Happy Birthday to Bodhisattva Manjushri 恭迎文殊菩萨圣诞
5月20日，农历四月初四，是文殊师利菩萨圣诞日。
文殊师利菩萨是中国佛教四大菩萨之一。
On 20th May, 4th day of the fourth lunar month, it’s the birthday of Bodhisattva Manjushri.
Bohisattva Manjushri is one of the four main Bodhisattvas in Chinese Buddhism.
1. Teacher of All Buddhas — Never Abandoning Sentient Beings
一、诸佛之师 不舍众生
Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva (Sanskrit: Mañjuśrī), also translated as “Wonderful Virtue,” “Wonderful Auspiciousness,” or “Wonderful Excellence,” is revered as the teacher of all Buddhas. In Mahayana Buddhism, Mañjuśrī represents fundamental wisdom and is known as the “teacher of the seven Buddhas.” The number seven symbolizes completeness and perfection, meaning that all Buddhas arise from wisdom itself.
文殊师利（梵文 Mañjuśrī），意译为“妙首”、“妙吉祥”或“妙德”，被尊称为“诸佛之师”。在大乘佛法中，文殊菩萨表“根本智”，并被称为“七佛之师”。这里的“七”并非单指数目，而是象征圆满具足之意。换句话说，文殊菩萨代表一切诸佛的智慧根源。
Among all Bodhisattvas, Mañjuśrī is foremost in wisdom. His lion mount symbolizes courage and majesty, while the sword he carries represents wisdom cutting through ignorance and delusion. Mañjuśrī embodies fundamental wisdom, whereas Samantabhadra Bodhisattva represents practice and the wisdom gained through cultivation.
文殊菩萨于诸菩萨中智慧第一。其坐骑为狮子，象征威猛无畏；手持宝剑，象征智慧斩断无明烦恼。文殊表根本智，普贤则表后得智与广大行愿。
The Sutra of Alms Bowl states:
“My attainment of Buddhahood is entirely due to the grace of Mañjuśrī. Countless Buddhas of the past were his disciples, and future Buddhas will also arise through his spiritual power. Just as children in the world have parents, Mañjuśrī is like the parent within the Buddha-path.”
《放钵经》云：
“今我得佛，皆是文殊师利之恩也。过去无央数诸佛，皆是文殊师利弟子，当来者亦是其威神力所致。譬如世间小儿有父母，文殊者，佛道中父母也。”
Even Śākyamuni Buddha manifested as a student of Mañjuśrī. All Buddhas are equal in enlightenment; they merely appear in different roles, like actors performing different parts on a stage.
释迦牟尼佛亦曾示现为文殊菩萨的学生。佛佛道同，佛佛平等，只是示现不同角色，如同舞台演出一般。
This reveals the inconceivable compassion of Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva. Anyone who sincerely aspires to practise Buddhism — especially those seeking rebirth in the Pure Land — receives the care and protection of the Bodhisattva.
由此可见，文殊菩萨悲心广大，不可思议。凡是真正发心学佛、尤其求生净土者，菩萨无不护念照顾。
When the venerable Master Xuyun made pilgrimage to Mount Wutai, he fell seriously ill twice in remote wilderness areas. Both times, a beggar named “Wenji” appeared to care for him, providing food and medicine. Only later did Master Xuyun realize this was Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva appearing in disguise.
虚云老和尚当年朝礼五台山时，两次病倒于荒山野岭，皆遇一位名叫“文吉”的乞丐照顾他饮食、治病。后来才知，那正是文殊菩萨化身示现。
2. Universally Guiding Beings Toward the Pure Land
二、普导众生 同归极乐
The Mañjuśrī Aspiration Sutra states:
“At the time of my death, may all obstacles be removed.
May I behold Amitabha Buddha face to face and be reborn in the Land of Bliss.
Having been born in that Buddha-land, may all my great vows be fulfilled,
And may Amitabha Buddha personally bestow upon me the prophecy of Buddhahood.”
《文殊发愿经》云：
“愿我命终时，灭除诸障碍，面见阿弥陀，往生安乐刹。生彼佛国已，成满诸大愿，阿弥陀如来，现前授我记。”
Both Mañjuśrī and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas vowed to be reborn in the Pure Land, setting the supreme example for all Bodhisattvas.
文殊与普贤二大菩萨，皆发愿往生极乐世界，为一切菩萨做出最好的榜样。
In the Avatamsaka Sutra, the forty-one great Bodhisattvas ultimately follow Mañjuśrī and Samantabhadra to the Land of Ultimate Bliss. Why? Because Buddhahood is attained there most swiftly and perfectly.
《华严经》中四十一位法身大士，最终皆随文殊、普贤同归极乐。为什么？因为极乐世界成佛最快速、最圆满。
Even advanced Bodhisattvas in the Lotus Treasury World require three great asamkhyeya kalpas to attain Buddhahood, whereas in the Pure Land, Buddhahood can be realized swiftly. This demonstrates the incomparable excellence of the Pure Land path.
即使法身大士于华藏世界修行，仍需三大阿僧祇劫才能成佛；而往生极乐世界，则能快速圆成佛道，更显净土法门殊胜不可思议
3. Compassionately Encouraging Nianfo in the Dharma-Ending Age
三、垂慈末世 普劝念佛
Master Fazhao, the Fourth Patriarch of the Pure Land School during the Tang Dynasty, once journeyed to Mount Wutai and personally encountered Mañjuśrī and Samantabhadra Bodhisattvas at the Great Sacred Bamboo Grove Monastery. He asked them about the essential method of cultivation.
唐朝净土宗第四代祖师法照大师，曾朝礼五台山，于大圣竹林寺亲见文殊、普贤二大菩萨，并请问修行要道。
Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva replied:
“Among all methods of cultivation, none is easier to accomplish than the practice of Buddha-recitation.”
文殊菩萨告诉他：
“一切修行法门，无如念佛法门容易成就。”
He further said:
“In past kalpas, through Buddha-recitation, I attained omniscient wisdom.”
又说：
“我于过去劫中，因念佛故，得一切种智。”
“Omniscient wisdom” refers to complete Buddhahood, showing that Buddha-recitation not only leads to rebirth in the Pure Land, but ultimately to full enlightenment.
“一切种智”即佛果，说明念佛法门不仅能往生，更能圆成佛道。
Master Fazhao then asked:
“How should one recite the Buddha’s name?”
法照大师又问：
“当云何念？”
Mañjuśrī answered:
“To the west of this world is Amitabha Buddha. The power of His vows is inconceivable. You should continuously recite His name without interruption.”
文殊菩萨回答：
“此世界西有阿弥陀佛，彼佛愿力不可思议。汝当继念，令无间断。”
This is precisely what Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva called “pure mindfulness in continuous succession” — without doubt, without mixture, and without interruption.
这正是大势至菩萨所说的“净念相继”——不怀疑、不夹杂、不间断。
Finally, Mañjuśrī taught:
“If good men and women wish to quickly escape samsara, they should practise Buddha-recitation.”
文殊菩萨最后开示：
“若善男女愿疾出离，应当念佛。”
The Pure Land path of Buddha-recitation is stable, swift, and supremely excellent. It is truly a supreme Dharma-door capable of helping beings transcend samsara, attain rebirth in the Pure Land, and ultimately realize Buddhahood.
念佛法门，稳当、快捷、殊胜，是真正能帮助众生脱离六道轮回、往生净土、圆成佛道的无上法门。
