphony to accord with each listener´s capacity,
Its multiplicity embellishing the hearing of all fortunate ones.O Manjushri, I make obeisance to your mind
Wherein is illuminated the entire tapestry of the myriad objects of knowledge.
It is a tranquil ocean of unfathomable profundity
Of immeasurable breadth, boundless like space itself.
Mantra Recitation
At my heart upon a moon disc is an orange syllable DHI. Encircling it at the disc’s periphery stands the rosary-like mantra of
OM AH RA PA TSA NA DHI
All the syllables radiate light, which gathers both the wisdoms of exposition, dialectics and composition and the wisdoms of hearing, contemplation and meditation, which are possessed by the buddhas, bodhisattvas, sravakas and pratyekabuddhas, and the wise and learned masters of all the Buddhist and non-Buddhist traditions.
To purify excesses, omissions, and mistakes, recite Vajrasattva’s hundred-syllable mantra:
OM BENZA SATTO SAMAYA MANU PALAYA / BENZA SATTO TENO PATITA / DIDO MAY BHAWA / SUTO KAYO MAY BHAWA / SUPO KAYO MAY BHAWA / ANU RAKTO MAY BHAWA / SARWA SIDDHI MEPAR YATSA / SARWA KARMA SU TSA MAY / TSITAM SHRIYAM KURU HUM / HA HA HA HA HO / BHAGAWAN / SARWA TATAGATA / BENZA MA MAY MU TSA / BENZA BHAWA MAHA SAMAYA SATTO / AH HUM PEY (3x)
Dedication
By the virtue of this practice may I quickly
Accomplish the powerful attainments of Manjushri,
And then may I lead all beings without exception
To that supreme state.May the precious bodhi mind
Not yet born arise and grow.
May that born have no decline,
But increase forever more.Colophon: The above meditation upon Orange Manjushri was written by Ngawang Lozang Gyatso, a monk of rectitude from Zahor, at the request of Gajo Dargye. It was translated into English by Kevin Garratt, with Chomdze Tashi Wangyal and Losang Gyaltsen from Meditations On The Lower Tantras, by Glenn H. Mullin.
Other Forms of Manjushri
Another form of Manjushri known as Manjushri Namasamgiti together with Dorje Shugden. Click on image to enlarge or click here for more beautiful thangkas.
Another form of Manjushri known as Dharmadhatu Vagishvara Manjushri together with Dorje Shugden. Click on image to enlarge or click here for more beautiful thangkas.
The 5th Dalai Lama with his teacher, the 4th Panchen Lama. Click on image to enlarge or click here for more beautiful thangkas.
White Manjushri. Click on image to enlarge or click here for more beautiful thangkas.
Guhya Manjushri. Click on image to enlarge or click here for more beautiful thangkas.
For more interesting information:
- All About Manjushri
- Black Manjushri and An Overview of the Mind
- Black Manjushri
- Black Manjushri Thangka
- A Black Manjushri Sadhana
- White Manjushri daily practice
- In You Manjushri
- Manjushri initiation in Gaden Shartse
- 1000-armed Manjushri!!!
- Kechara Forest Retreat’s Manjushri!
- Dream Manjushri
- Manjushri for Justin
- Hecelus Tan does his first Manjushri Retreat!
- Manjushri for Li Kim’s boys!
- Look what the postman brought!
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Mantras in the waters of Kechara Forest Retreat-Malaysia
Mantras represent the blessings of the enlightened beings in the form of sound. When we recite mantras they stimulate the various parts of our body to heal itself, to clear itself, to purify itself and to gain higher states of consciousness. Therefore, mantras are very powerful. They can be written, visualised or recited out aloud. The mantras of enlightened beings bless ordinary beings, animals, ethereal or formless beings and everyone in the environment.
In Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia, we have a koi fish pond, on which sits a magnificent statue of Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom. When the fish circumambulate around Manjushri they are blessed by his divine presence. At the same time, people who come to visit the pond and circumambulate around Manjushri receive the same blessings.
Along with the Manjushri fish pond, we also have a lake in Kechara Forest Retreat. In the middle of this lake is a Shakyamuni Buddha statue. In both these places we have placed Manjushri mantra stones underneath submerged under the water so that the animals, humans and beings who circumambulate these holy statues, not only circumambulate the images of the Buddhas but also sacred mantras. The is done in order to plant the seeds of enlightenment in their mindstreams so that in the future they are able to realise Bodhicitta, the realisation of Emptiness and higher states of consciousness. So, I thought I would share this little video with everyone. Thank you.
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1542840739.mp4
This video, narrated in Chinese, features Manjushri mantra stones. These are stones carved with the sacred mantra of Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom. The mantra of any Buddha is basically the manifestation of the enlightened being in the form of sound. Therefore, Manjushri’s mantra embodies the special qualities of his transcendent wisdom. Offering of these mantras stones is likened to an offering of Manjushri-like speech to the Three Jewels.
Sponsoring and offering such stones has the benefit of gaining deeper insight into spiritual practice, improving one’s memory, critical thinking, creativity, language and the purification of negative karma related to speech. It also promotes the development of powerful speech that has a positive impact on others.
In the video we see mantra stones placed at the majestic Four-armed Manjushri statue in Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia. The more stones are offered there, the more benefit it brings to the person circumambulating and paying homage to Lord Manjushri. These stones are available at Naropa’s Cave in Kechara Forest Retreat and can be offered to the statue of Manjushri here just as you see in the video.
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1542838906.mp4
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this Manjushri practice to everyone. I have been doing Manjushi’s mantra daily and i can feel improvement from its very blessed mantra. It has helped me to gain more clarity to do social media. I have also recommended to my dharma brothers and sisters. They also noticed improvements. Thank you once again Rinpoche and blog team for sharing this very powerful practice to us ??
Thank you Rinpoche for your most interesting sharing on Orange Manjushri . Thank you for bringing to us the practice of Manjushri and the lineage of teachings and practice of Lama Tsongkhapa, who had been very close to Manjushri and to whom Manjushri had appeared to clarify subtle aspects of the teachings and to transmit many teachings and transmissions. Indeed, when we study the Lamrim, we are blessed to see how Lama Tsongkhapa had composed this Graduated Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, with the guidance and advice of Manjushri. We are indeed fortunate to have received Tsongkhapa’s lineage of teachings which has been blessed by Manjushri for practitioners to gain quicker attainments.
THe practice of Manjushri is indispensable to us. The ‘definitive’ Manjushri is the embodiment of wisdom, which is the realisation of emptiness . Without the realization of emptiness, we are unable to achieve enlightenment . Therefore, without relying on the ‘definitive’ Manjushri, we cannot attain enlightenment. Thus,by relying on Manjushri, we are able to achieve the various types of wisdoms and especially the highest wisdom, which is the realisation of emptiness and bodhichitta.
Manjushri is a Buddha, the Buddha of Wisdom and, yet , owing to his strong karmic connection with the sentient beings of our time, he manifested as a bodhisattva disciple of Buddha Shakyamuni called Manjushri, famed for his wisdom. Disciples of Lord Buddha , who had karmic affinity with him, were directed by Buddha to him . One such disciple was King Ajatashatru, who, despite very heavy transgressions like killing his own father, was able, through Manjushri’s teachings and blessings, to attain the profound realisation of emptiness, after he had become repentant and had approached Lord Buddha.So powerful is Manjushri!
Thank you Rinpoche for presenting here the practice of Orange Manjushri, composed by the most profound Fifth Dalai Lama , to sow seeds of the ‘definitive’ Manjushri in our mindstream that we may be blessed to perform this sadhana and become one with Manjushri.
Dear Rinpoche,
To be able to read who is Manjushri is a great blessing to us. Though this article, i have learned that the Main form of Manjushri is orange in color and also the benefits to be able to practice Manjushri.
Thank you for giving us blessing.
With Holded hand
Freon?♥️
I have never heard of Manjushri before I cam to know of His Eminence Tsem Rinpoche, I do remember reciting Gangloma and feeling a ‘whoosh’ over my head.
I am truly indebted to Rinpoche, for introducing Manjushri to all of us.