--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Mortals liberate Buddhas and Buddhas…" description: "\"Mortals liberate Buddhas and Buddhas liberate mortals.\" — Bodhidharma" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/bodhidharma-4333_death_mortals-liberate-buddhas-and-buddhas-lib_724620.jpg" --- # Mortals liberate Buddhas and Buddhas liberate mortals. ![“Mortals liberate Buddhas and Buddhas liberate mortals.” quote by Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/bodhidharma-4333_death_mortals-liberate-buddhas-and-buddhas-lib_724620.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/bodhidharma-4333_death_mortals-liberate-buddhas-and-buddhas-lib_724620.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/bodhidharma-4333_death_mortals-liberate-buddhas-and-buddhas-lib_724620.jpg) > “Mortals liberate Buddhas and Buddhas liberate mortals.” [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Interdependence of enlightenment and ordinary beings; each frees the other. **In simple terms:** Enlightened beings help ordinary ones, and vice versa. Key Takeaway Cultivate mutual liberation. Themes spirituality interdependence compassion enlightenment Mood serene inspired thoughtful Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - meditation groups - community service - spiritual mentorship Key Concepts Zen philosophy mutual aid Questions to Reflect On - How can you support others while growing yourself? - What does liberation look like in daily life? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on mutual dependence can hinder personal practice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Enlightenment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enlightenment/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) ## Related quotes > [Unless you see your nature, all this talk about cause & effect is nonsense. Buddhas don't practice nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/unless-you-see-your-nature-all-this-talk-about-cause-effect-is/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [Buddhas move freely through birth and death, appearing and disappearing at will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/buddhas-move-freely-through-birth-and-death-appearing-and/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [Buddhas don't practice nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/buddhas-don-t-practice-nonsense/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [We are all incarnate Buddhas. We just have not realized it deeply. We have not moved the mind - what our friend Don Juan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/we-are-all-incarnate-buddhas-we-just-have-not-realized-it-deeply-we/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Mountains and rivers at this very moment are the actualization of the world of the ancient Buddhas. Each, abiding in its phenomenal expression, realizes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dogen/mountains-and-rivers-at-this-very-moment-are-the-actualization-of-the/) [Dogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dogen/) > [You are all Buddhas. There is nothing you need to achieve. Just open your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/you-are-all-buddhas-there-is-nothing-you-need-to-achieve-just-open/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The world is full of Buddhas but they're sleeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mooji/the-world-is-full-of-buddhas-but-they-re-sleeping/) [Mooji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mooji/) > [When you have great joy, you will become Buddhas!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/when-you-have-great-joy-you-will-become-buddhas/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [ Many people \[still\] believe that at the time of your death, 1,000 Buddhas show up and welcome you into the paradise state. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hiroshi-sugimoto/many-people-still-believe-that-at-the-time-of-your-death-1-000/) [Hiroshi Sugimoto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hiroshi-sugimoto/) > [Wonder of wonders! Intrinsically all living beings are Buddhas, endowed with wisdom and virtue, but because men's minds have become inverted through delusive thinking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/wonder-of-wonders-intrinsically-all-living-beings-are-buddhas-endowed/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Respect the gods and buddhas, but never rely on them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miyamoto-musashi/respect-the-gods-and-buddhas-but-never-rely-on-them/) [Miyamoto Musashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miyamoto-musashi/) > [Where there are humans, You'll find flies, And Buddhas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobayashi-issa/where-there-are-humans-you-ll-find-flies-and-buddhas/) [Kobayashi Issa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobayashi-issa/) > [To cease from evil, to do good, and to purify the mind yourself, this is the teaching of all the Buddhas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/to-cease-from-evil-to-do-good-and-to-purify-the-mind-yourself-this-is/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [We're all buddhas. We just don't recognize it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/we-re-all-buddhas-we-just-don-t-recognize-it/) [Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yongey-mingyur-rinpoche/) > [All of you knowing now, Tthat the Buddhas, the Teachers of the Ages, In accord with what is peculiarly appropriate, have recourse to expedient…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/all-of-you-knowing-now-tthat-the-buddhas-the-teachers-of-the-ages-in/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) ## More by Bodhidharma > [Unless you see your nature, all this talk about cause & effect is nonsense. Buddhas don't practice nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/unless-you-see-your-nature-all-this-talk-about-cause-effect-is/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [“Those who worship don't know, and those who know don't worship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/those-who-worship-don-t-know-and-those-who-know-don-t-worship/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [If you see your nature, you don't need to read sutras or invoke buddhas. Erudition and knowledge are not only useless but also cloud…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/if-you-see-your-nature-you-don-t-need-to-read-sutras-or-invoke/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [People who don't see their own nature and imagine they can practice thoughtlessness all the time are liars and fools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/people-who-don-t-see-their-own-nature-and-imagine-they-can-practice/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [The mind is the Buddha, and the Buddha is the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/the-mind-is-the-buddha-and-the-buddha-is-the-mind/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [Whoever realizes that the six senses aren't real, that the five aggregates are fictions, that no such things can be located anywhere in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/whoever-realizes-that-the-six-senses-aren-t-real-that-the-five/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [If you use your mind to study reality, you won't understand either your mind or reality. If you study reality without using your mind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/if-you-use-your-mind-to-study-reality-you-won-t-understand-either/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [Many roads lead to the Path, but basically there are only two: reason and practice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/many-roads-lead-to-the-path-but-basically-there-are-only-two-reason/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [All Buddhas preach emptiness. Why? Because they wish to crush the concrete ideas of the students. If a student even clings to an idea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/all-buddhas-preach-emptiness-why-because-they-wish-to-crush-the/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [Buddhas don't practice nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/buddhas-don-t-practice-nonsense/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [Not thinking about anything is Zen. Once you know this, walking, sitting, or lying down, everything you do is Zen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/not-thinking-about-anything-is-zen-once-you-know-this-walking-sitting/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [When you don't understand, you depend on reality. When you do understand, reality depends on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/when-you-don-t-understand-you-depend-on-reality-when-you-do/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [And the Buddha is the person who's free: free of plans, free of cares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/and-the-buddha-is-the-person-who-s-free-free-of-plans-free-of-cares/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [The Way is basically perfect. It doesn't require perfecting. The Way has no form or sound. It's subtle and hard to perceive. It's like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/the-way-is-basically-perfect-it-doesn-t-require-perfecting-the-way/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) > [The Dharma is the truth that all natures are pure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/the-dharma-is-the-truth-that-all-natures-are-pure/) [Bodhidharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) [Explore all 112 Bodhidharma quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/) ## More Death quotes > [“He wondered how it was fair that your dying should depend so much on when you were born.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/he-wondered-how-it-was-fair-that-your-dying-should-depend-so-much-on/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. The ego is part of our incarnation.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/most-of-us-are-convinced-that-we-are-our-egos-which-is-who-we-think/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-to-live-at-the-cost-of-the-life-even-of-a-snake-i/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [Retirement? You're talking about death, right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-altman/retirement-you-re-talking-about-death-right/) [Robert Altman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-altman/) > [With multiplayer, permanent death, and an ever-changing world to explore and conquer, 'A Valley Without Wind' might be the place you're looking for if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-manuel/with-multiplayer-permanent-death-and-an-ever-changing-world-to/) [Rob Manuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-manuel/) > [“What did you see?” she asked gently. His brow furrowed, as if he could not understand the question. Then his eyes turned to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-anthony-torino/what-did-you-see-she-asked-gently-his-brow-furrowed-as-if-he-could/) J. Anthony Torino > [Those whose life is long still strive for gain, and for all mortals all things take second place to money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophocles/those-whose-life-is-long-still-strive-for-gain-and-for-all-mortals/) [Sophocles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophocles/) > [“I practice Dying--every night-- But have not learned to, still-- Though Talented--by Mortal bones-- For such a common Skill.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-w-powers/i-practice-dying-every-night-but-have-not-learned-to-still-though/) Alan W. Powers > [“You must understand the pain and grief of losing someone is nothing more than a function of survival.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cooper/you-must-understand-the-pain-and-grief-of-losing-someone-is-nothing/) [Steven Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cooper/) > [I am not a depressive person at all, but I reflect a lot on my life, and life in general, from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/i-am-not-a-depressive-person-at-all-but-i-reflect-a-lot-on-my-life/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [“Death is a reality that calls the rest of life and all of our assorted strivings into sharp relief.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/death-is-a-reality-that-calls-the-rest-of-life-and-all-of-our/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [I love life. I love life to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuelle-riva/i-love-life-i-love-life-to-death/) [Emmanuelle Riva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuelle-riva/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) [Browse all 39,127 Death quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Mortals liberate Buddhas and Buddhas liberate mortals.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bodhidharma" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/mortals-liberate-buddhas-and-buddhas-liberate-mortals/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Death" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/mortals-liberate-buddhas-and-buddhas-liberate-mortals/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/bodhidharma-4333_death_mortals-liberate-buddhas-and-buddhas-lib_724620.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/bodhidharma-4333_death_mortals-liberate-buddhas-and-buddhas-lib_724620.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/07b/bodhidharma-4333_death_mortals-liberate-buddhas-and-buddhas-lib_724620.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Mortals liberate Buddhas and Buddhas liberate mortals.” — Bodhidharma", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Bodhidharma", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bodhidharma/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Mortals liberate Buddhas and Buddhas liberate...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/mortals-liberate-buddhas-and-buddhas-liberate-mortals/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bodhidharma/mortals-liberate-buddhas-and-buddhas-liberate-mortals/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```