Bodhisattva

A Sanskrit word that literally means "a being whose nature (sattva) is perfect wisdom (bodhi)"; an important fi gure in BUDDHISM. The term is used differently in the various Buddhist schools. It is especially important in the schools known as Mahayana. In THERAVADA BUDDHISM, the Buddhism common in southeast Asia, a bodhisattva is a being who is on the way to becoming a BUDDHA. (A Buddha is a being who discovers the path to enlightenment and NIRVANA. In this school the most important bodhisattva was Siddharta Gautama (sixth century B.C.E.), the Buddha who appeared in this world, prior to his enlightenment. Theravada Buddhists often tell stories about this bodhisattva's previous lives. Known as jatakas or "birth stories," they frequently take the form of animal fables. Some, such as "The Monkey and the Crocodile," have even become children's stories in North America. Another important bodhisattva in Theravada is the present form of the Buddha Maitreya. Maitreya is the Buddha who will come and usher in a golden age. At the present he lives in a heaven known as Tushita. MAHAYANA BUDDHISM, the form of Buddhism common in east Asia, developed a somewhat different idea of the bodhisattva. It urges all Buddhists to strive to become bodhisattvas. According to Mahayana teachings the bodhisattva path begins when the thought of enlighten-ment arises in the mind. This thought involves a desire for wisdom; it also involves compassion for others. The thought of enlightenment leads persons to make a series of vows. These vows in turn determine their future efforts. Some Mahayana texts describe the bodhisattva path in terms of six perfections. Other texts add four more. The ten perfections are: giving, morality, patience, valiant effort, concentration, wisdom, skill in means, the vows of the bodhisattva, power, and knowledge. To cultivate these perfections takes not years or centuries but lifetimes and eons. The more time spent as a bodhisattva, the more time there is in which to act out of compassion for the benefi t of other beings. So the longer the time spent as a bodhisattva, the better. Mahayana Buddhism tells many myths about bodhisattvas. It also has many cults dedicated to those bodhisattvas who have reached the highest levels of perfection. Such bodhisattvas are so great that they reside not on Earth but in HEAVEN. From heaven they act out of compassion for those who are suffering here on Earth and in other worlds. In Mahayana Buddhism three celestial bodhisattvas are most important. One of them is Maitreya, whom Theravada Buddhists also recognize. Mahayana says that Maitreya is a fi gure of light who inspires Buddhist teachers and guides persons after death. Because he is coming to usher in a golden age, his worship has given rise to messianic societies that have fostered political unrest and revolution (see MESSIAH). Another important bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism is Manjusri. He is said to be an eternal youth. Images show him wearing a fi ve-pointed crown, holding a book and a sword, and accompanied by a lion. According to Mahayana teachings, Manjusri could become a Buddha immediately, but he refuses to enter the ultimate enlightenment so long as a single other being remains in SAMSARA. The bodhisattva AVALOKITESVARA is renowned for compassion. Known in Chinese as Kuanyin and Japanese as Kannon, he has often been envisioned in female form in China and Japan. A helper in every need, he—or she—is a protector of women, especially women in labor.