Today, I’ll introduce another bodhisattva, Ajita Bodhisattva. The Sanskrit word Ajita translates to “Unsurpassed,” also known as “One Free from the Three Poisons,” which are greed, anger, and ignorance.
Maitreya Bodhisattva will become a buddha in the future, currently he is at the Perfect Enlightenment stage of attainment. Ajita Bodhisattva is the Maitreya Bodhisattva that is enshrined in temples today. Maitreya Bodhisattva is the bodhisattva with the large belly, currently at the Palace of the Tusita Heaven expounding the dharma. Tusita Heaven has forty-nine courts, one of which is called the Dharma Expounding Court. He is expounding the dharma there.
In the past I wrote that Guru’s red crown, this Five-Buddha crown that I am wearing was placed on me by Maitreya Bodhisattva.
The appearance of Maitreya Bodhisattva in India and Tibet is different from how he is depicted in China.
In China, Maitreya Bodhisattva is portrayed with a large face, long ears, and a big belly, looking quite plump. But in India and Tibet, he appears much slimmer. One might jokingly think this is because food in China is more abundant, while India and Tibet are comparatively poorer, but that is not actually the reason.
According to my understanding, in the past there was a monk in Zhejiang, China, known as the “Cloth Bag Monk” (Budai). He was very round in appearance, with a big belly and a smiling face. Before he passed away, he wrote a verse:
This Maitreya Bodhisattva was very accomplished. He carried a cloth bag. When monks asked him about his Dharma, asking “We’ve heard you’ve attained enlightenment, please expound the dharma to us”, the Cloth Bag Monk then took his sack down and placed it on the ground.
The monks who had asked him were puzzled. Why didn’t he say anything and just put down the bag?
According to wise people today, they know the Cloth Bag Monk was teaching, and was saying “You must put down/let go of everything.”
Those who practice Buddhism must let go of everything. As I just mentioned those practicing Buddhism must cultivate until they have no desires, which means letting go of everything. Only by letting go of inner afflictions, all worldly and various mental obstacles, including physical obstacles, can one achieve liberation and attain Buddhahood.
After receiving this kind of instruction, these monks again asked him, “Besides letting go, what else is there?”
The Cloth Bag Monk then lifted the cloth bag, put it on his shoulder and walked off. What does this mean?
Later, wise people said “This means first letting go of all afflictions, then picking them up again and placing them on your shoulder. It means taking on the great work of the Tathagata to save sentient beings. This “picking up” means to save sentient beings.
Therefore, putting down is “Nirvana,” and picking up is “saving sentient beings.”
Those who practice Buddhism, not only must they put down, they must also save sentient beings. When we cultivate ourselves, we should be “without seeking.” Any seeking should be for sentient beings. “Not seeking for oneself, but seeking for the sake of sentient beings.” Up until now, even though I say that I no longer seek anything, seek nothing, in reality I may
The image of Maitreya Bodhisattva in Taiwan also has a few words inscribed on it, and those words are very good, “Always smiling, laughing at all the laughable people in the world.”
Why laugh at all the laughable people in the world?
Because everyone in the world is laughable!
Therefore, Maitreya Bodhisattva is “always smiling”. The corners of his mouth are always smiling. He has a large belly, “A large belly can tolerate, tolerate the affairs of the world that are hard to tolerate.”
Maitreya Bodhisattva often laughs at the laughable people in the world, and can tolerate the affairs of the world that are hard to tolerate. His laughter is equivalent to complete enlightenment. He knows most clearly, therefore he laughs at all the people in the world. His tolerance and patience skills are also very good. He can tolerate even the most intolerable things in the world, which shows that he has already obtained the entire world.
Maitreya Bodhisattva will be the future Buddha. After Shakyamuni Buddha he will attain Buddhahood and liberate sentient beings in the Saha world. The so-called “Three Nagapushpa assemblies under the Dragon Flower Tree” refer to the three occasions on which he will expound the Dharma to liberate beings. At that time, Maitreya Bodhisattva will become the dharma leader of the Saha World.
Om Mani Padme Hum.