After 37 years of teaching the Tao Dharma, the Supreme Maitreya Buddha declared that the Lord has enlightened a number of Holy Followers, including the Dharma Protectors, the Venerables, and the Bodhisattvas. These Holy Followers would take turn as Patriarchs to build the True Dharma, bringing a path to solve the transmigration of birth and death for human beings.

I heard the Lord say these words: 

These 36 Patriarchs here are indeed only a few who have attained the enlightenment up to the complete enlightenment with attestation, from the same lineage of Dharma cultivation. They will take turn, up and down, to return to this human world in succession in many times to be Patriarchs. There is no true disciple from outside the lineage who could enter and will become a Patriarch. —T. V.

At present, Bodhisattva Di Như is the first Patriarch. In every 20 years or more there will be a Dharma Protector or Venerable, who successively achieves enlightenment, or great enlightenment to full enlightenment and is entrusted with the duty of being a Patriarch in succession to build the Gentle Life. The enlightened Patriarchs of the rank of Gentle Saints vow to make offering and show gratitude to The World’s Most Venerable Maitreya and the Buddhas of Ten Directions, as part of their conduct, to continue dedicating their determination to seek for True Enlightenment.

Some faithful followers generating their vow wrote and showed the Lord a petition, He signed it in reply to their wishes and thus, they mistakenly thought they were Bodhisattvas… That was quite wrong. It must take many more lives of conducting their vow until meeting an Incarnate Buddha who will attest them to be true Bodhisattvas. The Lord also said that when He saw by Himself a disciple achieving some level of practice, He would promulgate an order signed with the seal the attestation of the Sangha Chief; only then would that disciple truly become a Venerable, or a Bodhisattva.