Material: Printed thangka - Cundi Buddha Mother

Size: Approximately 186 x 114 cm

Description:

Cundi Buddha Mother (Tibetan: Tsundri, Sanskrit: Cundī) is an important deity in Tibetan Buddhism. She is one of the incarnations of Avalokitesvara in Tantric Buddhism and is known for her wisdom, compassion and great supernatural powers. Her influence and status in Tibetan Buddhism are mainly reflected in the popularity of her practice methods and her blessing power for practitioners to increase wisdom, purify karma and realize worldly and transcendental wishes. The following will describe her influence and status and the origin of mythological stories.

1. The influence and status of Cundi Buddha Mother in Tibetan Buddhism

1. **Popularity of practice methods**:

- The practice of Cundi Buddha Mother belongs to the Tantric method in Tibetan Buddhism, especially in the Nyingma, Kagyu and Gelug schools, where her practice is passed down. Her practice is centered on the "Cundi Mantra" (or Cundi Mantra), which is: "Oṃ cale cule cundī svāhā" (Sanskrit: Oṃ cale cule cundī svāhā). This mantra is believed to have a powerful blessing power that can purify karma, increase merit and wisdom, and help practitioners achieve success quickly.

- The Cundi method is popular in both Tibetan and Chinese Buddhism because it is simple and can be practiced without complicated initiations (in some cases). It is especially suitable for lay practitioners. Her practice is regarded as a way to "quick success" that can help practitioners achieve significant efficacy in a short period of time.

2. **Symbolism and Merits**:

- Cundi is usually depicted as having eighteen arms and three eyes, symbolizing her boundless wisdom and compassion, as well as her ability to save sentient beings in many ways. Her three eyes represent insight into the past, present, and future, and her eighteen arms symbolize that she can respond to the various needs of sentient beings at the same time.

- She is regarded as one of the manifestations of Avalokitesvara and is closely related to other female deities such as Tara or Vajrayogini, but her uniqueness lies in her combination of compassion and wisdom, which makes her particularly suitable for practitioners who practice Prajna wisdom.

- The practice of Cundi is believed to help practitioners eliminate obstacles, increase merit, realize wishes, and make rapid progress on the path of practice. Therefore, in Tibetan Buddhism, she is often regarded as the "Quick Deity".

3. **Status in Tibetan Buddhism**:

- Although Cundi's status in Tibetan Buddhism is not as prominent as Green Tara or Manjushri, she still has an important influence in certain traditions and practice groups. In particular, her practice is very popular in some areas where Chinese and Tibetan Buddhism are integrated (such as the Tibetan areas of China or the Han Tantric Buddhism).

- The practice of Cundi is also often combined with the practice of other deities, such as Avalokitesvara or Mahavairocana, to form a comprehensive Tantric practice system.

2. Myths and Origins of Cundi Buddha Mother

1. **Myth Origin**:

- The image and legend of Cundi Buddha Mother mainly come from the Buddhist Tantric scriptures, especially the Cundi Dhāraṇī Sūtra. According to the scriptures, Cundi Buddha Mother is one of the female deities incarnated by Avalokitesvara to save sentient beings, aiming to help sentient beings escape from the sea of ​​suffering with powerful wisdom and compassion.

- Her name "Cundī" means "purity" or "purity" in Sanskrit, symbolizing that she can purify the karma and troubles of sentient beings. Her eighteen-arm image is said to be to respond to the countless needs of sentient beings and show infinite magical powers.

2. **Legends in the scriptures**:

- According to the Cundi Dhāraṇī Sūtra, when Sakyamuni Buddha was preaching the Cundi Dharma to sentient beings on Mount Vulture Peak, Cundi Buddha Mother appeared in the form of three eyes and eighteen arms and taught the Cundi Mantra. The scriptures record that practicing this mantra can enable practitioners to gain blessings and wisdom in this life and ultimately achieve Buddhahood.

- According to legend, Cundi has helped countless sentient beings realize their wishes with her magical powers, especially those who encounter obstacles in their practice or life. Her mantra is believed to have incredible power and can induce the blessings of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

3. **Inheritance in Tibetan Buddhism**:

- The practice of Cundi is mainly passed down in Tibetan Buddhism through tantras (such as the Mahayana Sutra of the Adorned Treasure King). Her image and practice had already taken shape during the Indian Tantric period, and were later introduced to Tibet with the Tantric Buddhism. Combined with the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of worshipping Tara, it formed a unique practice method.

- In the legends of Tibetan Buddhism, Cundi is often described as one of the incarnations of Avalokitesvara, and has similar salvation functions as Green Tara, White Tara and other deities, but her practice emphasizes the enlightenment of wisdom and the purification of karma.

4. **Cultural integration and dissemination**:

- The worship of Cundi is particularly prominent in the integration of Tibetan Buddhism and Han Buddhism. Her practice was introduced to Han China by Tantric masters such as Vajrabodhi and Amoghavajra in the Tang Dynasty, and was further developed in Tibetan Buddhism. Her image and mantra are also easy to spread because of their simplicity, and have become the object of practice for many lay practitioners and monks.

- In the art of Tibetan Buddhism, the thangkas and statues of Cundi often show her sitting on a lotus seat, holding various instruments (such as vajra, sword, lotus, etc.), symbolizing her multi-faceted blessing power.

III. Summary

In Tibetan Buddhism, Cundi is a female deity with both compassion and wisdom. Although her status is not as prominent as some of the main deities, she is widely popular among practitioners because of her simple practice and rapid efficacy. The origin of her myth is related to the incarnation of Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. Through the spread of classics such as the Cundi Dharani Sutra, her powerful blessing power to purify karma and increase wisdom is demonstrated. In the practice tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, the practice of Cundi provides a way for sentient beings to achieve rapid success, especially in the pursuit of wisdom and blessings, and has an important influence.