Manjushri – Balmy Alley, Mission District, San Francisco, California

In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is an enlightened (bodhi) being (sattva). Traditionally, a bodhisattva is anyone who, motivated by great compassion, has experienced a spontaneous wish to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. In Mahayana Buddhism, Manjushri is a bodhisattva associated with transcendent wisdom. In Esoteric Buddhism he is also taken as a meditational deity. The Sanskrit name Manjushri can be translated as "Gentle Glory", "Soft Glory" , "Wondrous Auspiciousness."

In the mural Manjushri reaches his hand out in a mudra gesture, symbolizing assistance to others. His other hand holds a lotus flower, a symbol of purification and his sword cuts through ignorance.The mural merges iconic images from 17th century Tibetan Art with elements borrowed from Latin American art. It is dedicated to the Dalai Lama.

Marta Ayala is a Latin American woman artist specializing in public murals and paintings. A native of El Salvador, Marta has been a resident of San Francisco since 1968. Her work combines colorful and vibrant images and forms evoking memories from her childhood, ancient cultures and above all, rocks, stones and water. In a sense, Ayala’s work falls into the mainsteam of American art. Her cultural heritage is evident in her primitive approach. In a statement to [me], Marta Ayala sums up her philosophy: "My vision is called primitive because the vivid colors and naive representations call forth ancient emotions. They are a vibrant and powerful affirmation of life."