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Saturday, April 11, 2020

Zodiac Guardian for OX and TIGER: Akasagarbha Bodhisattva 虚空藏菩萨

Akasagarbha Bodhisattva 虚空藏菩萨 (for Ox and Tiger), is more elusive in the sects of Chinese Buddhism -- that's why you might not have heard of him before we talked about zodiac Guardian Buddhas!

 
He's very famous in Japanese Buddhism though, especially prayed to for Akasagarbha 虚空藏's boost in extraordinary memory prowess. Perhaps parents want to take note of this.

Still, he is one of the major 8 EIGHT Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism 大乘佛法. A flaming sword in the right hand, a lotus with glistening pearls in the left hand, representing wisdom through persistence, and fortunate blessings.

 

A unique feature of the Lotus version, take a closer look: in the background, it's endless clouds. "虚空 (literally emptiness and void)" doesn't exactly mean "nothing", it actually means boundless.

 

Boundless wisdom and fortune, for those who receive blessings from Akasagarbha 虚空藏.

Some scriptures even mentioned, Akasagarbha 虚空藏 is so boundless, that in a sense, he can transcend time and space as he wished. 

Akasagarbha 虚空藏 in "Ghost Catcher - Legend of Beauty Zhongkui"《天师钟馗》(2010)

Perhaps this is an essence to the BOUNDLESSNESS that Akasagarbha 虚空藏 represents.

-- Kan, Executive Director

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