Amitabha! Welcome to the Northern Platform of Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada, where the revered Pure Manjushri Bodhisattva is enshrined.
In Wutai Shan in Shanxi, China, the Northern Platform stands atop the five peaks, making it the highest point on Wutai Shan. However, in Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada, the Northern Platform is situated on the mountainside and cannot be the highest point. So, what sets the Northern Platform of Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden in Canada apart?
The sculptures of Manjushri Bodhisattva on the other four Platforms – Eastern, Western, Southern, and Central – all face towards the Main Hall. However, the Manjushri Bodhisattva statue on the Northern Platform is not oriented towards the Hall but faces the mountain gate.
This uniqueness lies in the fact that this Bodhisattva statue faces the sentient beings. The Manjushri Bodhisattva on the Northern Platform stands tall and looks far. Anyone passing by, be it pedestrians or vehicles on the road, before even entering the grand gate of Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden, can catch a glimpse of this Bodhisattva from afar. This signifies the Bodhisattva’s role in guiding beings towards enlightenment.