Upaya Zen Center's Dharma Podcast
Bodhisattva Manjushri and Wisdom for Our Times
Apr 14, 2025
Cynthia Kear, a Sensei at Upaya Zen Center, emphasizes the importance of vows and confidence in one's practice to unlock wisdom. The conversation explores the bodhisattva Manjushri as an emblem of wisdom in Mahayana Buddhism, highlighting how his attributes, like the Vajra sword, symbolize insight. Kear discusses embracing emptiness and interconnectedness to tackle life's challenges and advocates for cultivating compassion to address social issues, positioning wisdom as a necessary tool for supporting others.
41:13
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Quick takeaways
- The importance of making vows in the Bodhisattva path fosters commitment, trust, and cultivates confidence in one's practice for wisdom to emerge.
- Recognizing our interconnectedness empowers individuals to respond thoughtfully to challenges, embracing agency in contributing positively to collective awakening and change.
Deep dives
The Bodhisattva Path in Mahayana Buddhism
The Bodhisattva path is central to Mahayana Buddhism, distinguishing it from Theravada traditions. Rather than seeking individual nirvana, Bodhisattvas choose to remain in the world, vowing to assist all sentient beings achieve liberation. This long and fierce commitment involves transforming personal suffering into wisdom and action for the benefit of others. The urgency for embodying this path is emphasized, especially in light of global challenges, highlighting the importance of collective awakening and compassion.
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