Amoghasiddhi
Amoghasiddhi (T. don yod grub pa; C. Bukong Chengjiu rulai fo 不空成就如來佛) is one of the five tathagatas. His name translates as "Infallible Success," "Unobstructed Accomplishment," etc.[1] He is the buddha of the Karma family and presides over the buddhafield known as Karmaprasiddhi or Prakuṭā (Tib. Lerab Drubpa) located to the north. Longchenpa describes Amoghasiddhi’s pure land as the ‘realm of supreme accomplishment of action’.[1]
Amoghasiddhi displays the all-accomplishing wisdom of perfect buddha activity. This wisdom remains unobstructed by knowing everything all the time. The earliest textual reference seems to be in the 7th-8th century CE Sarvatathāgata Tattvasaṃgraha Tantra.[1]
Five tathagatas
In the Vajrayana, Buddha Amoghasiddhi is identified as one of the five tathagatas. In this context, he is the Buddha of the karma family, associated with the north, and is usually depicted as green in color and holding a double-vajra or sword.[2]
Buddha Amoghasiddhi represents the purification of jealousy and the arising of all-accomplishing wisdom.
Thrangu Rinpoche states:
- Buddha Amogasiddha is realized in the absence of the negative emotion of jealousy which includes being jealous of others’ wealth, success, and good fortune. With jealousy negativity is accumulated. By overcoming jealousy, Amogasiddha and the all- accomplishing wisdom are realized.
- Jealousy prevents and impedes an individual from accomplishing his or her own well-being and as a result he or she experiences more suffering and continues developing further jealousy towards those who have more. This is the reason all-accomplishing wisdom is experienced in the absence of jealousy, i.e., when jealousy is removed, all wishes are naturally and effortlessly accomplished.
- As long as jealousy determines one’s attitude, one is bound to experience more obstacles in achieving personal success and in accomplishing positive goals. This is why Buddha Amogasiddha’s activity is wrathful. It is with wrath that he removes all obstacles and hindrances preventing spiritual maturation and success. He is green in color, the same color as growing plants symbolizing the numerous activities he employs to remove hindrances.[2]
And also:
- Buddha Amogasiddha is the realization of all-accomplishing wisdom. The Tibetan word for Buddha Amogasiddha is sangay donyodtrubpa. The word danyod means “meaningful” and the word trubpa means “accomplishment.” So Buddha Amogasiddha means “whatever is meaningful and fruitful is accomplished.” He is also the complete purification of jealousy, which is a hindrance for both material and spiritual success. His activity is perfect accomplishment and fulfillment of meaningful aims. Furthermore, his activity removes ordinary daily hindrances such as illnesses and obstacles. This is why Ratnasambhava’s activity is meaningful accomplishment.
- Buddha Amogasiddha holds a double-vajra in the form of a cross in his left hand, which symbolizes that his activity pervades and touches all directions. He sits in the full lotus posture. The left hand of all five dhyana Buddhas rests in the meditative posture of the changeless realization of dharmata. Amogasiddha’s right hand is in the mudra of fearless protection. He protects all living beings from any mishaps, obstacles, and negative influences. So his posture is known as “the mudra of fearless protection."[3]
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ratnasambhava, Samye Institute
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Thrangu Rinpoche 1998, p. 2.
- ↑ Thrangu Rinpoche 1998, p. 7.
Sources
Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University
Thrangu Rinpoche (1998), The Five Buddha Families and the Eight Consciousnesses, translated by Peter Roberts, Boulder, Colorado: Namo Buddha Publications