Mañjuśrī: Why Is This Bodhisattva Called 'Mother of All Buddhas'?

The Four Great Bodhisattvas Series

• Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva
• Samantabhadra Bodhisattva
• Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva
• Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva

Why Is Mañjuśrī Called "Mother of All Buddhas"?

Buddhism has a saying: Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva is the "Mother of All Buddhas." This sounds strange. Clearly a bodhisattva, so how could this be deemed "mother" of the Buddhas?

Here "mother" doesn't mean blood relation. It means source. Every Buddha became a Buddha through awakening, and at the core of awakening is prajñā wisdom. Mañjuśrī embodies precisely this wisdom. Without prajñā, no awakening; without awakening, no Buddhas. In this sense, Mañjuśrī's wisdom is the root of all Buddhas, hence the title "Mother of All Buddhas." This is why many people pray to Mañjuśrī when they're lost or can't make a decision.

What Is Mañjuśrī's Role Among the "Avataṃsaka Trinity"?

In the Avataṃsaka Sūtra, Vairocana Buddha sits at the center, Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva stands on the left, and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva on the right. Together they're called the "Avataṃsaka Trinity." Mañjuśrī represents wisdom, the understanding of truth. Samantabhadra represents action, the practice of truth. Left and right, wisdom and action, neither complete without the other.

Mañjuśrī's role is to "open the way." According to scripture, when young Sudhana set out seeking dharma, the first of his fifty-three teachers was Mañjuśrī. It was Mañjuśrī who gave him direction, where to go, whom to see. Like that person or moment in life who helps you untangle your thoughts and see your path clearly. Many people feel anxious not because problems are too hard, but because they can't see where the problem actually lies. Mañjuśrī's wisdom is that light, illuminating the chaos.

What Is That Sword Cutting?

Mañjuśrī holds a sword called the Sword of Wisdom. First-time viewers might wonder: Aren't bodhisattvas supposed to be compassionate? Why the weapon?

This sword doesn't kill people. It kills afflictions. More precisely, it severs the thoughts that bind you. "I cannot fail." "They should understand me." "This must succeed." Each of these obsessions is like a rope tightening around you, making you anxious, sleepless, drained. The Sword of Wisdom doesn't suppress thoughts. It helps you see through their nature: these thoughts are actually empty, you're just scaring yourself. The moment you see through them, the ropes loosen on their own.

Buddhism says "affliction is bodhi," meaning affliction and awakening are two sides of one coin. You don't need to destroy affliction. You need to see through it. The moment you see through, affliction transforms into wisdom. This is the sword's true meaning.

Vimalakīrti Said Nothing. Why Did Mañjuśrī Praise Him?

The Vimalakīrti Sūtra contains a famous scene. A group of bodhisattvas gathered to discuss: What is the "Dharma Gate of Non-duality," the ultimate truth beyond all opposites? Each bodhisattva took turns speaking, offering brilliant insights. When it came to the layman Vimalakīrti, he said nothing. Just silence.

Mañjuśrī actually praised this: "Excellent! Not even words or letters. This is truly entering the Gate of Non-duality."

This scene teaches that true wisdom knows the limits of language. Some problems only get more tangled the more you think about them. Some pain only stings more when put into words. Overthinkers often fall into "analysis paralysis," thinking nonstop, yet growing more anxious the more they think, unable to stop. The silence Mañjuśrī praised offers a hint: sometimes the smartest move is to set the problem aside for now, get some sleep, take a walk, let your mind settle. Answers often appear on their own when you stop looking for them.

Why Is Mount Wutai Called the "Cool Mountain"?

Mount Wutai in Shanxi, China, is Mañjuśrī's sacred ground. This mountain has another name: "Cool Mountain." Its temperature stays much lower than the surrounding lowlands year-round. Even midsummer doesn't feel hot. Buddhism likens affliction to heat. When you're angry, your head swells and blood rushes up. When you're anxious, your heart races, you can't sit still, pressure crushes your chest. This is "heat." What does wisdom feel like? Your head clears, breathing eases, shoulders drop, mind settles. That feeling is "cool."

When your brain is overheating, what you need is not more thinking. That only fans the flames. You need to cool down. Meditation, deep breathing, time in nature, all cool the brain. The coolness of Mount Wutai symbolizes the serenity wisdom brings. Cool feels like relief, not numbness or escape. That relaxation comes from truly seeing through.

The Lion's Roar: The Fearlessness Wisdom Brings

Mañjuśrī's mount is a blue-green lion. The lion is king of beasts, one roar and all creatures tremble. This doesn't symbolize violence, but the fearlessness born from wisdom.

Why do we hesitate, waver, worry about gains and losses? Because we're afraid. Afraid of choosing wrong, of failure, of others' opinions, of worst-case outcomes. These fears bind our hands and feet, freezing us in place. But if you truly understand, what's the worst that can happen? So you fail, then what? What can others' opinions actually do to you? When fear no longer controls you, you're free.

This is what the lion symbolizes. The wise don't walk on eggshells. They've seen through fear as just self-created illusion. They dare to speak truth, dare to decide, dare to face uncertainty. This fearlessness does not mean recklessness. That composure comes from seeing clearly.