What is a Bodhisattva?

In the teachings of the Buddha, a bodhisattva is one seeking buddhahood (enlightenment) for her/himself and for all beings. The word Bodhisattva may refer to a well known spiritual being such as Avalokiteshvara, but it can also refer to anyone who has taken the goal of attaining enlightenment for oneself and others. Bodhisattvas lead others to the enlightenment that they themselves desire, that we may all become buddhas.

Bodhisattvas seek enlightenment for themselves and benefits for others. In fact, bodhisattvas must believe that injury or insult is a service one receives from the one responsible, since such treatment will lead them to enlightment.

The two great branches of Buddhism, Theravada and Mahayana, teach about the bodhisattva, a buddha to be. In the Theravada scriptures, there are stories about the previous lives of the historical Buddha of our age, Siddhartha Gautama, as a bodhisattva, and there are also stories of buddhas yet to be, who are still identified as bodhisattvas.

One of the most memorable stories of the Buddha to be is of the time he found a hungry tigress with two starving cubs. The bodhisattva decides to show a way to perfection through the practice of extreme compassion, not from ambition nor for reward for himself. Instead, he is motivated to contribute to the happiness of the world. And so, he threw himself over a cliff, to feed the tigress and to lead us all to enlightenment.

Mahayana teachings expand the idea to include bodhisattvas that we might meet in our daily lives, either monastics or laypeople (even animals, in some of the teachings) who practice compassion and seek enlightenment. There are other bodhisttvas who, although they have reached enlightenment, have stayed in this existence (samsara) to lead all beings on the way enlightenment before becoming buddas. We respect all bodhisattvas for their wisdom and their help. But, we recognize that they are humans, not gods.

Many contemporary followers of the Buddha identify themselves as bodhisattvas, buddhas to be, on a path of wisdom and compassion, not for self-fulfillment but for the enlightenment of all beings. They seek to follow the example of the great Mahayana bodhisattvas, smiling and graceful, followers on the path of the Buddha that they have chosen. Samantabhadra, Avalokiteshvara, and Manjushri are among the greatest of the bodhisattvas who inspire us on our own paths to enlightement.

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