Manjushri on a Pond
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
Dear friends around the world,
Over two decades ago I was in Gaden Shartse Monastery and I had a vivid dream. The dream was interesting because I dreamed I was in Drepung Monastery and had a senior monk accompanied by a young monk come visiting me. In my dream I had a small house and I walked across a small stone pathway to receive the senior monk on a bright and sunny day. From his bag, the senior monk pulled out a painting of Manjushri as a gift for me. I was delighted in the dream. I remember looking at the painting very carefully. It was not very big, around 8 x 10 inches perhaps. Manjushri was yellow-golden in color with one peaceful face and two arms in “teaching the dharma” mudra (dharmacakra). He held the stems of two lotuses. The stems led to two open lotuses, one of which had a wisdom sword on top and the other a dharma text. He was youthful in appearance and he was tilted to the right slightly and his legs were left up and right down (the way Green Tara sits) in ‘Lalitasana’ (royal ease) posture. There were no surrounding Buddhas in the painting. The painting was fresh and beautiful and I stared and memorized the painting in my dream.
After giving me the gift, the monk and his assistant left and I went back in my room. I was thinking who that monk was and why give me this beautiful painting which I liked so much. Then I woke up. When I woke up, the Manjushri I had seen in my dream was vivid in my mind yet I had not seen a Manjushri in that form at all in thangkas, paintings, tsatsas, statues and so on. But I decided to visit a artist that lived nearby and gave him a description to recreate this painting which he did within a week or so. I brought the painting home and just kept it in my room. I didn’t put this Manjushri of my dreams (or ‘Dream’ Manjushri as I dubbed Him) on my altar with the rest of the Buddhas. I didn’t know if this was a genuine and authentic form of Manjushri or it was just something made up from my dreams. I don’t like to make up deities or iconography of deities without a valid source. So without a valid source I just kept my painting of ‘Dream’ Manjushri as a decoration piece and not on the shrine. After a few months, I was reading a text and there it was! This Manjushri in a Tibetan text. His picture was in this text and I was elated. I took my commissioned painting and compared it to this Manjushri in the text and concluded there is this form of Manjushri. It is an authentic form of Manjushri. This form of Manjushri does exist! So I finally took the painting and placed it on my shrine. I had never seen this form of Manjushri prior to the dream, yet I dreamt about it vividly. I found that strange but nice.
Since then I have commissioned more statues of this ‘Dream’ Manjushri for my shrine and I also invited a 9ft ‘Dream’ Manjushri for Kechara Forest Retreat. This special Manjushri arrived yesterday September 8, 2015. We had Him consecrated with mantras and relics and then craned over the wall to a pre-prepared space in the centre of our fish pond that many come to meditate around. After Manjushri took His place in Kechara Forest Retreat in the centre of a beautiful pond, offerings of food, light, incense and prayers were made to welcome Lord Manjushri here. I am so happy to have this beautiful image here to bless all visitors. I pray all beings who visit, associate, hear about, contribute, live at or work at Kechara Forest Retreat will be blessed by the immutable Buddha Manjushri. May they gain clear realization into the reality of appearances, let go of fears, achieve mahakaruna and be blessed with penetrative wisdom. I prayed to Manjushri all will be blessed to meet Manjushri in life after life till full enlightenment. May all beings reach the state of Manjushri which is full enlightenment.
I am most happy with this new 9ft statue of ‘Dream’ Manjushri arriving in Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia. May He bless everyone always. I thought I would share some pictures for you to enjoy. I thank everyone involved in making all this possible very much.
Tsem Rinpoche
The beautiful fish pond at Kechara Forest Retreat- Night view
This is our beautiful fish pond with gazebo in Kechara Forest Retreat in Malaysia. Many come to this pond to meditate, relax or just enjoy some fresh air. Now they can blessed with Lord Manjushri ‘arising’ from the water to bless them.
Kechara Forest Retreat’s fish pond-Day pictures. Just as beautiful.
Aren’t the fishes swimming beautiful and lucky to circumambulate around Manjushri daily.
Here is a list of some of the holy items enshrined within the large Manjushri:
- Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche Lobsang Yeshe’s hair
- Kyabje Ling Rinpoche’s beard
- Kensur Rinpoche Jampa Yeshe’s hair and nails
- Teo Chopon Rinpoche’s robes
- Protector rice
- Protector string
- A khata blessed by Dorje Shugden
- Chakras: Sosodrangma, Hayagriva, White Umbrella, Manjushri, Yamantaka, Tsongkhapa, Dorje Shugden
- Dorje Shugden ruel
- Rolled mantras including Vajrayogini, Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara, White Tara, Yamantaka, Green Tara, Dzambala
- Relics from Mt Kailash
- Lama Tsongkhapa tsa tsa with gold finish
- Tsongkhapa tsa tsa with Kyabje Dagom Rinpoche’s ashes
- Clay Dorje Shugden tsa tsa from Gangchen Ladrang
- One set of Dorje Shugden’s five families tsa tsas
- Serpom Protector pills
- Herbal pills
- Mani rilbu
- Zong Rinpoche jhinten rilbu
- Pabongka Rinpoche mani pill
- Wish-fulfilling pills
- Jumar 25 rilbu
- Zong Rinpoche mani pills
- Sand from a Yamantaka mandala
- Rice from a Manjushri mandala
- Rice from Gangchen Ladrang (Shigatse, Tibet)
- Bodhi leaves and soil from Lumbini
Extra photos
My wooden ‘Dream’ Manjushri statue on my indoor shrine.
Close-up -This is my personal 16 inch ‘Dream’ Manjushri that was commissioned for me from wood and gifted to me. This glorious Buddha Manjushri sits on my private shrine in my room. I really like this form of Manjushri.
For more interesting information:
- White Manjushri daily practice
- In You Manjushri
- Black Manjushri and An Overview of the Mind
- Manjushri initiation in Gaden Shartse
- 1000-armed Manjushri!!!
- Black Manjushri Thangka
- A Black Manjushri Sadhana
- Kechara Forest Retreat’s Manjushri!
- Dream Manjushri
- Manjushri for Justin
- Hecelus Tan does his first Manjushri Retreat!
- Manjushri for Li Kim’s boys!
- Look what the postman brought!
Please support us so that we can continue to bring you more Dharma:
If you are in the United States, please note that your offerings and contributions are tax deductible. ~ the tsemrinpoche.com blog team
Looking at those beautiful pictures of fish pond at Kechara Forest Retreat is awesome. With stunning Manjushri statue in the middle blessing those who circumambulate around it so as those fishes in the pond. All thanks to our Guru coming out with this awesome idea having a pond garden.
Thank you Rinpoche sharing with us his personal 16 inch ‘Dream’ Manjushri. Merely by looking at it is a blessing . Very fortunate to see it.
The interesting thing about a dream is that, as long as you do not stop trying to reach it, it is going to come true. The imagination from a dream and to a painting turn to be real. An authentic form of Manjushri stunning statue now took place in the centre of a beautiful pond, sending waves of blessing to all sentient beings in Kechara Forest Retreat and its surroundings environment.
May all those who come to see Lord Manjushri receive the blessings of the three principal paths as intended through the aspirational prayers made based on Rinpoche’s kind advice.
https://bit.ly/3vTtHZI
Thank you for the beautiful article. Dream Manjushri is a rare form of the buddha of wisdom that appeared to Rinpoche in a vivid drem.
For more details – https://bit.ly/2qqAkn7
Mantras in the waters of Kechara Forest Retreat-Malaysia
Mantras represent the blessings of the enlightened beings in the form of sound. When we recite mantras they stimulate the various parts of our body to heal itself, to clear itself, to purify itself and to gain higher states of consciousness. Therefore, mantras are very powerful. They can be written, visualised or recited out aloud. The mantras of enlightened beings bless ordinary beings, animals, ethereal or formless beings and everyone in the environment.
In Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia, we have a koi fish pond, on which sits a magnificent statue of Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom. When the fish circumambulate around Manjushri they are blessed by his divine presence. At the same time, people who come to visit the pond and circumambulate around Manjushri receive the same blessings.
Along with the Manjushri fish pond, we also have a lake in Kechara Forest Retreat. In the middle of this lake is a Shakyamuni Buddha statue. In both these places we have placed Manjushri mantra stones underneath submerged under the water so that the animals, humans and beings who circumambulate these holy statues, not only circumambulate the images of the Buddhas but also sacred mantras. The is done in order to plant the seeds of enlightenment in their mindstreams so that in the future they are able to realise Bodhicitta, the realisation of Emptiness and higher states of consciousness. So, I thought I would share this little video with everyone. Thank you.
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1542840739.mp4
This video, narrated in Chinese, features Manjushri mantra stones. These are stones carved with the sacred mantra of Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom. The mantra of any Buddha is basically the manifestation of the enlightened being in the form of sound. Therefore, Manjushri’s mantra embodies the special qualities of his transcendent wisdom. Offering of these mantras stones is likened to an offering of Manjushri-like speech to the Three Jewels.
Sponsoring and offering such stones has the benefit of gaining deeper insight into spiritual practice, improving one’s memory, critical thinking, creativity, language and the purification of negative karma related to speech. It also promotes the development of powerful speech that has a positive impact on others.
In the video we see mantra stones placed at the majestic Four-armed Manjushri statue in Kechara Forest Retreat, Malaysia. The more stones are offered there, the more benefit it brings to the person circumambulating and paying homage to Lord Manjushri. These stones are available at Naropa’s Cave in Kechara Forest Retreat and can be offered to the statue of Manjushri here just as you see in the video.
Tsem Rinpoche
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1542838906.mp4
Manjushri manifested from Rinpoche’s dream is at a pond surrounding by a peaceful environment . Yes its stunning Manjushri on a pond , I saw it and inviting my friends to go Kechara Forest Retreat to see it. A beautiful, peaceful and quiet place to relax to be away from our daily hectic life and meditate as well. Merely by seeing and circumambulating around the Manjushri is a blessing for everyone. Manjushri’s practice are very powerful for helping us to clear our delusions and ignorance, and helping us to gain wisdom.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this.
Dear All
I would like to share with you the sacred prayer of Manjushri – A Concert Names of Manjushri (’Jam-dpal mtshan-brjod, Skt. Mañjuśrī-namasamgiti), which consists of 160 verses and mantra sentences. One version is translated by Alexander Berzin, a scholar, translator, and teacher of Tibetan Buddhism, and the other one is from FPMT.
Valentina
My Christain friend and his Mongolian wife recently participated in the Inner Peace Retreat facilitated by Li Kheng. He said he enjoyed the retreat very much especially the beautiful surroundings – so green, peaceful and nicely landscaped. He also said the food served was very good too. He learned some useful tips on meditation particularly on walking meditation. He likes best the garden with Dream Manjushri overlooking the fish pond where they did meditation. He said the garden was very well planned and with plenty of flowering plants.
I once dreamt I was lost in a dark thick forest/jungle when Manjushri turned up, gave me his flaming sword to light my way and hack my way out of the jungle, eventually I made my way to a palace, where I met Manjushri again seated on a lotus throne, inviting me to sit on a lotus throne opposite him, when mounting the throne, immediately and spontaneously my ordinary form dissolved and I arose as a brand new Buddha Manjushri facing the original Manjushri who gave me his sword in the jungle then invited me to take the throne in his palace, another time I dreamt I was an unborn baby in the womb of pregnant Green Tara
another time having an afternoon nap whilst listening to Vaisravana mantras
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vai%C5%9Brava%E1%B9%87a
“Om shri vaishravanaye soha”
Vaishravana appeared to speak me in my dream:
– “You have a source of refuge, others don’t, appreciate it, be a good example, help them!”
Please do not think I am showing off, merely sharing my experiences, thanks for giving me the opportunity to do so.
It is our great fortune to have this rare form of Manjushri manifested from Rinpoche’s dream to now a stunning statue right here at Kechara Forest Retreat. People will be blessed by making offering to Him, circumambulating Him or just by admiring Him in the setting of the enchanting landscape of water features and plants. Thank you Rinpoche, all kind sponsors and Kecharians who worked behind the scene to deliver this blessing to us all.
Interesting, please come to the forum more often and tell us your experiences!
Dear Rinpoche
Thank you for commissioning this beautiful Dream Manjushri statue at Kechara Forest Retreat and for Paul Yap who has made the beautiful statue. I think it is really wonderful to have the statue there. Other than it is the feast for the eyes, it is a blessing for those who see Him and for the fishes who circumambulate Him whether they realise it or not hehe… One thing I notice about Rinpoche is He is very creative and always device a way to benefit sentient beings regardless of whether we appreciate it or not.
Valentina
I love Dream Manjushri statue. She is so beautiful and just looking at her make my mind feel so calm, so much love and compassion. I have been to Kechara Forest Retreat but not to the fish pond yet.
I wish to go there the next time I am in KFR. The night scene pictures are spectacular.
在众多佛像中，我个人特别偏爱梦文殊，喜欢梦文殊给人一种深沉的智慧，轰然端坐在克切拉禅修林的鱼池中央，那种令人敬畏的感觉，非常的慑人。我少有会到鱼池走走，但每每经过这段路，心裡总会挂着那挺拔直坐在池中央的梦文殊。那种心动欲转方向走向鱼池的念头，久久挥不去。梦文殊就是有这样一种莫名的魅力，让我时时挂念！
庄严的梦文殊是上师尊贵的詹仁波切在梦中的佛像，祂坐在池中央，可以为池中的鱼儿及水中的生物做加持，并由梦文殊让他们留下佛的更深印记，对他们的未来世有更巨大的帮助。
从这尊梦文殊的缘起，当我听到仁波切将他在梦中的梦文殊形像、祂身上的颜色、配件、饰物、条纹等等，都可以很清楚、详细的描绘出来，非常的不简单。我在想活了这把年纪，连一个完整情节的梦都记不起来，只能记得零零碎碎的片段，所以真的佩服仁波切连发一个梦都可以利益众生，此种境界非常人可达致。一位乘愿而来的金刚上师，他所做的每一件事，大大小小，都可以创造更多的善因，为需要的众生藉此力量而启开佛果，投入修行，不致于虚度此生。
Spectacular Dream Manjushri at KFR.
Kechara Forest Retreat fish pond and Love the way dream Manjushri who’s sitting on top of the pond and blessing all the fishes . I love color of the statue it’s made so beautifully.
I always go feed the fishes and pond area in the morning , its feels soo calm being there. Rinpoche always wanted to have nice and big pond for rescued fishes and the dream manjushri to bless the area. Now when I look back is like dream come true. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the this beautiful article.
One of my favourite deities has always been Manjushri, I am not sure if this is a right word to describe Him but He’s very elegant and captivating. I love any forms of Manjushri, as long as it’s Manjushri hehehe!
The Dream Manjushri looks very serene and calm “sitting” on top of the fish pond, the lightings, the environment, the water, the plants etc create a very comfortable and inviting atmosphere.
Anyone who comes to Kechara Forest Retreat, the fish pond is a must-visit! It feels good to circumambulate around the holy statue of Manjushri as you watch the fishes swim by freely and happily.
My other favourite spot in Kechara Forest Retreat is Manjushri Hill, I LOVE the 4 armed Manjushri who’s sitting on top of the hill and looking down, thus blessing everyone residing in this land.
It is such a privilege to reside in the same land with all these holy Manjushri images, it’s just incredible. Thank You Rinpoche for bringing the Buddha dharma to this region, may all the works of Kechara flourish.
I am very happy that Kechara Forest Retreat now has another Buddha statue within it’s mandala to bless all visitors and living beings in the area.
I rejoice that the “Dream Manjushri” which is very close to Rinpoche since Rinpoche was in Gaden Shartse Monastery 2 decades ago is now in Kechara Forest Retreat as what Rinpoche envisioned.
I really like the idea of having a fish pond surrounding this “Dream Manjushri” as the fishes in the pond can circumambulate around Him and hopefully in their next life they can be reborn as a human and be clsoe to the Dharma.
The whole area is really beautiful with all the greenery surrounding the pond and even a Gazebo for visitors to have a seat to unwind and relax.
Thank you Rinpoche for inviting such a beautiful Manjushri to Kechara Forest Retreat.
I am so happy to hear of anything new in KFR. It reminds me how it is always growing and that the Dharma will continue to grow in Kechara. The pond looks so beautiful and I am so happy to know that the fish are in a more natural environment. But my only worry is that I hope no birds come and pick off the fish from the pond. So I hope the pond is deep enough to prevent that. It is a beautiful sight to see that Manjushri and that looks like a beautiful meditation sight.
I am so happy to know and see that Rinpoche’s visions of KFR are coming true because the “Dream Manjushri” is close to Rinpoche and it is now in KFR. So I am happy to hear that KFR is becoming what Rinpoche wants it to be. I hope that KFR continues to grow and that Rinpoche and Kechara continues to spread Dharma throughout the world.
Also I hope the fish stay healthy and that KFR will not stop developing well. I hope everything stays well and I hope that the Pond can benefit many people in meditation as well and I cannot wait to see it in person.
Thank you Rinpoche for materializing your Dream Manjushri to share with us. The holy statue of Manjushri look magnificent over at the pond built at Kechara Forest Retreat.
May the holy statue of Manjushri bless the land over there in Bentong along with all those who are fortunate to view it when they visit KFR.
We must thank the Kechara Team and their sponsors for building such a beautiful pond to house such an holy statue of Lord Manjushri.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing of the beautiful pictures of the Dream Manjushri on a pond.
I hope that all sentient beings and Kechara Forest Reserve will flourish and be blessed by this special form of Manjushri.
Regards
Leonard Ooi
KPSG
Very special Dream Manjushri. Love the last image. Thanks Rinpoche!
The Manjushri statue is so beautiful especially with some fog appear around the statue, it’s so real and stunning. So fortunate of me even to see Lord Manjushri from these pictures…it would be even more blessed for all who visit to fish pond and pay homage to Him. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing and posting up all the pictures.
This is a wonderful and special form of Manjushri. His right leg outstretch, similar to Green Tara, represents his quick actions in rendering help to those in need. Furthermore his hand is in the gesture of teaching the Dharma like Lama Tsongkhapa. Very nice indeed. It will be great to do meditation here.
Thank you Rinpoche for the sharing.
I love the Dream Manjushri and the fish pond very much.
I hope that the visitors to KFR will be blessed by this special form of Manjushri.
Thank you
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing all these stunning picture, very special form of Manjushri and this is my first time seeing his holy Buddha so bless I think the fishes in the fish can feel the bless energy of this holy Buddha as well.
The Dream Manjushri is utterly stunning! I love the night shots as they are very ethereal and dream-like. Thank you with folded hands for inviting this 9ft beauty.
Am just wondering if the outstretched right leg of this form has the same significance as Green Tara’s.
Looking forward to seeing this Dream Manjushri soon.
Absolutely beautiful and magnificent. I have seen many statues in sitting or standing postures over ponds but this one just takes the breadth out of you. And due to the kindness of Rinpoche the beings around the pond gets to collect merits in their mundane existence for higher things to come. This reminds me of a story I read about an evil king who died and was reborn as a housefly. You’d think that was it. But it got stuck in a dung. Sure doomed again, right? No. The rain came. The dung was near a stupa and the rain water carried both dung and fly round and round and round the stupa. The evil eventually gained rebirth in the human realm, practise dharma and gained enlightenment. Wonderful! There ‘s hope for all.
Rejoice to Rinpoche because your dream of Manjushri does exist.And now with the good guidance and teaching from Rinpoche, the 9 foot of “Dream Manjushri” is placed at Kechara Forest Retreat (KFR).It is really blessed and benefit to many beings in KFR.
Thank you, because with the compassion and kindness from Rinpoche , we are fortunate enough and having opportunity to know more about Manjushri in other form.
Om Ara Ba Tsa Na Dhi _/\_ _/\_ _/\_
The whole of KFR had power failure that day and of all days when dream Manjushri was suppose to be installed. Ordinarily many would think what a bummer it is but I believe it was good as it must have been a clearing of our obstacle as it had happened many times before. An example was when the Panglung Oracle was going to take trance before the public in KFR and we had power failure too.
I’ve heard of stories that places where enlightened beings/Buddhas chooses to manifest, usually requires a lot of merits. True enough just in the nick of time when everything was ready and Manjushri is to be lifted, the power failure was resolved! Timing could not have been better… and what a privilege it was to be there to welcome Lord Manjushri to Kechara Forest Retreat.
All this could not have happened without Rinpoche’s guidance and vision for what KFR is to become. Also thank you to the wonderful Kechara Discovery team led by Paul Yap and Louise Lee who did an awesome job in creating this beautiful image of Lord Manjusri that manifested from Rinpoche’s dream. Last but of course not least JP Thong and Jennifer Yuen for the beautiful mystical fish pond where Manjushri now resides.
Dream Manjushri is not a dream anymore and has finally arrived, sending waves of blessing to all sentient beings in Kechara Forest Retreat and its surroundings… May all those who come to see Lord Manjushri receive the blessings of the three principal paths as intended through the aspirational prayers made based on Rinpoche’s kind advice.
Breath taking pictures indeed…
Joy, thank you for sharing the ‘little stories’ on the power failures in KFR recently. By knowing this, it will be more precious and interesting to visit and pay homage to this Dream Manjushri.
What a great view and spectacular pictures taken above. Thanks for sharing this great photos/news with us Rinpoche.
Wow, both statues (the one at the pond and the wooden one) are beautiful. The pictures of one at the pond where the fish are swimming are truly captivating. Those who work, live and visit KFR are truly blessed by the protection of Lord Manjushri. Rejoice! Ok Ah Ra Pa Sa Na Dhi!