Genuine Hand Art Manjushri Thangka

A thangka is a Tibetan painting that is traditionally used as a support for one’s meditation practice. The imagery depicted in Tibetan paintings provides a guide for the elaborate visualizations that one does in Tibetan Buddhist practice. In Tibetan homes and monasteries, thangkas are considered sacred objects and are often placed above shrines.

Monju Bosatsu or Manjushri is an important presence in Mahayana sutra, especially the Prajnaparamita sutras (Perfection of Wisdom sutras), Lotus Sutra, and Avatamsaka Sutra. He is attributed with bringing the insight that leads many sentient beings to Enlightenment. In all of Mahayana Buddhism, he is considered the Bodhisattva of Wisdom; in Vajrayana, he is a completely enlightened Buddha. (This is not a contradiction, but rather, a path: the Bodhisattva path leads to Buddha Enlightenment.)

He is also one of the three “great Bodhisattvas, along with Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani. Broadly speaking, they represent three critical concepts or the three virtues of the Buddha:

Manjushri: Wisdom and insight (prajna)

Avalokiteshvara: Compassion and love (metta)

Vajrapani: Power and strength and protection.

Mantra:

Om Ah Ra Pa Tsa Na Dhi