The Way of Devotion | Martin Goodson

Buddha flanked by Monju and Fugen

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The Way of Devotion
Aug 22, 2020

Buddhas and bodhisattvas have been the focus of devotional practices since the dawn of Buddhism. Such practices are designed to evoke love and warmth of heart which are the fruit of the Great Bodhisattva Ideal.

The Way of Devotion: An Introduction to Devotional Practices

Western Buddhism places an emphasis on meditation practices, however Eastern Buddhism also has a strong devotional element that can get overlooked in Europe and America. This series explores this side of Buddhist practice.

Bodhisattva Vajrapani

Vajrapani, whose name means ‘He who holds the vajra’ ( a symbolic thunderbolt), is one of the Dharmapalas or Dharma guardians - protectors of those who preach and practice the Buddha’s teachings.

Maitreya

Maitreya is the Buddha who is to come prophesied by Shakyamuni Buddha to be the one who follows on from himself. He reminds us that in time all beings will attain Buddhahood!

Prajñāpāramitā

Known as the Mother of all Buddhas, this female deity is the embodiment of the wisdom-gone-beyond

Akshobhya | The Five Wisdom Buddhas

The final Meditation Buddha took a vow never to be angry until he reaches full Buddhahood. He is symbolised by the deep blue ocean that remains calm no matter what is happening on the surface.

Vairocana | The Five Wisdom Buddhas

Not all Buddhas were considered flesh and blood or walked the earth. The Five Wisdom Buddhas are the Wisdom states as persons. The body of Vairocana is the body of the True Dharma.

Samantabhadra

Bodhisattva Samantabhadra is known as Fugen in Japan and is the Bodhisattva of Praxis. He is known as the Bodhisattva of Compassion in Activity.

Ratnasambhava | The Five Wisdom Buddhas

The Way of Devotion
The cultivation of equality is the 'jewel' wisdom taught by this Buddha. Associated with vedana skanda Ratnasambhava is neither driven by nor averse to pleasant and unpleasant feeling and thereby leads to the attainment of Arhatship.

Amitābha Buddha | The Five Wisdom Buddhas

The Way of Devotion
Amitābha Buddha also known as Amida Buddha heads the most popular of the Chinese schools of Buddhism amongst the laity. His salvation is promised to all those who sincerely call upon his name. He is also coopted as one of the Five Wisdom Buddhas in Esoteric Buddhism who sits in the West the direction of his...

Amogasiddhi | The Five Wisdom Buddhas

The Way of Devotion
Amogasiddhi’s symbol is the moon, our satellite which reflects the sun’s rays even at night onto the earth. His season is Autumn, the season where life passes into death. His power overcomes envy for he does not grasp, even after the life that is now falling away. 

Avalokiteśvara

The Way of Devotion
One of the Great Bodhisattvas, Avalokiteśvara, is the embodiment of the Buddha's compassion. This 'embodiment' is formed of the images, mantras, scriptures and acts of body, speech and mind inspired by the Bodhisattva's compassionate heart.

Manjushri

The Way of Devotion
Manjushri is the bodhisattva that represents clear seeing and wisdom. With his sword in one hand he cuts through delusion, with the The Great-Wisdom Sutra in the other, he teaches the emptiness of self nature.

Kṣitigarbha

The Way of Devotion
Through the bonds we share with our family, the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha encourages compassion and duty to to all life, by extending that bond to all living beings.

Fudō Myōō (Acala)

The Way of Devotion
'Wrathful' Deities may seem at odds with Buddhist values but as the saying goes, 'the passions are the Buddha nature; the Buddha nature is the passions’. 

Bodhisattvas of the Earth

The Way of Devotion
According to the Lotus Sutra, we need not look to the heavens for the Bodhisattvas. They are already here on earth, inherent in all things.

Sitātapatrā

The Way of Devotion
If protection or general healing is what you need, Sitatapatra is the Boddhisatva to call upon. Born from the top knot of the Buddha she represents the heart-mind in it’s highest state.

Kokūzō Bosatsu

The Way of Devotion
This Bodhisattva symbolises the cosmic functioning of the Buddha and represents ‘the great wisdom gone beyond.’

Zaō Gongen

The Way of Devotion
This Japanese deity who converted to Buddhism can scare away evil thoughts and negative emotions.

Topics

BUDDHA
CH'AN
DHARMA ASSORTMENTS
DHARMA TALKS
FUNDAMENTALS
MAHAYANA
SCRIPTURES
STORIES RETOLD
THE WAY OF DEVOTION
ZEN
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Further reading

Verses from The Dhammapada 68

Pursuing goals at all costs can often leave a trail of destruction and suffering.

Verses from The Dhammapada 133

While it may feel like anger works in the short term, when left unchecked it can quickly lead to a race towards the bottom.

Verses from The Dhammapada 168

The Buddha once said, “Let a man rouse himself and follow the path of righteousness”. Without discipline and effort, the practice will never fully develop but being too rigid will break our resolve.

The Buddhas of the Ten Directions

The Way of Devotion
The interconnected nature of consciousness means that we can have a more fluid relationship with reality, even calling on it for help if we need it.