Who is Junje Bosal?
Yesterday afternoon, I was really engaged in solving this puzzle. Who is Junje Bosal? I was up past 1:00 this morning searching for the answer. By the time I found it, I was too tired to write it all down, so here goes...
Having found only a few references to Junje Bosal, I started to wonder if perhaps there was a transliteration issue. There is no standard romanization for Korean... The Korean word for bodhisattva [보살] is written as Bosal and Posal. I decided to consult the source—The Thousand Eyes and Hands Sutra.
The Sutra is included in the Kwan Um School of Zen chanting book. Reading the translation, you will find a few references to Junje Bosal. Here is the first:
I receive the great Junje Bosal,16
who is the mother of seven billion Buddhas.
Note 16 provided just a bit more information on Junje:
Bodhisattva possessing magical powers.
Well, I didn't get the name, but I had something to go on. My first search on Bodhisattvas with magical powers turned up an interesting pamphlet that I'll probably read later. Next I started looking for references to the "mother of seven billion Buddhas." That was when I struck gold:
Cundi Bodhisattva
The word 'Cundi' literally means 'extremely pure'. Due to her status as the Mother of all the Lotus Deities in Tantrism, so she has the epithet of Mother Buddha, Cundi Mother Buddha is also called the Seven Koti Mother Buddha, which means that she is the Mother of Seven Billion Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
The 18 arms of Cundi Mother Buddha represents the Eighteen Uncommon Methods, which can destroy the ignorance of all sentient beings, whoever practices this deity will eliminate all sins, shall be prevented from all disasters, all wishes in this life regardless of mundane or supramundane Siddhis will be accomplished swiftly. As Cundi has 18 arms and three eyes, so she had very powerful spiritual powers, her secret epithet is 'Most Victorious Vajra'. The pith-instruction of Cundi Mother Buddha Archetype Deity Practice is 'Most Victorious in Purity'.
Heart Mantra is: Om Cale Cule Cundi Svaha
[...from Introduction to True Buddha School's Eight Principle Deities]
The final site I viewed states that Cundi Bodhisattva is also referred to as Maha Cundi. The site posted this description and picture of Junje: 
Maha Cundi Bodhisattva is known as the mother of Buddhas, also is one form of Avalokitesvara. She is the seated figure with 18 arms, various Dharma implements she holds represent the many skillful means of Tantra.
Comments