HUMANITY IS THE FUNDAMENTAL BASIS FOR THE BUDDHA’S PATH OF SALVATION
Master Jun Hong Lu: Humanity is the fundamental basis for the Buddha’s path of salvation, which explains why the attainment of Buddhahood takes place in the human realm. How are you able to attain Buddhahood if there is no mankind? This is why those who seek to attain Buddhahood must be in the human realm.
Why did the Buddha come to the human realm? As a matter of fact, before coming to the human realm to propagate the dharma, the Buddha had already attained Buddhahood in heaven.
Guan Yin Bodhisattva is already a Bodhisattva of the Tenth Ground, which is equivalent to a Buddha. Yet, She came to the mortal world to sow the seeds of compassion, by taking on the form of the Princess Miaoshan.
Similarly, Ji Gong, the Living Buddha is already a Buddha in heaven and why do you think He appeared to man of this world? This is because saving humanity is the mark of Buddha’s path.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 11 Chapter 32