Student: The bodhisattva has committed him or herself to save all sentient beings, yet the bodhisattva is themself a sentient being. How are they different?

Chogyam Trungpa: The bodhisattva has vision. He or she is already inspired, whereas the others are not–so bodhisattvas have to work with all sentient beings. As far as the bodhisattvas are concerned, their personal salvation is already there; they don’t particularly have to cultivate it. What they have to cultivate is working with others who make lack the bodhisattva’s openness.

From Glimpses of the Profound: Four Short Works, page 47.

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