The Number 1 Bodhisattva who Subjugates Afflictions and Eradicates Karmic Hindrances

Today, we conducted Sarvanivarana-Viskambhin Bodhisattva's homa. This Bodhisattva is quite significant. He is one of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas, namely, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Manjushri Bodhisattva, Samantabhadra Bodhisattva, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Maitreya Bodhisattva, Akasagarbha Bodhisattva, Vajrapani Bodhisattva, and Sarvanivarana-Viskambhin Bodhisattva. The background of Sarvanivarana-Viskambhin Bodhisattva is magnificent because he has his own court in Womb Realm Mandala. This court is a palace dedicated to Sarvanivarana-Viskambhin Bodhisattva. This deity is rarely discussed in the True Buddha School and very few people practice his dharma. This is the first time we have held a homa for Sarvanivarana-Viskambhin. (applause) The homa was requested by Master Lianzhe and some other masters. They found these rare Eight Great Bodhisattvas because we need to invoke them in the High King Sutra.

Sarvanivarana-Viskambhin Bodhisattva has illustrious power. This bodhisattva can subjugate afflictions and eradicate the karmic obstacles of sentient beings. This is why he is called Hindrance Removing Bodhisattva. (applause) He has two symbols and two forms. The thangka enshrined at front is white Sarvanivarana-Viskambhin. There are also yellow and blue Sarvanivarana-Viskambhins. He holds a dharma banner. A lotus is on top of the banner. On top of the lotus there are rays of light symbolizing a sun disc. Sarvanivarana-Viskambhin is usually depicted with either the Bestowing Mudra or Fearless Mudra. The specialty of Sarvanivarana-Viskambhin is the subjugation of afflictions and the elimination of karmic hindrances.

Every Vajrayana practice consists of the main elements of mantra, mudra, and visualization. With the three basic elements of visualization, mantra, and mudra, a Vajrayana dharma is established for cultivation.

As I have mentioned previously there are so many people praying to Avalokiteshvara that it's possible Avalokiteshvara may overlook your prayers. However, no one ever prays to Sarvanivarana-Viskambhin Bodhisattva and nobody cultivates his dharma practice. No one practices his dharma or knows his name, although he is mentioned in the High King Sutra. However, if you practice his sadhana, he will definitely hear you. This is because you would be the only one practicing it. It is therefore very likely that the strength of his blessing will be extraordinarily powerful and you will have great attainment. (applause) We will ask True Buddha Foundation to institute the sadhana. As long as we have visualization, mantra, mudra, and entering into samadhi, we should have a sadhana for cultivation. We must invoke the Eight Great Bodhisattvas when practicing the sadhana because Sarvanivarana-Viskambhin is one of the Eight Great Bodhisattvas. The reason they are called the Eight Great Bodhisattvas is because they practiced and cultivated during the same time period and reached attainment together. Although Sarvanivarana-Viskambhin Bodhisattva's name comes last he is really highly effective. He can subjugate afflictions, which is unusual and he can also eradicate karmic hindrances, which is also unusual. Given these two abilities we can say he is ''number one.'' (applause)

Translated by TBTTs (Sections relavent to Sarvanivarana-Viskambhin only)
Translator: DJ Chang
Editor: Henry Wolf