The Study On The Belief Of Samantabhadra In Ancient Abroad

We believe that when tracing back to the origin of Samantabhadra, we should put thing into the social background at that time, particularly we should not use the characteristics and content of Samantabhadra which he have later to trace back to the origin of him, this paper argues that before the birth of Samantabhadra, "Samantabhadra " is a term widely used, "Samantabhadra willing" which the believers yearn for and "Samantabhadra practice" which is the way to achieve this goal are the origin of Samantabhadra. Bodhisattva Samantabhadra and Buddha Samantabhadra are not the same one, but they merged into one later. Which are the reasons of appearing of Samantabhadra ? the internal cause is his name itself have the meaning of "perfect ", and the external causes are the social environments which Buddhism lived, such as environments of politics and culture, The first period of "Samantabhadra practice" refers to the methods how to enter the "Ideal state", it has no definitely content, and has no necessarily link with Bodhisattva Samantabhadra or Buddha Samantabhadra.After the birth of Bodhisattva Samantabhadra and Buddha Samantabhadra, Karunapundarika Sutra illustrated their life experience firstly. The connotation of "Samantabhadra " had been changing and developing, Buddha Samantabhadra had been believed popularly at one period, we can find it in Mahasamghata sutra, Buddha Samantabhadra had a obvious tendency to ontologization, later they merged into one, and because of this, Bodhisattva Samantabhadra strengthened the capacity of "sparing his body to unlimited number " which he had already before it, this merging also give description and demonstration of "ontology " to this capacity. When Samantabhadra faith reached "Western Region", it integrated the local worship of Indra, absorbed many connotations of Indra, preliminarily formed his figure and the features of his philosophy, in this process, Samantabhadra changed from guardian god with blurred image to great Bodhisattva with glorious figure.Samantabhadra exist in all things because of his excellent capacity of "sparing his body to unlimited number ",after the sought of Tathagata-garbha appeared, thinked that Tathagata lives in all things too, Samantabhadra and the sought of Tathagata-garbha united together for this common ground, Samantabhadra chananged to be the representative of the sought of Tathagata-garbha, this uniting built a broad way in constructing his theory system, from then he had not only been a Bodhisattva who can only help others, or a guardian god of Buddhism, after he got the qualifications to represent Tathagata-garbha, he has charged the key to enter the "Dharma-realm", and been the bridge connect "Dharma-realm" and the phenomenal world.Avatamsaka Sutra is the first attempt to take Samantabhadra as its representative, use " the sought of Tathagata-garbha " to explain the world and life, release people from worldly cares. Samantabhadra in Avatamsaka Sutra not only can entering into the state of deep dhyana, but also has great intelligence, he has the same Dharmakaya with Vairochana Buddha, can enter into the "Dharma-realm", his position is so high that he only speech to the Bodhisattvas of Dashabhumi, at the same time, he made up his mind to vow that he would ferry all the livings to be Buddha, he give people confidence, and think that the world although complicated, but they all have one ontology, the phenomenal world which is " empty " in its nature instincts in fact construct on the "Dharma-realm" which is " not empty " in nature, this "Dharma-realm" which is " not empty " in nature is " Tathagata-garbha ", is the world of Buddha. Tathagata lives in all, is the foundation to become Buddha for everyone, it is also called " Buddha-nature ", and because ours " Buddha-nature " were polluted by ours chanda, we are not Buddha. Samantabhadra thinks that so-called " become Buddha " is to re-emerge our " Buddha-nature " by number of ways and wisdom in this process, so he created a stages of self-cultivation which from the " initial decision to seek enlightenment" to " entering into the Dharma-realm ", include the stages from " 10 grades of Bodhisattva faith "/" Dashabhum "/" 10 necessary activities "/" 10 Parinamana " to " Dashabhumi ". Samantabhadra focus on learning and visiting good masters, he illustrate the deep theory by the easy style named "Sudhana seeking instructions to 53 good masters"; Samantabhadra pay attention to " Upaya ", claim to give value judgment in spiritual position, and not limited by conventions and religious disciplines. He teaches that believers should learn more living skills, be modest to everyone, only this way can lead us to the perfect teaching. Avatamsaka Sutra named the new path which initiated by Samantabhadra " the practice and teachings of Samantabhadra".The world which Avatamsaka Sutra describes higher than Dashabhumi which not only can enter into the "Dharma-realm", but also not enter into the realm of nirvana is called "the realm of Great Samantabhadra ", it changed to be "the realm of Vajra ". Samantabhadra changed "Vajrapani" in some Esoteric scriptures, and has complex relationship with Vairochana Buddha and Vajrasattva. Samantabhadra in Esoteric sect is one of the famous "Eight big Bodhisattvas ", can manifest to be the fierce lord named "the Vajra of BuZhi ". Samantabhadra took part in many ritual and prescribed rules of Buddha and Bodhisattvas widely, and play a role in them. Samantabhadra in Esoteric sect is in various shapes, his body-color are not the same, and has diverse functions, finally assembled all the characteristics into " Samantabhadra faith of extend the life ", Samantabhadra in Esoteric sect is thought to be the successor of Vairochana Buddha, he is thought having the same Dharmakaya with Vairochana Buddha, the ultimate symbol of Tantric practice is having the capacity to enter into the "the realm of Great Samantabhadra ", and can see the body of Samantabhadra, "having seen the body of Samantabhadra" means the over of one's practice of self-cultivation, become a Vajra. Although this understanding gave Samantabhadra a very high status, but the conferring and undertaking of the teachings of the esoteric sect is mainly depend on "Vajrapani" or "Vajrasattva", has no direct relationship with him, no doubt Samantabhadra had lost the dominant position in Avatamsaka Sutra, he turned to behind the scenes form the stage, changed to a supporting role form a leading role.In short, Samantabhadra in abroad has ten features:wisdom/practicality/ mystery/kind/sublime/combination/skilful/diversity/integrity/ultimate.