Akshobhya Buddha – the second Dhyani Buddha

This article is about Akshobhya Buddha – Why he is known as Akshobhya, his iconography, and his doctrine & advantages of reciting his Dharani.

How an ordinary monk became Akshobhya Buddha

Many a eons ago, a devout and fully ordained monk practiced Dharma in the Eastern world of Delight. Once he asked Buddha, “How can I attain enlightenment”? Buddha replied, “The most important quality to attain enlightenment is absolute patience, the capacity to remain unperturbed by negative emotions like anger and aggression”. Without hesitation, in front of Buddha and the Sangha, the monk spontaneously vowed, “From now onwards, I will not hold anger, aggression or malice towards any being”.

From that time onwards he kept his vow with an unwavering determination and succeeded in his quest and become the Akshobhya Buddha.

Meaning of Akshobhya

Akshobhya means unshakeable or immovable. The word signifies the cultivation of forbearance and patience – an antidote to anger or temper.

Who is Akshobhya Buddha?

Akshobhya Buddha is one of the five Dhyani Buddhas of the Vajrayana Buddhism. The other Buddhas considered among Pancha Dhyani or five meditating Buddhas are Vairocana Buddha, Ratnasambhava Buddha, Amitabha Buddha and Amoghasiddhi Buddha. These pancha buddhas are the supreme manifestation of the one absolute and all-pervading Buddha nature.

Association of Akshobhya Buddha with a negative trait

The five wisdoms of Pancha Buddhas overcome the five negative delusions of human nature – ignorance, anger, pride, attachment and jealousy. Akshobhya Buddha associates with anger. He transforms anger into clear mirror like wisdom with which one sees things just as they are impartially and in an unattached manner.

Akshobhya Buddha establishes that all living beings can purify their past acts of hatred, violence and killings too. The living beings can seek his blessings by focusing on him for meditation and abandoning their non-virtuous thoughts and action.

These teachings offer thorough foundation for comprehending reality and overcoming sufferings.

Presence of Akshobhya Buddha in Diamond Realm

Akshobhya Buddha is present in the east of the Diamond realm and so on stupas he is always towards east.

Consort and Paradise of Akshobhya Buddha

His consort is Locana and the paradise is Abhirati – the land of ultimate joy and delight. Anyone who is born there cannot fall back to lower level of consciousness. Every sentient in Abhirati does virtuous deeds and restrains from angry behavior. Abhirati radiates a sense of steadiness and holiness that captures the essence of Akshobhya Buddha.

Iconography of Akshobhya Buddha

Body Color

Akshobhya Buddha has dark blue color. It represents the enlightened mind with clarity, serenity and tranquility. This color is linked with the dark blue color of the deep sea water. It symbolizes that how even when the surface of the ocean is whipping up into crashing waves the depth of the sea remains undisturbed and imperturbable.

The water can cut through solid rocks as well, calmly without violence and with patience. In Buddhism even the wrathful Tantrik deities are in blue color as they embody the transmuted energy of anger, hatred and aggression into wisdom and enlightenment.

The water also has the capacity to act as clear mirror and the mirror symbolizes deep awareness and consciousness. Akshobhya Buddha as an embodiment of the mirror has knowledge to understand what is illusion and what is reality.

The mind of all virtuous beings should be like mirror – bright and dazzling. It always reflect correctly whatever be the object ugly or beautiful. A mirror like mind takes a person away from prejudices and presumptions. The brilliance of such mind illuminates the darkness of ignorance, and its sharpness cut through confusion and clearly demarcates the rights and the wrongs in thoughts and the deeds. It teaches to accept our experiences with clarity and objectivity. This understanding allows one to recognize the interdependence of all things which results in a significant shift in consciousness. The mirror like wisdom turns down any rage and ease tense emotions.

Mudra

Akshobhya Buddha is in Bhumisparsha Mudra It reflects his confidence, deep-rootedness and same kind of determination that carried Buddha to His enlightenment even though all His tribulations. This mudra signifies assurance, determination and commitment.

Posture

Akshobhya Buddha manifests in seated meditation posture of intense introspection and inner reflection. His appearance reflects the calm demeanor and emanates peacefulness.

Ornamentation

Akshobhya Buddha adorns regal jewels and clothing that represents his authority over the mind and the emotions. The jewelry he wears is the reminder of his majesty and enlightened condition.

Mount

He travels with Lion and his mount is the elephant. The Lion signifies bravery and courage. The elephant represents the unrelenting tenacity and the courage in the face of adversity. It places its foot on the earth with an unshakeable certainty. The choice of elephant as his mount symbolizes Akshobhya Buddha’s steadfast nature and his Bodhisattvas vows.

Halo

There is always a halo behind his head. The halo shows his transcendental wisdom and calm demeanor. It highlights his enlightenment and capacity to dispel darkness with the light of wisdom.

Pedestal or Lotus Throne

The throne represents his glorified and ascended level of enlightenment. The lotus represents the purity and spiritual advancement.

Vajra

He occasionally holds Vajra in his left hand. The vajra symbolizes his invincibility.

The Doctrine of Akshobhya Buddha and advantages of reciting the Dharani of Akshobhya

The oldest mention of Akshobhya Buddha appears in the scripture of the Buddha Land of Akshobhya Buddha that dates back to 147 AD. This scripture is the oldest known Pure Land Text.

Recently discovered Gandhari texts from Pakistan contains fragments of an early Mahayana sutra mentioning Akshobhya Buddha. These texts belong to late 1st century to early 2nd century CE.

In Akshobhya Buddha sutra, the Sakyamuni Buddha extolls the intentions of Akshobhya Buddha being so powerful that he saves innumerable beings from the agonizing ordeal of lower state of existence. He also praises Akshobhya Buddha for his profound compassion.

It explains that the meditation keeping Akshobhya Buddha in mind can liberate one from the fear of excruciating sufferings of lower planes of existence or the inauspicious rebirth. The merits generated by reciting one hundred thousand of his long Dhyani Mantra and creating an image of him could be dedicated to another person, even someone long deceased and they would be assured of release from lower state of existence and rebirth in spiritually fortunate circumstances.

Devotees sometimes even recite these mantras to release their pets or animals from the animal realm.

This mantra calms the mind and nurture inner tranquility even during testing times through its resonant vibrations. The recitation of this mantra purifies the accumulated negative karmas. Individuals can cleanse their past wrong-doings by earnestly uttering these mantras fostering spiritual clarity and liberation.

References

Buddhist Deities and Masters – An introduction by Chandra B Sakya

The iconography of Nepalese Buddhism by Min Bahadur Shakya

For more information, please watch the video below

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