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In . Conventionally, the term is applied to hypothetical beings with a high degree of Enlightenment . ''Bodhisattva'' literally means a "wisdom ('bodhi') being ('sattva')" in Sanskrit . 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 . 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 '' Sravaka-Buddha '' (conventionally referred to as an Arhat ). The Arhat is seen as being possessed of ultimate enlightenment, but he did not choose to save all and every other living being before passing away into Parinirvana . 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 practices in a lotus position, 2nd Century CE , Mathura .]] # 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''
# ''Stainless''
# ''Radiant''
# ''Luminous''
# ''Very difficult to train''
# ''Obviously Transcendent''
# ''Gone afar''
# ''Immovable''
# ''Good Discriminating Wisdom''
# ''Cloud of dharma''
After the ten bhumis, according to Mahayana Buddhism, one attains complete enlightenment and becomes a Buddha. from Mt. Jiuhua in China 's Anhui province.]] 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, 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 Bodhimandala , and may be a site of Pilgrimage . Many temples and monasteries are famous as bodhimandalas; for instance, the island of Putuoshan , located off the coast of Ningbo , is venerated by Chinese Buddhists as the bodhimandala of Avalokitesvara . Perhaps the most famous bodhimandala 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
BODHISATTVA IN POPULAR CULTURE
SEE ALSO
Osho, also known as Rashneesh, gave teachings on the Bodhisattva in his discourses on the daimond sutra in the 1090's in Puna, India REFERENCES
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