A Vision of Bodhisattvas in All FormsAll the bodhisattvas there with Buddha in the Jeta Grove were illuminated by the light of the Buddha's concentration.
At that point countless rays of light came forth from the bodies of all the bodhisattvas there with Buddha.
From these rays of light came forth countless multitudes of emanated bodhisattvas, in bodies adapted to the development of all beings.
These emanated bodhisattvas pervaded the cosmos, enlightening, developing, and guiding sentient beings by means of all the techniques at the command of bodhisattvas.
These emanated forms projected by the bodhisattvas pervaded all the realms of sentient beings in all oceans of worlds, yet the bodhisattvas did not leave the presence of the Buddha.
Without leaving the presence of the Buddha, some of the bodhisattvas appeared in the form of great buddhas with their retinues. Some appeared in the form of beggars. Some appeared in the form of priests. Some wore various emblems on their bodies.
Some appeared in the form of scholars, scientists, and doctors. Some appeared in the form of merchants.
Some appeared in the form of ascetics.
Some appeared in the form of entertainers. Some appeared in the form of religious people.
Some appeared in the form of masters of various arts and crafts and technologies. In their various forms, the bodhisattvas were seen to come to all villages, towns, cities, communities, districts, nations.
The bodhisattvas did their enlightening work according to the needs of the time and the place, modifying forms and outward appearances, modifying their language and tone and deportment. In this way they carried out the practices of bodhisattvas, which are like a cosmic network of all worlds illuminating all the practical arts and displaying a vast array of all realities and radiating the light of all truths.
(Gandavyuha, Avatamsaka Sutra) The Siddha Wanderer