Mahasthamaprapta -Seishi


 

 

 

 

  Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva / Seishi Bosatsu

Emily Haugh, Kristin Meyers, Abigail Worsnop, Jeremy Walker, Noga Vardy & Courtney Hanson

                                                                                                        

  Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva / Seishi Bosatsu

*Represents the principle of the power of wisdom*

*In Japan Mahasthamaprapta is referred to as Seishi Bosatsu*

*Gained more popularity in Japan than in India*

*Seishi literally translates to mean, “to obtain strength.”*

*Seishi is one of the thirteen Japanese Buddhas and is also one of the 25 Bodhisattva’s who descended from heaven with Amida to welcome dying souls into Amida’s Pure Land.*

*Seishi is also known as one of the three sages in Pure Land Buddhism* 

*In Pure Land Buddhism Seishi is usually depicted in a trinity with Amida and Avalokitesvara*

*In this trinity Seishi is described as being one of the two attendants of Amida Buddha by representing wisdom and embodying the attributes of Amida.* 

 


 

  

 

*Images of Seishi Bosatsu*

 Amida Raigo Triad

Background and Myths

 

 

Iconography

 

 

 

  

The Amida Raigo Triad

Closeup of Mahasthamaprapta/Seishi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Painting of Mahasthamaprapta

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seishi Bosatsu

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

*Seishi's role in benefiting all sentient beings*

 

 

 

 

*Myths*

          Seishi appears in the Immeasurable Life Sutra, the Medication Sutra and the Lotus Sutra. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  *Mantra associated with Seishi*

The mantra associated with Seishi in Japanese is:

 

“On san zan zan saku sowaka”

 

 Which translates to,

               "Om, may defilements be removed, hail."

 

 

 

 

Veneration of the Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

http://www.jsri.jp/English/Pureland/SUTRAS/kammu.html

http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Mahasthamaprapta/id/519811

http://www.newyorkbuddhistchurch.org/documents/Dharma_Message_2007_11.pdf

http://www.bdcu.org.au/BDDR/bddr12no6/pureland3.html

http://www.experiencefestival.com/avalokitesvara/page/2

http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/seishi.shtml

http://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/dictio/data/choukoku/amida02.htm

http://www.nembutsu.info/hsrmb.htm

http://www.amidabuddha.org/

http://www.newyorkbuddhistchurch.org/documents/Dharma_Message_2007_11.pdf

http://www.buddhanet.net/ebooks_ms.htm

http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/30.76.298

http://www.cloudwater.org/index.php/pureland-buddhism/the-three-pure-land-sutras

http://www.arthermitage.org/Painting/Mahasthamaprapta.html

http://www.nembutsu.info/hsrmb.htm