Are Bodhisattvas Real?

Recorded April 25, 2026.In this first series of teishos from his book, “A Zen Life of Bodhisattvas,” Roshi Martin explores the nature of Bodhisattvas — the “wisdom beings” so central to the wise and compassionate vision of Mahayana Buddhism, which includes Zen. He also makes it clear that, in Zen tradition, to know who or what bodhisattvas are, we need to know who or what we ourselves truly are. Then again, are bodhisattvas — beings like Manjsuri and Avalokitesvara, Maitreya and Samantbhadra with the transformative power to truly help all suffering beings — really real? Towards the end of this teisho he relates two mysterious true incidents from his own life that led him to believe that such beings really do exist.Books —“A Zen Life of Bodhisattvas” by Rafe Martin“Foundations of Tibetan Mysticism - Lama Govinda“Complete Poison Blossoms From a Thicket of Thorn: The Zen Records of Hakuin Zenji” - Norman Waddell“Eight Beliefs in Buddhism” — Hakuun Yasutani“Further Zen Conversations” - Rick McDanielPhoto of Hotei at Endless Path Zendo, by Rafe MartinRead Roshi Rafe Martin's latest book:  Finding Your Buddha Smile: Coming Home To What Zen is Really All About.  Available from Amazon , Sumeru Books, and Barnes & Noble Online.Books by Roshi Rafe MartinTalks on YouTubeMore information at endlesspathzen.org