Bodhisattva

American  

[boh-duh-suht-vuh] / ˌboʊ dəˈsʌt və /

noun

Buddhism.

1. a person who has attained prajna, or Enlightenment, but who postpones Nirvana in order to help others to attain Enlightenment: individual Bodhisattvas are the subjects of devotion in certain sects and are often represented in painting and sculpture.

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Bodhisattva British  

/ ˌbɒd-, ˌbəʊdɪˈsætvə, ˌbəʊdiːˈsʌtvə, -wə /

noun

1. (in Mahayana Buddhism) a divine being worthy of nirvana who remains on the human plane to help men to salvation Compare arhat

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Etymology

Origin of Bodhisattva

1820–30; < Pali, Sanskrit

Compare meaning

How does bodhisattva compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Bodhisattva vs. Buddha

Example Sentences

Pieces being returned include a bronze sculpture called The Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Seated in Royal Ease, made sometime between the late 10th century and early 11th century.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 15, 2023

According to auction house Bonhams, the piece is a very rare wood figure, a religious work depicting the Buddhist Bodhisattva Guanyin made in the 12th-13th century under the Jin dynasty.

From Reuters • Jun. 10, 2023

At the Kodaiji Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan, enlightenment seekers can enjoy sermons preached by Mindar, a robot speaking as Kannon Bodhisattva, the Buddhist deity of mercy.

From Washington Post • Nov. 6, 2020

First, you’ve got to inform the spiritual leader of the people of Tibet and current manifestation of Avalokiteśvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion; next, 35,000 Instagram followers; then, maybe, family and friends.

From The Guardian • Sep. 20, 2018

With the meaning of awareness, it became beodan in Old English, meaning “bode,” and bodhati in Sanskrit, meaning he awakes, is enlightened, and thus Bodhisattva, and Buddha.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas