Beautiful lotus flowers always grow in dirty and muddy water. The lotus flower often symbolizes the figure of the bodhisattva, a Sanskrit word that means a person who is pursuing Buddha's enlightenment, not only for him or herself, but also for others.

The English language has been adopting many foreign words, such as the Japanese "karaoke" or the Indian word "nirvana."

Bodhisattva has not become popular — yet. There are many other famous bodhisattvas in Buddhism, such as Bodhisattva Universal Sage, in Japanese.

In the Lotus Sutra, it says that we are all bodhisattvas who have been given a mission to spread the Buddha's wisdom in this world. The bodhisattva should pursue not only his or her own attainment of enlightenment but also that of others, with their compassion and respect.

How can we be bodhisattvas in this real world? Chapter 15 of the Lotus Sutra says, "They are not defiled by worldliness just as the lotus-flower is not defiled by water."

This part is a phrase in the Lotus Sutra by Bodhisattva Maitreya praising bodhisattvas who sprang up from the underground. This is the attitude which all bodhisattvas, namely us, should have. The muddy water is comparable to this world, filled with our worldly desires, such as greed, hatred and ignorance which are called the Three Poisons in Buddhism. The lotus flower blooming in the dirty and muddy water is comparable to the noble bodhisattva.

The two most important attributes of the bodhisattva are respect and compassion. Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds has been very popular in China, Korea and Japan since a long time ago. Many Buddhist temples enshrine Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds as their object of worship. It is because Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds can change himself into 33 bodies to help and lead people to the Buddha's enlightenment through his compassionate and respectful heart.

When you are in the darkness and don't know where you are, Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds will give you candlelight. When you are hungry, he gives you a loaf of bread (or a bowl of rice). When you are in danger, he will come to you and save your life.

What a wonderful bodhisattva he is! Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds vows in the Lotus Sutra to protect anyone who believes the Buddha Dharma, or teachings of Buddha. How lucky we are! We should be protected by the bodhisattva for sure. Then, how do you feel when you are protected by Bodhisattva Perceiver of the World's Sounds?

Let us be aware that we are all bodhisattvas who have the mission to spread the Buddha Dharma for others so we can all become happier by acquiring the Buddha's wisdom. Let us be aware of our compassionate and respectful hearts as bodhisattvas.

And let us together become noble like the lotus flowers in the pond.