In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is someone on the path to enlightenment (bodhi) with a key distinction between different schools of Buddhism:
- Early Buddhist schools and Theravada Buddhism: A bodhisattva is primarily someone who is destined to become a Buddha and has received a confirmation from a living Buddha. It often refers to the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, in his past lives and his final life before enlightenment.
- Mahayana Buddhism: A bodhisattva refers to anyone who has generated bodhicitta, a spontaneous wish and compassionate mind to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. They are driven by great compassion (mahakaruna) and actively work to help others achieve enlightenment, even delaying their own entry into Nirvana to do so.
Key characteristics of a bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism:
- Compassion: They have immense compassion for all beings and are dedicated to relieving suffering.
- Vow: They take the bodhisattva vow to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.
- Action: They actively engage in practices and actions that benefit others, such as generosity, ethical conduct, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom.
- Selflessness: They put the needs of others before their own and are willing to sacrifice their own well-being for the sake of others.
Some well-known bodhisattvas:
- Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin): The bodhisattva of compassion, often depicted as male or female.
- Manjushri: The bodhisattva of wisdom.
- Ksitigarbha: The bodhisattva of the underworld, who vows to help all beings in hell.
- Samantabhadra: The bodhisattva of universal virtue and aspiration.
The Dalai Lama is considered by his followers to be an embodiment of Avalokiteshvara.
In essence, a bodhisattva is an ideal figure in Mahayana Buddhism, representing the compassionate aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.