Vimalakirti
Template:Short description Template:Infobox Buddha Vimalakīrti (Template:Langx Template:Transliteration "stainless, undefiled" + Script error: No such module "Lang". Template:Transliteration "fame, glory, reputation") is a bodhisattva[1] and the central figure in the Template:Transliteration,[2][3] which presents him as the ideal Mahayana Buddhist upāsaka ("lay practitioner")[4] and a contemporary of Gautama Buddha (6th to 5th century BCE).[2][3] There is no mention of him in Buddhist texts until after Template:Transliteration (1st century BCE to 2nd century CE) revived Mahayana Buddhism in India.[5] The Mahayana Vimalakirti Sutra also spoke of the city of Vaisali[6] as where the lay Licchavi bodhisattva Vimalakirti was residing.[7]
History
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra characterizes Vimalakīrti as a wealthy patron of Gautama Buddha residing in the ancient city of Vaishali which is now situated in the Indian state of Bihar.[8] There is an ongoing debate as to the historicity of Vimalakirti with modern scholars grouping him with other figures in Mahayana literature, such as Template:Transliteration and other bodhisattvas. Traditional scholars, however, take him to be a historical figure like Gautama Buddha, rather than mythic or legendary, and as such Vimalakīrti is not commonly venerated on altars or in tantric rituals,[9] but as a prehistoric Zen, i.e., Chan preacher. Both groups agree that the descriptions of his acts in the Vimalakirti Sutra were allegorical in nature.[10]
The Vimalakirti Sutra portrays Vimalakirti as the personification of skill in liberative techniques. Vimalakirti is respectful to everyone he interacts with including the Buddha however he is not intimidated by them either. He also claims himself to be among the "Great Sorcerers" and is capable of performing miraculous feats to teach fellow practitioners.[10]
Other
In Chinese Chan Buddhist monasteries, a common word for abbot is Fāngzhàng (方丈) meaning "one square zhàng (equal to ten square feet)", a reference to the size of Vimalakīrti's stone room.[11]
Gallery
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Vimalakirti, 8th-century wall painting, Dunhuang.
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Depiction of Vimalakirti from the Southern Song period (1127-1279)
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See also
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References
External links
Template:Buddhism topics
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Wisdom Library : Significance of Vimalakirti. Template:Access-date
- ↑ a b 84000.co : The Teaching of Vimalakīrti. Introduction. Template:Access-date
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".