bodhisattva Definition
a person who has attained enlightenment but chooses to remain in the cycle of rebirth to help others achieve enlightenment.
Using bodhisattva: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "bodhisattva" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The bodhisattva vowed to help all sentient beings achieve enlightenment.
Example
The Dalai Lama is considered a bodhisattva by many Tibetan Buddhists.
Example
The bodhisattva ideal is central to Mahayana Buddhism.
bodhisattva Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for bodhisattva
- saint
- enlightened being
- holy person
- spiritual leader
Phrases with bodhisattva
a commitment to work for the benefit of all sentient beings until they attain enlightenment
Example
Taking the bodhisattva vow is a significant step in Mahayana Buddhist practice.
thousand-armed bodhisattva
a bodhisattva with a thousand arms, each holding a different symbolic object
Example
The thousand-armed bodhisattva is a common figure in East Asian Buddhist art.
a bodhisattva who embodies the quality of great compassion and works tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings
Example
Avalokiteshvara is often depicted as the great compassion bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism.
Origins of bodhisattva
from Sanskrit 'bodhisattva', meaning 'enlightenment-being'
Summary: bodhisattva in Brief
The term 'bodhisattva' [boh-dee-saht-vuh] refers to a person who has attained enlightenment but chooses to remain in the cycle of rebirth to help others achieve enlightenment. It is a central concept in Mahayana Buddhism, exemplified by the 'bodhisattva vow,' a commitment to work for the benefit of all sentient beings until they attain enlightenment.
