Buddha Speaks the Sutra of the Prajñāpāramitā Bodhisattva Who is the Mother of All Buddhas (佛說觀想佛母般若波羅蜜多菩薩經)

About 佛說觀想佛母般若波羅蜜多菩薩經

Song · Source text translated by 天息災

834 · about 3 min

The *Sutra of the Buddha’s Discourse on the Contemplation of the Buddha-Mother Prajñāpāramitā Bodhisattva*, translated by the Dharma Master Tianxizai under imperial decree in the early Northern Song dynasty, belongs to the Prajñāpāramitā class of esoteric Buddhist scriptures. This sutra originated from the Translation Institute of the Song dynasty and reflects the characteristics of the esotericization period in Chinese Buddhism. Its content elucidates the method of realizing the wisdom of śūnyatā (emptiness) through contemplation of the form of the Buddha-Mother Prajñāpāramitā Bodhisattva and the recitation of mantras. Integrating exoteric and esoteric teachings, this sutra emphasizes a system of contemplative practice for attaining realization in this very body. It serves as an important text for the study of Song dynasty esoteric thought and the feminized imagery of Prajñāpāramitā, holding a distinctive position in the practice of Chinese esoteric Buddhism.