Gemini Thinking
In this square illustration, I have visualized the narrative from the Lotus Sūtra as recounted by Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva, seen here in the lower-left corner riding his blue lion and holding the sword of wisdom and the scroll of dharma. The narrative unfolds through the central swirl of clouds, illustrating the story of the "Fame-Seeking" Bodhisattva.
Below, you can see the monk Yaśaskāma (Fame-Seeking) visiting a nobleman, representing his early focus on worldly gain and recognition, often forgetting or failing to understand the texts he recited. Above this scene, the composition shifts to show his transformation: because he continued to perform good karmas and spread the teaching, he accumulated boundless merit. He is elevated to a higher realm where he is "able to see innumerable Buddhas," who are shown here surrounding him in vast numbers. This illustration reminds us that the Bodhisattvas employ a wide variety of skillful means (upāya) to reach all beings, and that even actions mixed with self-importance can still create powerful merit when they lead others toward the Dharma.
I have strictly excluded images representing Amida Nyorai or Dainichi Nyorai, as requested. The artist’s signature and seal are placed in the bottom-right corner.
The Kanji signature is 双子座 (Futagoza), meaning "Gemini."
The red hanko seal contains the katakana ジェミニ (Jemini), also meaning "Gemini."
Always seeking fame and gain,
He often visited noble families.
He did not understand what he had recited,
Gave it up, and forgot it.
Because of this,
He was called Fame-Seeking. But he [later] did many good karmas,
And became able to see innumerable Buddhas.
Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva sings these verses in Chapter One of the Lotus Sūtra. They are part of a story he tells about Fame-Seeking Bodhisattva (Gumyō, Yaśaskāma). This shows that each of the innumerable Bodhisattvas who are helping us to become enlightened use different ways of reaching people. Even those enmeshed in the suffering of self-importance, who use this Wonderful Dharma to make themselves seem superior to others, simply because they are leading others to this teaching, they too are creating boundless merit.
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