How to Read “Even Buddha was once an ordinary person”
Hotoke mo mukashi wa bonpu nari
Meaning of “Even Buddha was once an ordinary person”
This proverb means that people we respect today as admirable or exceptional were not special from the start. They were once ordinary people just like us.
It teaches us that no matter how great someone’s achievements are, they began as regular people. They grew through effort and experience over time.
You can use this proverb when encouraging someone who feels discouraged by their own inexperience. It also works when giving courage to someone working toward a goal.
When someone is about to give up thinking “that person is special,” this saying reminds them that everyone started at the same starting line. It gives people the power to believe in their own potential.
Even today, when we learn about the growth process of athletes, artists, or scholars in various fields, we can feel the truth of these words.
Origin and Etymology
This proverb is deeply rooted in Buddhist teachings. “Buddha” refers to an enlightened being who has achieved awakening. “Bonpu” (ordinary person) means a regular human being caught up in worldly desires.
In Buddhism, it is taught that many Buddhas, including Shakyamuni Buddha, were once ordinary people like us. They too experienced confusion and suffering.
The background of this proverb lies in the Buddhist concept of “becoming Buddha.” The egalitarian idea that everyone possesses Buddha-nature and can achieve enlightenment through practice spread among Japanese people. It likely became established as this easy-to-understand expression.
Especially after the Kamakura period, as Buddhism opened up to common people, this message of hope was embraced. It told people that “even great individuals started as ordinary people.”
Looking at the structure of the phrase, it contrasts “Buddha” as the destination with “ordinary person” as the starting point. This contrast emphasizes the possibility of growth and change.
This contrast structure naturally conveys the importance of effort and practice. Buddhist thought, which has deeply influenced Japanese spirituality, crystallized into this everyday word of encouragement.
Interesting Facts
The Buddhist term “bonpu” originally translates the Sanskrit word “prithagjana,” which means “many people.” It was used to refer to the general public who had not undergone special spiritual training.
In Japan, the character “bon” (ordinary) added the nuance of “commonplace.” This made the expression more familiar and relatable to everyday people.
A similar idea appears in the Zen teaching “sokushin zebutsu.” This means “your mind right now is Buddha itself.” It expresses the idea that there is no essential difference between ordinary people and Buddha.
However, this proverb is distinctive because it emphasizes the time axis. It focuses on “change and growth” rather than present state.
Usage Examples
- I felt encouraged when I heard that even Olympic athletes follow “Even Buddha was once an ordinary person”—they were worse than anyone at first
- That professor was apparently close to failing as a student—truly “Even Buddha was once an ordinary person”
Universal Wisdom
This proverb has been passed down through generations because it addresses both fundamental human anxiety and hope. We all have moments when we feel limited by our abilities or talents.
When facing a wall that stands before us, feeling like giving up and thinking “I can’t do this” is a common human experience across all eras.
At the same time, humans have a fundamental desire to “grow” and “become a better version of themselves.” When we suffer from the gap between this desire and our current reality, we need hope. This proverb gives us exactly that hope.
What’s interesting is that this proverb focuses on “change” rather than “talent.” People tend to focus on differences in innate ability. But this saying suggests there is a path between “current state” and “future possibility.”
The fact that even Buddha, the highest achievement, started from the starting point of an ordinary person contains deep insight into human plasticity.
Our ancestors knew that human growth doesn’t happen in one leap. It results from steady accumulation. They also understood the equality that this possibility of accumulation is open to everyone.
This universal truth is what keeps this proverb alive across the ages.
When AI Hears This
Brain science research shows that monks who meditate long-term have brain structures clearly different from ordinary people. For example, experiments with Tibetan monks found that people who meditated over 10,000 hours had physically thicker prefrontal cortex and insula regions.
In other words, spiritual practice changes the physical matter of the brain itself.
What’s interesting is that this change happens regardless of age. The brain has a property called neuroplasticity. This is the ability to create new neural circuits at any age.
Not just in childhood, but even as adults, the brain’s wiring physically reorganizes through repeated thoughts and behaviors.
Even more surprising is that brain changes from meditation directly connect to emotional control. Activity in the amygdala, which processes fear and anxiety, gets suppressed. Meanwhile, areas related to empathy and compassion become activated.
This means that the state called “enlightenment” is not just a matter of feelings. It’s a biological phenomenon realized through brain circuit reconstruction.
In other words, the change from ordinary person to Buddha is not about talent or luck. It’s the very process of remaking the brain organ through training. Every person’s brain physically has this potential built in.
Lessons for Today
In modern society, we increasingly see only others’ successful images on social media. We get depressed by the gap between them and ourselves. But this proverb teaches us an important perspective.
Behind the “finished form” you see today, there was always a period when it was “unfinished.”
What’s especially important is realizing you should compare yourself not to others, but to your past self. If you’ve grown even a little compared to a year ago, six months ago, or a month ago, that’s definite proof you’re walking the path from “ordinary person” to “Buddha.”
This proverb also changes how you see people around you. Juniors or children who seem inexperienced now might become people who surpass you in the future.
By believing in that possibility and treating them accordingly, you can become someone who supports their growth.
If you’re challenging something now and hitting a wall, remember these words. Your current struggle is an investment in future growth.
Without rushing, without giving up, if you move forward one step at a time, the scenery will definitely change when you look back.
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