BODHISATTVA

(Sanskrit), Pali Bodhisatta (one whose essence is bodhi [enlightenment]) in Buddhism, the historical Buddha, Gautama, prior to his Enlightenment; also, other individuals who are destined to become buddhas in this or in another life. In Mahayana Buddhism the decision of the bodhisattva to postpone his own final entrance into Nirvana in order to alleviate the suffering of others is given special valuation. The ideal of the bodhisattva supplants the earlier, Theravada goal of the arhat, or disciple, who perfects himself by following the Buddha's teachings, and of the pratyeka buddha, or self-enlightened Buddha, both of whom are criticized by Mahayana as concerned solely with their own personal salvation. The bodhisattva concept elevates the virtue of compassion (karuna) to equality with wisdom (prajna). The bodhisattva exercises his compassion by transferring his own merit to his devotees. Once the bodhisattva declares his intention, he enters the first of 10 spiritual stages (bhumi) and henceforward is reborn only in the world of men or of gods. The aspirant bodhisattva must be a male but (according to Japanese schools) may live the life of a householder and need not be a monk. Just as the number of buddhas in the world is theoretically limitless, so also the number of possible bodhisattvas is infinite. The title has been frequently applied to great scholars and teachers and, in Southeast Asia, was a conventional title honouring Buddhist kings. The celestial bodhisattvas, who are considered to be manifestations of the eternal Buddhas, are, however, the great saviour figures whoparticularly in East Asiaoften eclipse the historical Buddha in the personal devotion they inspire. Foremost among the celestial bodhisattvas is the compassionate and merciful Avalokitesvara, who is associated with the eternal buddha, Amitabha. In China the most widely worshiped bodhisattvas are Majusri (representing wisdom), Ksitigarbha (the saviour of the dead), Samantabhadra (representing happiness), and Avalokitesvara (known in China as Kuan-yin). In Tibet, Avalokitesvara, Majusri, and Vajrapani (who holds the thunderbolt) form a popular trinity. Maitreya, represented both as a future Buddha and as a bodhisattva, is the only bodhisattva honoured by Theravadins (followers of the Way of the Elders and continuers of the early Hinayana teaching) as well as by Mahayanists.