Bodhisattva

In Buddhist thought, a bodhisattva (Pali: bodhisatta; ; Japanese: 菩薩 bosatsu; Korean: 보살 bosal ; Tibetan changchub sempa (byang-chub sems-dpa'); Vietnamese: Bồ Tát) is a being who is dedicated to assisting all sentient beings in achieving complete Buddhahood. Conventionally, the term is applied to hypothetical beings with a high degree of enlightenment. Bodhisattva literally means "enlightenment ('bodhi') being ('sattva')" in Sanskrit. However, the original term would have been expressed ambivalently as bodhisatta in Prakrit languages, such as Pali. Although this term was later converted to the Sanskrit form bodhisattva, there is textual evidence that this is incorrect and the sense of the original Prakrit should have been converted to bodhisakta "one who cleaves to enlightenment".

Bodhisattvas in Theravada Buddhism

In Theravada Buddhism, the bodhisattva is seen as seeking enlightenment so that, once awakened, he may efficiently aid other beings with the expertise of supreme wisdom. Gautama Buddha's previous life experience as a bodhisattva before Buddhahood are recorded in the texts of the Jataka. Lay Buddhists of Theravada seek inspiration in Gautama's skill as a good layman in these texts, which account not only his historical life, but many previous lives. When Gautama Buddha referred to himself in his pre-Buddha existence, he spoke in terms of "when I was still a Bodhisattva". The only currently active bodhisattva described in the Pali Canon is the future Buddha Maitreya (Pali: Metteyya). The Theravada tradition, i.e., the Pali Canon, speaks of no other bodhisattvas than these.

Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism

In Mahayana Buddhism, a bodhisattva has the compassionate determination to aid all beings on their quest for the highest state of development, full enlightenment of a Buddha. This type of motivation is known as bodhicitta ('citta' means mind). Remaining in this world of uncontrolled rebirth (samsara), the Bodhisattva has taken the bodhisattva vow to achieve Buddhahood as quickly as possible and thereby be most able to teach Dharma until all beings have likewise achieved enlightenment.

Another common conception of the Bodhisattva is one who delays his own final and complete enlightenment in order to save all sentient beings out of his enormous compassion. He is on a mission to liberate all sentient beings, and only then will he rest and complete his own enlightenment.

In brief, simply imagine the Bodhisattva as saying, "If I know how to swim, and even one other being cannot, then it is right to remain behind in this world to assist them until they know how to save themselves from drowning".

Mahayana Buddhist philosophy sometimes poses the concept of the bodhisattva in opposition to that of the Śrāvakabuddha (conventionally referred to as an Arhat). The Arhat is seen as being liberated from samsara, but he did not choose to save all and every other living being before passing away into Parinirvana, and thus is not a fully enlightened Buddha.

According to many traditions within Mahayana Buddhism, on his or her way to becoming a Buddha, the bodhisattva proceeds through ten, or sometimes fourteen, stages or bhumi. Below is the list of ten bhumis and their descriptions from The Jewel Ornament of Liberation, a treatise by Gampopa, an influential teacher of the Tibetan Kagyu school. Other schools give variant descriptions.

Before a bodhisattva arrives at the first ground, he or she first must travel the first two of the five paths, which are said to correspond to words from the mantra that appears at the end of the Heart Sutra:

the path of accumulation (gate)
the path of preparation (gate).

The ten grounds of the bodhisattva then can be grouped into the next three paths

Bhumi 1 the path of insight (paragate)
Bhumi 2-7 the path of meditation (parasamgate)
Bhumi 8-10 the path of no more learning (bodhi)

The 10 Grounds of Buddhism

Great Joy
- It is said that being close to enlightenment and seeing the benefit for all sentient beings, one achieves great joy, hence the name. In this bhumi the bodhisattvas practice all virtues (paramita), but especially emphasizing generosity (dana).
Stainless
- In accomplishing the second bhumi, the bodhisattva is free from the stains of immorality, therefore, this bhumi is named 'Stainless'. The emphasized virtue is moral discipline (śila).
Radiant
- The third bhumi is named 'Radiant', because, for a bodhisattva who accomplishes this bhumi, the light of Dharma is said to radiate from the bodhisattva for others. The emphasized virtue is patience (kṣanti).
Luminous
- This bhumi is called 'luminous', because it is said to be like a radiating light that fully burns that which opposes enlightenment. The emphasized virtue is vigor (virya).
Very difficult to train
- Bodhisattvas who attain this bhumi strive to help sentient beings attain maturity, and do not become emotionally involved when such beings respond negatively, both of which are difficult to do. The emphasized virtue is meditative concentration (dhyāna).
Obviously Transcendent
- "By depending on the perfection of wisdom awareness, he bodhisattva does not abide in either saṃsāra or nirvāṇa, so it is 'obviously transcendent'". The emphasized virtue is wisdom (prajña).
Gone afar
- Particular emphasis is on the perfection of skillful means, or upaya-kaushalya, to help others.
Immovable
- The emphasized virtue is aspiration.
- This, the 'Immovable' bhumi, is the bhumi at which one becomes able to choose his place of rebirth.
Good Discriminating Wisdom
- The emphasized virtue is power.
Cloud of dharma
- The emphasized virtue is the practice of primordial wisdom.

After the ten bhumis, according to Mahayana Buddhism, one attains complete enlightenment and becomes a Buddha.

Various traditions within Buddhism believe in certain specific bodhisattvas. Some bodhisattvas appear across traditions, but due to language barriers may be seen as separate entities. For example, Tibetan Buddhists believe in Chenrezig, who is Avalokitesvara in India, Kuan Yin (other spellings: Guan Yin, Kwan Yin, Quan Yin, some of which may be seen written as a single word) in China, and Kannon (formerly spelt and pronounced: Kwannon) in Japan. A modern bodhisattva for many is the 14th Dalai Lama, considered by many followers of Tibetan Buddhism to be an incarnation of that same bodhisattva, the Bodhisattva of Compassion.

The bodhisattva is a popular subject in Buddhist art.

The place of a bodhisattva's earthly deeds, such as the achievement of enlightenment or the acts of dharma, is known as a bodhimanda, and may be a site of pilgrimage. Many temples and monasteries are famous as bodhimandas; for instance, the island of Putuoshan, located off the coast of Ningbo, is venerated by Chinese Buddhists as the bodhimanda of Avalokitesvara. Perhaps the most famous bodhimanda of all is the bodhi tree under which Shakyamuni achieved buddhahood.

Some, mainly American convert Buddhists including Jack Kerouac, are recently incorporating Jesus into Buddhism by claiming he is a bodhisattva.

Partial list of bodhisattvas

Akasagarbha (Ch. 虛空藏 Xu Kong Zang; Jp. Kokūzō; Vi. Hư Không Tạng)
Avalokiteśvara (Ch. 觀世音 Guanshiyin; Jp. Kanzeon; Tib. Chenrezig; Vi. Quán Thế Âm)
Kṣitigarbha (Ch. 地藏 Dì cáng; Jp. Jizō; Vi. Ðịa Tạng)
Mahasthamaprapta (Ch. 大勢至 Da Shì Zhì; Jp. Seishi; Vi, Ðại Thế Chí)
Maitreya (Ch. 彌勒 Mi Le; Jp. Miroku; Vi. Di-lặc)
Mañjuśri (Ch. 文殊師利 Wen Shu; Jp. Monju; Tib. Jampal Yang; Vi. Văn-thù-sư-lợi)
Padmasambhava (Ch. 蓮華生上師 Lianhuasheng Shang Shi; Tib. Padma Jungne or Guru Rinpoche; Vi. Liên Hoa Sinh)
Samantabhadra (Ch. 普賢 Pu Xian; Jp. Fugen; Tib. Kuntu Zangpo; Vi. Phổ Hiền)
Vajrapani (Ch. 金剛手 Jin Gang Shou; Jp. Shukongojin; Tib. Channa Dorje; Vi. Kim Cương Thủ)

Bodhisattva in popular culture

Jack Kerouac mentions Bodhisattva in The Dharma Bums several times. In the book, Japhy Ryder (Gary Snyder) tells Ray Smith (Kerouac) that he (Ray) is a Bodhisattva, a great wise being or great wise angel. Kerouac uses the term several times in the novel, to describe himself and fellow zen Buddhists.
The band Steely Dan has a song entitled Bodhisattva on their 1973 album Countdown to Ecstasy.
The Brian Setzer Orchestra covered Steely Dan's Bodhisattva for the soundtrack of Me, Myself and Irene.
The rap group The Beastie Boys has a song called Bodhisattva Vow on their album Ill Communication.
Patrick Swayze's character in Point Break is named Bodhisattva.
The Holy Barbarians have a song called Bodhisattva on the Cream CD.
In the manga/anime titled Gensoumaden Saiyuki, the bodhisattva called Kannon appears as a minor, but still relevant, character. In this unorthodox take on Buddhism, Kanzeon Bosatsu (a more formal form of Kannon) is a smart-talking hermaphrodite who guides the Sanzo-ikkou on their quest to Shangri-La.
On the OST for the anime Hellsing, there is a track titled "Bodhisattva Cathedral."

References

Gampopa; The Jewel Ornament of Liberation; Snow Lion Publications; ISBN 1-55939-092-1
White, Kenneth R.; The Role of Bodhicitta in Buddhist Enlightenment: Including a Translation into English of Bodhicitta-sastra, Benkemmitsu-nikyoron, and Sammaya-kaijo; The Edwin Mellen Press, 2005; ISBN 0-88946-050-7

External links

Buddhist terms | Bodhisattvas

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