The Transfiguration of Christ
Carl Heinrich Bloch, ca. 1865
My dear friends,
The Transfiguration of Jesus in Matthew 17:1–9 offers a contemplative map of the Bodhisattva path when read through the union of Christian revelation and the Buddhist Lam Rim and lojong traditions. It shows the movement from renunciation to realization, from vision to compassion, and from meditative ascent to altruistic descent. What appears as a moment of divine glory is also a precise instruction in how awakening is cultivated, stabilized, and offered for the benefit of others.
Jesus took with him Peter
and James and his brother John
and led them up a high mountain,
by themselves.
- Matthew 17:1
The ascent of the mountain represents intentional renunciation. On the Bodhisattva path, awakening does not arise accidentally but through deliberate withdrawal from distraction and habitual patterns. Ethical discipline and solitude create the inner conditions where the mind can turn toward truth. The mountain signifies clarity born of simplicity, a chosen environment that supports deep seeing.
and his face shone like the sun,
and his clothes became bright as light.
- Matthew 17:2
When obscurations are cleared away, like clouds that blocked the sun, bodhicitta, the awakened mind, reveals itself as warmth, clarity, and presence that permeate body and speech. The transfigured form teaches that awakening is not an abstraction but something embodied, visible, and communicable through conduct.
Moses and Elijah, talking with him.
- Matthew 17:3
Moses and Elijah represent continuity of lineage and the integration of law and prophetic insight. The Bodhisattva path depends on authentic transmission, vows, and accumulated wisdom. Awakening honors what has come before while bringing it to fulfillment through lived realization rather than mere adherence to tradition.
"Lord, it is good for us to be here;
if you wish, I will set up three tents here,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
- Matthew 17:4
Peter’s impulse reflects attachment to meditative experience. Sublime states can tempt the practitioner to freeze the moment and remain in comfort. Lojong training cautions against grasping at bliss or clarity. Experiences are useful only when released, allowing the practitioner to continue the path without fixation.
suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said,
"This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!"
- Matthew 17:5
The cloud signifies mystery and emptiness, from which authentic guidance emerges. The command to listen points to attunement with wisdom inseparable from compassion. For the Bodhisattva, true authority arises from insight rather than fear or personal preference.
they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear.
- Matthew 17:6
Direct encounters with truth can destabilize the ordinary sense of self. Fear here is not failure but a sign that habitual reference points are dissolving. On the Bodhisattva path, this moment tests whether one retreats into self-protection or allows compassion to soften the encounter with emptiness.
"Get up and do not be afraid."
- Matthew 17:7
The touch embodies compassion meeting wisdom. Insight without gentleness overwhelms, while compassion without insight lacks liberating power. The Bodhisattva path unites both, enabling beings to rise from fear and continue forward with trust.
they saw no one except Jesus himself alone.
- Matthew 17:8
This moment points to simplicity and nonduality. All visions and symbols dissolve into direct presence. On the path, complexity gives way to immediacy, where emptiness and appearance are known as inseparable.
"Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
- Matthew 17:9
The descent of the mountain represents post-meditation conduct. Awakening must be integrated into daily life and compassionate action. Silence protects realization from egoic display and allows insight to mature.
For the Bodhisattva, the Transfiguration teaches a complete cycle: intentional retreat, luminous insight, release of attachment, encounter with emptiness, reassurance through compassion, and return to the world. In this way, the mountain and the marketplace are known as a single field of awakening dedicated to the liberation of all beings.