The Bodhisattva Doctrine in Buddhist Sanskrit Literature c6.s2.4

c6.s2.4

(2) In the early Mahāyāna, Wisdom and Mercy are regarded as equally important, and a bodhisattva must possess the double Equipment of Knowledge and Merit (jñāna-sambhāra, puṇya-sambhāra).61 In fact, Wisdom is considered to be somewhat more important than Mercy. Mañjuçrī, who represents Wisdom, is invoked in the opening verses of several treatises, and he is praised in the *Sad. Pu.* The glorification of Wisdom reaches its climax in the writings of the *Mādhyamika* school of philosophy, which was founded by Nāgārjuna in the second century A.D. *Prajñā* is extolled *ad nauseam*, while Mercy (*karuṇā*) is not discussed in detail. But the later Mahāyāna emphasizes Mercy more than Wisdom. It is emotional rather than argumentative. It sometimes seems to ignore and discard Wisdom altogether, as when it declares that *karuṇā* is the one thing needful for a *bodhisattva*.62 As this ideal gains ground, the *bodhisattva* Avalokiteçvara increases in importance till he becomes the supreme and unique *bodhisattva*. The Mahāyāna slowly passes from the ascendancy of Mañjuçrī to the reign of Avalokiteçvara.