The Gandavyūha-sūtra, which is a segment of the expansive and illustrious Avataṃsaka Sūtra, narrates an allegorical journey undertaken by a “son of good family” named Sudhana. The esteemed Bodhisattva Mañjuśrī identifies him amidst a multitude of worshipers as an individual who possesses the spiritual readiness to commence the final phase of the journey toward Enlightenment. The Great Bodhisattva commissions him to embark on a pilgrimage to meet over fifty Good Friends, or kalyānamitras, who serve as spiritual guides, to seek their guidance in the Conduct of the Bodhisattva. These sagacious mentors hail from diverse backgrounds, including a notable representation of women and non-Buddhists.
