Material: Ceramic (Completed by a professional lama of this association through chanting and consecration)

Dimensions: Maximum diameter approximately 10 cm, height approximately 9.5 cm

Description:

Cundi Bodhisattva (also known as Cundi Buddha Mother, Seven Crore Buddha Mother, Cundi Avalokiteshvara) is a great bodhisattva practiced in both exoteric and esoteric Buddhism. Her name "Cundi" means "pure and immaculate." According to scriptures such as the *Cundi Dharani Sutra Spoken by the Seven Crore Buddha Mother*, it originated from Shakyamuni Buddha entering "Cundi Samadhi" in the Jetavana Grove, and out of compassion for future sentient beings of meager merit, proclaiming the Cundi Dharani (Cundi Mantra) spoken by seven crore (seven hundred million or seventy million) Buddhas of the past. Cundi Bodhisattva is regarded as the mother of all deities of the Lotus Family and the mother of all Buddhas of the three times. She is often considered an incarnation or other name of Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, possessing vast compassion and supernatural powers, capable of fulfilling the worldly and otherworldly wishes of sentient beings.

 

The common image of Cundi Buddha Mother is a light golden body with three eyes and eighteen arms (though some depictions include four arms). One arm holds a **treasure vase** (also known as a sage vase or bathing vessel), one of her eighteen ritual implements (the others include a wish-fulfilling banner, lotus, and vajra). The vase symbolizes the capacity to contain all virtues, flowing with treasures and nectar, bestowing blessings, wisdom, and longevity upon all beings. It represents the merits of the deities born from Cundi Buddha Mother and her compassionate bestowal upon all sentient beings. The vase is not an independent object but rather part of the Buddha Mother's form, originating from the descriptions in the Garbhadhatu Mandala.

 

How to Properly Offer Offerings to Cundi Buddha Mother (Including the Meaning of the Vase)

 

Offerings to Cundi Buddha Mother should be made with sincere devotion and can be performed at a home altar or in a temple. The Cundi practice belongs to a unique branch of Esoteric Buddhism; its practice is simple and suitable for all, regardless of whether one is a layperson or a monastic, vegetarian or not, to receive blessings.

 

- **Basic Offering Methods:**

 

- Offering to an image of Cundi Buddha Mother (the eighteen-armed form is the most common).

 

- Daily offerings include fresh flowers, fruits, incense, lamps, and clean water (this can be simplified to a bowl of clean water or eight offerings: water, flowers, incense, lamps, unguents, fruits, and music).

 

- Burn incense and bow in worship, reciting the Cundi Mantra (Namo Saptanam, Samyak Sambuddha, Kotinam, Tadyatha, Om, Cale, Cule, Cundi, Svaha).

 

- Special note: The two dragon kings, Nanda and Upananda, are often present beneath the Buddha Mother. A separate bowl of clean water can be placed before the image to symbolize offering to the dragon kings, increasing blessings and removing obstacles.

 

- **The meaning of the vase offering:**

 

- The vase in the Buddha Mother's hand symbolizes a "wonderful vase," filled with nectar and treasures. When offering, visualize the Buddha Mother's vase flowing with endless nectar, sprinkling it upon oneself and all sentient beings, praying for blessings, wealth, longevity, and health.

 

- If you possess a "treasure vase" ritual implement related to Cundi Bodhisattva (such as a blessed vase from certain traditions), place it on a high place on the altar, offering incense, lamps, water, flowers, and fruits as offerings to increase merit. However, there is no specific "Cundi Treasure Vase" ritual in the Cundi practice; the vase primarily symbolizes the Bodhisattva's ritual implements.

 

Key Points of Practice: Every morning upon waking or in quiet time, visualize the Bodhisattva radiating light and bestowing blessings. Reciting the mantra a certain number of times (e.g., 900,000 recitations can eradicate grave sins) can lead to great accomplishments. Generating Bodhicitta and dedicating the merit to all sentient beings during offerings enhances the effect.

 

Meaning and Influence in Tibetan Buddhism

 

Cundi Bodhisattva is primarily prevalent in Han Chinese Esoteric Buddhism (Tangmi), Tendai Esoteric Buddhism, and Dongmi, and is relatively less common in Tibetan Buddhism (Tibetan Esoteric Buddhism). The four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism (Nyingma, Sakya, Kagyu, and Gelug) rarely widely transmit the Cundi practice, mainly because it originates from the Tangmi system, while Tibetan Buddhism largely relies on late Indian tantras.

 

- **Meaning**:

 

- In some lineages of Tibetan Buddhism (such as the Jonang school with its three faces and twenty-six arms, and the Gelug school with its four-armed lineage), Cundi is considered an emanation of Samantabhadra: Dharmakaya Cundi, Sambhogakaya Avalokiteshvara, and Nirmanakaya Green Tara. Her unique merit is "activity" (achieving worldly goals and fulfilling wishes), and her corresponding Pure Land is Sukhavati (the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss).

 

- The vase symbolizes abundance, nectar, and universal bestowal of blessings, similar to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of using a "treasure vase" (terbum) (which is used to increase blessings and heal the land, but is not exclusive to Cundi).

 

- **Impact**:

 

- The Cundi practice was introduced to Tibet as late as the Yuan Dynasty (related ritual texts exist in Tibetan scriptures), but few practitioners transmitted it. In modern times, with the globalization of Tibetan Buddhism, some masters occasionally bestow the "Vajra Cundi" empowerment to integrate into the Han Chinese or international community.

 

- Its overall influence is limited, and it has not become a mainstream deity. However, its merits in fulfilling wishes and eliminating calamities complement those of Tibetan Buddhist wealth deities and Tara practices. It is occasionally seen in the Sakya school's Hundred Achievements practice, specifically the multi-armed Cundi practice.

 

The Cundi Buddha Mother practice is highly efficacious. Reciting mantras and making offerings can bring wisdom, blessings, and the purification of negative karma. For in-depth practice, it is recommended to seek guidance from a lineage master to receive correct oral transmission and empowerment.

 

Note: This item is to be completely dedicated and sealed. It should not be opened. If opened, the dedication of the vase is lost, and its magnetic properties are dispelled.