My suspicions about Manjushri

The Lotus Sutra refers to Manjushri as being a bodhisattva - not as a fully-enlightened Buddha. Since Shakyamuni Buddha himself refers to the Lotus Sutra as his highest teaching, it would be easy enough (on that basis alone) to think of Manjushri as (only) a bodhisattva.

However, I have my doubts which, as you will see, the Lotus plainly encourages.

The Lotus Sutra speaks of a profound concept - expedient means - which is "the foremost device of the Buddhas" (page 27*) and is, in fact, the title of its second chapter. Briefly, expedient means are a wide variety of teaching methods used by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to lead living beings to enlightenment. For example, the Lotus speaks of a Bodhisattva named Wonderful Sound, when it claims:

QUOTE:

If the form of a Buddha will bring salvation, he immediately [as a kind of expedient means] manifests a Buddha form and preaches the Law. Thus he manifests himself in various different forms, depending upon what is appropriate for salvation.

:UNQUOTE: [Page 296*]

Why I think Manjushri is a fully-enlightened Buddha

If Bodhisattva Wonderful Sound can "manifest a Buddha form," then it's at least plausible that Manjushri could manifest a Bodhisattva form - even though he's really a Buddha - if that's what it takes to lead living beings to enlightenment. My suspicions about Manjushri being a Buddha were aroused when Bodhisattva Maitreya asks Bodhisattva Manjushri:

"What is the cause of these auspicious portents, these signs of transcendental powers, this emitting of a great beam of brightness that illumines the eighteen thousand lands in the eastern direction so we can see all the adornments of the Buddha worlds there?" [page 7*]

Manjushri replies, "...in the past I have seen this auspicious portent among the Buddhas. They emitted a beam of light like this, and after that they expounded the great Law [that is, they expounded the Lotus Sutra, the greatest among the teachings of the Buddhas]." [page 14*]

Manjushri knew this, but Maitreya did not - even though Maitreya was the next Bodhisattva among the Great Assembly predicted, by Shakyamuni Buddha, to become a Buddha. Furthermore, Manjushri tells Maitreya about a time, trillions of years ago during the lifetime of the Buddha Sun Moon Bright, when they knew each other:

QUOTE:

The eight sons of the Buddha Sun Moon Bright all acknowledged Wonderfully Bright as their teacher....Among the 800 disciples of Wonderfully Bright was one named Seeker of Fame. He was greedy for gain and support, and though he read and recited numerous sutras, he could not understand them, but for the most part forgot them. Hence he was called Seeker of Fame....Maitreya, you should understand this. Bodhisattva Wonderfully Bright who lived then - could he be unknown to you? He was no other than I myself. And Bodhisattva Seeker of Fame was you.

:UNQUOTE: [Page 17*]

Wow...Seeker of Fame (of whom Manjushri later refers - on page 21* -  as being "that lazy and slothful one") is the next in line to become a Buddha. While Manjushri had not yet been so predicted. We're expected to believe that the lazy and slothful one is to become a Buddha before his teacher. Then a sudden thought hit me:

"Manjushri, though only identified as a Bodhisattva, is the first within the pages of the Burton Watson text*, to speak of the Buddha about to preach the Great Law of the Lotus Sutra. And it's obvious he'd heard this Law before. I have to bow down in appreciation to Manjushri as foremost in modesty - allowing himself to be an anonymous Buddha so that he could walk freely among the members of the Great Assembly without intimidating them. He could then serve the useful function of being accessible at times when the seekers of the Way might be too awed to approach the Buddha directly with their questions."

Steven Searle, just another member of the Virtual Samgha of the Lotus

"Hail, Manjushri Buddha" - Steve.