In Buddhism, a bodhisattva[a] is a person who has attained, or is striving towards, bodhi ('awakening', 'enlightenment') or Buddhahood. [1][2] Often, the term specifically refers to a person who forgoes or …

Dec 18, 2025 · In early Indian Buddhism and in some later traditions—including Theravada, at present the major form of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and other parts of Southeast Asia—the term bodhisattva …

[A bodhisattva is] a spiritual trainee dedicated to the cultivation of an enlightened attitude (cittotpāda) or the altruistic enlightened mind, who is on the path to full enlightenment, gradually traversing the five …

Oct 7, 2022 · “Bodhisattva” is a key idea in Buddhism. The word is constructed from the Sanskrit root bodhi, meaning “awakening” or “enlightenment,” and sattva, meaning “being.” The core meaning of …

Feb 6, 2019 · Bodhisattva literally means a “wisdom (‘bodhi’) being (‘sattva’)” in Sanskrit. In Theravada Buddhism, the bodhisattva (Pali: bodhisatta) is seen as seeking enlightenment so that, once …

Thus, like the Buddha, who put in incredible effort and energy over countless lives to become awakened, a bodhisattva is someone who sets themselves upon the journey toward enlightenment in order to …

In Bodhisattva Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is often described as a being who dedicates their entire existence to helping others achieve freedom from suffering. Bodhisattva combines two Sanskrit …

Jul 26, 2025 · A bodhisattva (Sanskrit: बोधिसत्त्व; Pāli: bodhisatta) is a being on the path to full enlightenment (bodhi) who compassionately refrains from entering final nirvana in order to assist all …

Bodhi means enlightenment, and sattva, a living being. In Hinayana Buddhism, the term is used almost exclusively to indicate Shakyamuni Buddha in his previous lifetimes. The Jātaka, or “birth stories” …

Feb 22, 2025 · The word Bodhisattva comes from Sanskrit, meaning “awakening being” (Bodhi = enlightenment, Sattva = being). In Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is someone who seeks enlightenment …