Toh 2092A Commentary on “Reciting the Names of Mañjuśrī” called “The Lamp Illuminating the Meaning of the Words”

Exposition of “The Lamp Illuminating the Meaning of the Words in the Recitation of Mañjuśrī’s Names”

Context

“The Lamp Illuminating the Meaning of the Words in the Recitation of Mañjuśrī’s Names” (Nāmasaṃgīti-vṛtti-nāmārtha-prakāśa-karaṇa-dīpa-nāma) is an important commentary in the Treatise Collection of the Northern Tibetan tradition, intended to clarify the profound meaning of “The Recitation of Mañjuśrī’s Names” (Mañjuśrī-nāmasaṃgīti), a well-known Mahayana Dharma scripture concerning the Bodhisattva of Wisdom.

Mañjuśrī, or Văn Thù, is the bodhisattva who represents the perfect wisdom of the Buddhas. This work is not a direct Buddhist scripture, but a treatise by Buddhist doctrinal masters after the Buddha’s time, composed on the basis of the Mahayana tradition, especially the Yogācāra and Madhyamaka schools. It belongs to the genre of “Vṛtti” (commentary) — a form of teaching the Buddha-Dharma by uncovering and analyzing each layer of meaning in a traditional scripture or Dharma method.

In the context of Northern Tibetan Buddhism, this work serves the purpose of helping monastics and practitioners understand clearly the names of Mañjuśrī, thereby recognizing that each name is not merely a word or a set of syllables, but the expression of a different aspect of absolute wisdom.

Main Content

This work, called “The Lamp,” functions like a lamp that illuminates the hidden aspects of Mañjuśrī’s names. Each name is explained not only on the level of sound and meaning, but also on the level of physical dharma (rūpa-dharma) and mental dharma (citta-dharma).

The scripture teaches that each name of Mañjuśrī contains the power of a different Dharma method. For example, the name “Excellent Merit” indicates that his wisdom is a sharp weapon that cuts through ignorance. “Excellent Sound” (Sughoṣa) signifies that Mañjuśrī’s Dharma voice has the capacity to awaken the spirit.