Samantabhadra Bodhisattva

The grand finale of the Avatamsaka Sutra belongs to Samantabhadra. In the chapter 'Entering the Dharma Realm,' the youth Sudhana visits 53 wise teachers one after another, meeting Guanyin and Maitreya along the way, and only when he finally reaches Samantabhadra does he attain completion. The end of the quest is not some deeper theory but simply doing. Legend says that countless eons ago Samantabhadra made a great vow to help all beings attain Buddhahood through great practice. His Ten Great Vows, from paying homage to all Buddhas and repenting of karmic obstacles to always following the needs of beings and dedicating all merit universally, break practice down into ten achievable actions.

The six-tusked white elephant he rides comes from Indian tradition and symbolizes nobility, purity, and steady strength: every step an elephant takes is firmly planted, just like practice. Mount Emei in Sichuan has long been Samantabhadra's sacred site, ranked with Putuo, Wutai, and Jiuhua among the four great Buddhist mountains. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, eminent monks of the Tiantai and Huayan schools placed special weight on the teaching of his Ten Great Vows, and in the Ming and Qing dynasties the faith came to Taiwan with Buddhism, where it continues today.

Samantabhadra receives vegetarian offerings: fresh flowers, fruit, and clear tea, with no meat, alcohol, or cigarettes. The first choice of text is the 'Practices and Vows of Samantabhadra' chapter of the Avatamsaka Sutra, or you can recite his name, 'Namo Daxing Puxian Pusa' (Homage to Samantabhadra of Great Practice). But the real focus of this faith is not on the altar but off it. The Ten Great Vows are meant to be lived: paying homage to the Buddhas every day, rejoicing when you see others do good, honestly repenting when you go wrong, and dedicating your merit to all beings. Many Buddhists treat the ten vows as a daily practice checklist and carry them out one by one. What do people ask him for? The ability to follow through, and vows that never weaken. If your plans always stall at step one, this action-minded bodhisattva is an especially good teacher. On his birthday, the 21st day of the second lunar month, temples hold sutra-chanting services.

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva's Birthday: the 21st day of the second lunar month. Buddhist temples celebrate the day with chanting of the 'Practices and Vows of Samantabhadra' chapter of the Avatamsaka Sutra, Dharma talks, and other rites.

Avatamsaka Services: some temples (especially those of the Huayan tradition) hold an annual 'Avatamsaka Service' lasting from several days to a month, chanting the entire Avatamsaka Sutra, with Samantabhadra as a central figure.