Bodhisattvas Hidden in the World: Why Have They Come?

Why must bodhisattvas come to this world? They arrive with a vow for all sentient beings, enduring opposition to uphold the Dharma. Venerable Master Chan Quang’s teaching opens the path to learning from the mind of a bodhisattva.

When he was young, Venerable Master Thich Chan Quang once met an old nun who seemed simple and confused. Yet every word she spoke contained profound truth. He did not have the eyes to know if she was a bodhisattva, but he realized she was no ordinary person. She lived quietly, possessing wisdom and humility without revealing anything. Then he never saw her again. Such bodhisattvas are still hidden among us, difficult for our physical eyes to recognize.

### Who is a Bodhisattva? It Is Not Just Compassion

Anyone who has a heart that loves sentient beings, wishes to transform them, and wants to rebuild this world possesses the mind of a bodhisattva. However, to truly be a bodhisattva requires wisdom and spiritual attainment. If we also love and wish for others to reach enlightenment, but we have not yet practiced and attained realization ourselves, we have the intention but lack the completeness. A bodhisattva does not only have kindness; they possess the power of realization.

How can we distinguish between them? In the sutras, the Buddha categorized people into two types: those who like to scatter trash and those who like to pick it up. Those who scatter trash throw things away carelessly, whether they are wealthy or use brand-name goods. Those who pick up trash see litter and collect it, making the world more beautiful. The same applies to practice. Some practice for themselves: seeking their own attainment, realization, and success. Others practice for sentient beings: whenever they gain something, they immediately wish for others to surpass them. These are two very different paths.

“Whenever you achieve something, you immediately wish for others to surpass you. This is the difference in mind between an ordinary being and a bodhisattva.”

### The Sacrifice of a Bodhisattva Coming to the World

Venerable Master Chan Quang shared that saints do not always wish to appear in the world. When the Buddha appeared, countless sentient beings ascended to heavenly realms, but many also fell into hell because they opposed, slandered, and plotted against him. Therefore, before appearing, they calculate: will the number of people who attain liberation be ten, hundred, or thousand times greater than those who fall? If the time is ripe, the world is favorable, and goodness outweighs evil, they come. But in eras where virtue declines, people only seek pleasure, and do not believe in cause and effect (karmic law), bodhisattvas take responsibility to descend, even if good and evil are equal, or if evil is stronger. They come to restore the light, accepting thousands of arrows shot at them and myriad insults. Like war elephants in battle, they step forward steadfastly, leaving footprints that bloom into millions of lotus flowers.

“Accepting thousands of arrows piercing your body. Accepting myriad insults and humiliations. But facing it head-on like a war elephant walking through the battlefield.”

### The Veil of Ignorance – The Journey of Return

When a bodhisattva is reborn, they undergo the "veil of ignorance." They take on a new body, completely forgetting memories and wisdom because the brain is not yet formed. However, the positive karma from many past lives surrounds the child, shaping their character, soul, and unique path. Gradually, as the child grows, the bodhisattva identity returns, continuing practice and teaching. The story of Master Phat An and Su Dongpo illustrates this. After attaining enlightenment, Master Phat An was reborn into a family and quickly re-attained realization. His friend, Su Dongpo, struggled in the mundane world, failing in officialdom and having seven wives. Only through Master Phat An’s guidance did he resume practice and attain realization. Even the Dalai Lama, recognized by familiar objects, does not clearly remember past lives. The veil of ignorance obscures the past entirely.

### What Do We Learn from the Mind of a Bodhisattva?

The most important thing we can practice is this: whenever you have a small achievement, whether in work, study, or practice, immediately think of others. Wish for them to achieve as much as you, or even more. This is the sign of a bodhisattva seed. Venerable Master Chan Quang emphasized that this mind cannot be developed in a day or night; it is cultivated over hundreds of lifetimes.

You can begin with three simple actions:

First, whenever you achieve something, let your first thought be: “May everyone else achieve this too.”

Second, dedicate time to sharing what you have learned with others.

Third, be patient, for the mind of a bodhisattva needs nurturing across many lifetimes.

And when you realize that there are saints silently sacrificing for this world, you will feel less alone. Extend that vow further.