The Girl Who Sought Ordination and the Manifest Bodhisattva

In the mid-twentieth century, Chùa Ấn Quang (Indra Temple) was still a large temple serving as the headquarters of the Buddhist association, so visitors and devotees came and went without pause. Amidst the solemn atmosphere of incense smoke and the steady chanting of sutras, a girl of about twelve or thirteen, with a small, slender build, stood silently before the temple gate for a long time. She wore a simple brown robe, her hands clutching the hem of her garment, her eyes fixed inward as if waiting for something of great importance.

When she met the abbot, she bowed her head and said, "Venerable Sir, I wish to ordain." The abbot looked at the girl, surprised she was so young and, moreover, a female. He shook his head, "You are too young, and a girl at that. How can I accept you? You should seek out a nunnery to practice instead." The girl said nothing, only bowed her head and turned to leave. The abbot did not pay much mind, thinking her desire was but a fleeting childish fancy. Yet not long after, news came that the girl had passed away. Hearing this, the abbot felt a twinge of remorse, but he soon let it pass.

Eight years later, a boy of about nine or ten also came to Chùa Ấn Quang seeking ordination. The boy had a bright, fair face resembling a girl's, but his eyes held an unwavering determination. Seeing the boy was still very young, the abbot gently advised, "You are still too young. Why rush into monastic life? You should consider it when you are older."

Hearing this, the boy showed no sign of faltering. He looked directly at the abbot and spoke slowly, "Before, I came to seek ordination, and you said I was a girl and would not accept me. Now I come again to seek ordination, and you say I am too young. So when will you finally accept me?"

The abbot froze, his heart constricting. He recalled that eight years prior, a girl had also come seeking ordination, only to be rejected with the excuse that she was female, and that girl had later died. He studied the boy before him—the demeanor, the gaze—finding something strangely familiar. A strange feeling arose within him, and he understood this was no ordinary child. The abbot’s manner changed, he smiled, and said, "Very well, I accept you."

He gave the boy the dharma name Minh Phát. From then on, the young Minh Phát stayed at the temple to cultivate. Though still a child, he was diligent and possessed a spiritual dignity that commanded respect from senior monks and nuns in the region. He later became a renowned abbot, praised by many as a reincarnated bodhisattva.

Another remarkable thing was that when he became abbot of Chùa Ấn Quang, Venerable Minh Phát would often sit in the kitchen, overseeing the meal preparations. One morning, he instructed the kitchen, "Today, prepare exactly sixty portions of rice; we will have guests." Indeed, by noon, a group of exactly sixty visitors arrived at the temple for lunch, not one more or less. When asked how he knew in advance, he would only smile and say nothing. This happened repeatedly, leaving everyone astonished, yet he remained humble, never claiming to possess any supernatural power.

Venerable Minh Phát was a manifest bodhisattva, who came to the world through deliberate will, unbound by the ignorance of intermediate existence, and thus clearly remembered all things from past lives. He was born knowing who he was, knowing what he needed to do, and had a clear plan of action. Yet he never revealed his true identity, only working silently for the benefit of sentient beings.

The story of the girl who once sought ordination stands as a testament to the manifestation of a bodhisattva. When refused, she did not plead or explain, but simply departed in silence, only to be reborn in a new body to continue fulfilling her vows. The boy’s words during his second request for ordination startled the abbot into recognition, yet the bodhisattva himself never acted differently, always keeping his true nature concealed.

It is told that a certain monk, upon hearing the story of Venerable Minh Phát, once exclaimed, "That kid? I knew him when he was small—he was just an ordinary child!" For speaking disrespectfully of a manifest bodhisattva by using the word "kid," that monk's monastic life later encountered many obstacles, despite his own diligence and devotion to Buddhism. It is said that addressing a manifest bodhisattva with contempt can cause one to lose merit, which is why such beings rarely reveal themselves. Their appearance can benefit many, but it can also bring misfortune upon those who lack understanding.

Venerable Minh Phát lived a life of pure and humble cultivation, his true identity known to none. He quietly performed good deeds, taught his disciples, maintained the temple, and silently guided those with a karmic connection. He was a manifest bodhisattva, come to the world with compassion and wisdom, not for fame, profit, or power, but out of limitless compassion for all beings.

**Meaning of the Story**

The story of Venerable Minh Phát helps us understand the nature of a manifest bodhisattva: they are born with deliberate intention, remember past lives, and have a clear plan of action, yet they keep their identity secret to avoid creating obstacles for others. The story also reminds us to be mindful of our speech and not to look down upon anyone, for we may unknowingly offend a sage manifesting in the world, leading to unforeseen consequences.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang