Both the Arhat Path and the Bodhisattva Path are profound paths towards enlightenment as taught in different schools of Buddhism. However, they originate from slightly different perspectives or aspirations.

The Arhat Path, emphasized in Theravada Buddhism, is a path of individual liberation. It focuses on personal enlightenment, on realizing the truth for oneself and freeing oneself from samsara, the cycle of birth and death. The goal is to attain Nirvana, a state of ultimate peace and cessation of suffering.

On the other hand, the Bodhisattva Path, central to Mahayana Buddhism, is a path of universal liberation. Bodhisattvas vow to delay their own final enlightenment until all sentient beings are liberated. Their mission is not only to free themselves but all beings from suffering. They cultivate great compassion and wisdom, aspiring to Buddhahood for the benefit of all.

Again, this doesn’t mean that one path is superior to the other, they are just different approaches based on one's aspirations and capacities. Ultimately, both paths require great diligence, loving-kindness, and wisdom. In my teacher, Master Hsuan Hua's words, "Cultivate diligently without contention." It's not about arguing which path is better, but about understanding your own mind, then acting according to your capacity and aspirations. It's about waking up to the truth of things as they are, and responding with kindness and wisdom, whether as an Arhat or as a Bodhisattva.

Remember, wisdom is like water, it flows to fit the vessel it fills. In the end, the titles ‘Arhat’ or ‘Bodhisattva’ don't matter as much as the cultivation of a compassionate and awakened heart. As it says in the Avatamsaka Sutra, "Bodhi is nowhere to be found. It's only because of sentient beings that there is Bodhi." This indicates that our journey to awakening isn't a solitary one—it