The Bodhisattva's Mind and Conduct: Beyond the Comprehension of Sentient Beings

The conduct of a bodhisattva's mind is beyond the comprehension of sentient beings, especially that of a bodhisattva engaged in secret practices; their mental activities cannot be understood by ordinary beings. For instance, when Sakyamuni Buddha was still a bodhisattva, he once killed a person. This person was about to kill five hundred bodhisattvas aboard a ship. Knowing this, the Buddha, out of profound compassion, killed him to prevent him from falling into the Avici Hell for creating such karma, willingly accepting the karmic retribution of descending into hell himself. There are other instances illustrating the compassionate, skillful means, and expedient methods employed by Buddhas and bodhisattvas to liberate sentient beings, which cannot all be recounted. If they were, beings burdened by heavy afflictions might use them as an excuse to commit evil deeds.

Judging whether a person is good or evil cannot be based solely on their outward behavior at a given moment. One must primarily examine the conduct and nature of their mind, discerning their true purpose in acting and the ultimate consequences it achieves. Such wisdom is generally beyond ordinary people. Great bodhisattvas, however, master the precise measure and timing; they skillfully know what to adopt and what to abandon, and they understand expedient means. Sentient beings can only perceive superficial phenomena, unable to grasp the underlying essence or discern the true intent. Therefore, many things cannot be plainly explained by bodhisattvas to sentient beings, for beings are incapable of understanding them due to their shallow wisdom.

To liberate sentient beings, bodhisattvas conceal themselves among them, taking on forms such as butchers, prostitutes, patrons of prostitutes, or gamblers, mingling with the crowd. Their sole aim is to rescue beings from the fiery pit of life and death. To save sentient beings, bodhisattvas do not hesitate to stain their own reputation, endure misunderstandings and misconceptions from others, or pay any price necessary. How many people can perceive the compassionate, patient, and burden-bearing conduct of the bodhisattva's mind?