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Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva — The Greatly Vigorous One
Buddhist Bodhisattvas

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva

大势至菩萨 · 大勢至菩薩

The Greatly Vigorous One

Divine Office

  • Illuminating all beings with the light of wisdom to liberate them from the sufferings of the three lower realms
  • Assisting and complementing Amitabha Buddha in guiding sentient beings to rebirth in the Pure Land
  • Attaining the forbearance of non-arising through the practice of Buddha-recitation, and teaching others to attain meditative concentration through this practice
  • Protecting practitioners of Pure Land Buddhism, ensuring their vigorous progress and unwavering perseverance

Origin & Legend

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva’s Sanskrit name is Mahāsthāmaprāpta, meaning 'He Who Has Attained Great Power' or 'The Greatly Vigorous One'. Alongside Guanyin (Bodhisattva of Compassion), he serves as one of the two principal attendants of Amitabha Buddha, collectively forming the 'Three Sages of the Western Pure Land'. According to the Contemplation Sutra on the Buddha of Infinite Life, his body radiates light capable of illuminating all ten directions, and his very footsteps cause the Three Thousand Worlds to tremble. His wisdom-light universally illumines sentient beings, freeing them from the suffering of the evil destinies. His method of Buddha-recitation emphasizes the eight-character essence: 'gathering in the six sense faculties, maintaining pure mindfulness without interruption', and he is revered by the Pure Land School as its First Patriarch. Langshan Mountain in Nantong, Jiangsu Province—ranked foremost among the Eight Minor Buddhist Sacred Mountains—has been venerated for over a thousand years as Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva’s sacred site; the Guangjiao Temple atop the mountain stands at the confluence of river and sea, its incense offerings unbroken across successive dynasties.

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