Wisdom’s Bestowal: A Method for the Recitation of the Tantra Chanting the Names of Mañjuśrī

This quote of the week comes from our newly published text “Wisdom’s Bestowal: A Method for the Recitation of the Tantra Chanting the Names of Mañjuśrī,” by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo.

Chanting the Names of Mañjuśrī (Mañjuśrīnāmasaṃgīti) is a tantra originally taught by Buddha Śākyamuni in answer to the request of Vajrapāṇi, and its recitation grants one great attainment and protection. The text still exists in Sanskrit, and was translated into Tibetan by the great Rinchen Zangpo in the ninth century.  This popular praise to the names of Mañjuśrī, the embodiment of the wisdom of all buddhas, is still practiced by all Tibetan Buddhist schools.

Khyentse Wangpo’s composition adds additional prayers and practices to be said before and after the root text, with specific instructions and variations suited to four different kinds of practitioners. This text is a great example of Khyentse Wangpo’s special ability to faithfully and elegantly present the essence of the teachings from a vast variety of teachers and lineages in a way that is meaningful, inspiring, and accessible for us.

This text was translated by Sean Price and can be found in our reading room here: https://www.khyentsevision.org/reading-room/kabum/tha/B620/