Sakyamuni spoke of the wisdom and compassion of the bodhisattvas and their eternal vows to help sentient beings attain liberation. He spoke of Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion, Man-jusri, the bodhisattva of wisdom, and many others. At first, practitioners looked to the bodhisattvas as role models, but later on, many who lacked determination and faith in themselves, stopped practicing and began to pray to one or another of the bodhisattvas. They prayed for the fulfillment of their needs and the appeasement of their suffering. Such practices continue to this day. In this sense, yes, Buddhism is a religion.

It is not bad that Buddhism has developed this religious aspect. When people sincerely pray to deities, bodhisattvas, or even God, they will be helped or appeased. But the response to the prayers does not come from the deities, bodhisattvas or God. It comes in part from the mental power of the person seeking help, and it also comes from the collective power of all the people seeking help from a particular deity or bodhisattva. When a sufficient number of people sincerely seek help from a bodhisattva or deity, power will manifest, whether or not the bodhisattva or deity exists. It happens. People seek help, and their prayers are answered. It is common in every religion. In this respect. Buddhism is like other religions. Ch'an Buddhism, however, is different.

Ch'an Buddhism penetrates directly to the original essence of Buddhadharma, and encourages practitioners to rely on themselves, and to solve their own problems. In fact, Ch'an describes people who seek the Dharma outside of their own minds as following outer path teachings ─ teachings outside the Dharma. Since Ch'an espouses self-initiative, it can do without the religious, supplicating aspects of other Buddhist sects.