The title is The One Who Lay Down in the Mud

The summary tells of Bodhisattva Thien Tue, who lay his body down in the mud so that Buddha Nhien Dang could step across. It explores the price of remembering a prophecy of enlightenment.

The earth and sky remained hazy in the early morning mist, with the pungent scent of damp soil rising from the ground. The small dirt path leading to the assembly of Buddha Nhien Dang was flooded by rainwater from the night before. Amidst this muddy swamp, a Buddha walked forward, his bare feet moving freely, unburdened by any obstacle.

Bodhisattva Thien Tue, who had cultivated practice over many lifetimes, stood by the roadside. His body was gaunt, clad in coarse cloth, yet his eyes shone with intense faith. Seeing Buddha Nhien Dang forced to tread through the mire, a thought suddenly flashed in his mind: "The Buddha is the supreme one; we cannot allow him to suffer."

Without a moment's hesitation, Bodhisattva Thien Tue lay flat on the ground. He clasped his hands to his chest, kept his back straight, and transformed his own body into a living bridge. Mud splashed up, soaking his robes, but he did not utter a single word of complaint.

Buddha Nhien Dang approached and gently placed his bare feet upon the back of Bodhisattva Thien Tue. Each step carried boundless compassion. After crossing, he turned back, looking at the one who had sacrificed himself for him with a gentle gaze.

"O Thien Tue," Buddha Nhien Dang spoke, his voice deep and warm, echoing in the quiet space. "For this noble act, I give you a prophecy: in future lives, in the impure world of Saha, you will become a Buddha named Shakyamuni."

Bodhisattva Thien Tue raised his head, his eyes bright with joy. But then, he closed them, took a long breath, and forgot the prophecy entirely. In his mind, there was no attachment left to the future or to glory.

Over many subsequent lifetimes, Bodhisattva Thien Tue continued his practice without rest. He traveled through countless Buddha lands, met countless sentient beings, and performed countless good deeds. Yet, he never remembered the prophecy given by Buddha Nhien Dang. Whenever someone mentioned it, he would simply smile and say, "I remember nothing."

One day, another Bodhisattva came to visit him and asked, "Thien Tue, you were once prophesied to become a Buddha. Why have you forgotten?"

Bodhisattva Thien Tue replied, "If I remembered, I would cling to the future result. Pride would arise, and my merit would be lost. I must treat it as if it were nothing, to keep my mind pure."

The other Bodhisattva nodded in understanding. From then on, they practiced together, ceaselessly doing good deeds, but never claiming credit for their work.

And so, in some lifetime, in the world of Saha, a Buddha appeared. He walked through paths filled with mud, poor neighborhoods, and war-torn lands. He taught sentient beings, bestowing the light of wisdom upon all creatures. This Buddha was none other than Bodhisattva Thien Tue, the one who had once lain down in the mud to serve as a bridge for the Buddha.

He did not remember being prophesied. He only knew how to do good deeds, forgetting everything else, keeping his mind always pure. And precisely because of this, he attained enlightenment, bringing light to countless sentient beings.

The Meaning of the Story

This story offers a profound lesson on the concept of "treating things as if they are nothing," as found in the Diamond Sutra. When we perform good deeds, even if we receive a prophecy of Buddhahood or praise, we must forget them immediately. If we cling to future results, pride will arise, and our merit will vanish. Only by treating these achievements as nothing and maintaining a pure mind can we advance far on the path of practice and reach enlightenment.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang