Bodhisattva
Awakened spiritual being
A bodhisattva is a being on the path to enlightenment in Buddhist tradition—one who has vowed to attain Buddhahood but delays final liberation to help others achieve awakening.
In Mahayana Buddhism especially, bodhisattvas embody compassion and wisdom, serving as guides and intercessors: She prayed to the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara for mercy.
The term can describe anyone who selflessly dedicates themselves to others' spiritual welfare.
Profound spiritual awakening
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- BuddhaEnlightened spiritual founder
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
sentient beings · liberation · wisdom · merit · karma · dharma · sangha · suffering
Buddhism stressing universal liberation
- sutraEastern religious discourse
- TheravadaBuddhism of the elders
- emptinessAbsence of substance
- perfectionsStates of being faultless
tathagatagarbha · stages · vow · aspiration · two truths · middle way · doctrine
Irish feminine name
- lotusSacred aquatic flower
- mudraRitual hand gesture
- haloLuminous ring overhead
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
crown · robes · statue · sculpture · thangka · mandala · iconography · gilded
Strong desire for achievement
- vowSolemn personal commitment
- preceptsRules of conduct
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- meditationFocused attention practice
prostration · offering · pilgrimage · retreat · ordination · monastery · disciple · teacher
enlightenment
Profound spiritual awakening
- compassionConcern for others' distress
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- BuddhaEnlightened spiritual founder
nirvana · sentient beings · liberation · wisdom · merit · karma · dharma · sangha · suffering · salvation
Mahayana
Buddhism stressing universal liberation
tathagatagarbha · perfections · stages · vow · aspiration · two truths · middle way · doctrine
Tara
Irish feminine name
throne · crown · robes · statue · sculpture · thangka · mandala · iconography · gilded · serene
aspiration
Strong desire for achievement
meditation · prostration · offering · pilgrimage · retreat · ordination · monastery · disciple · teacher · lama
saint
Canonized holy person
- altruistSelfless benefactor of others
- humanitarianHelper of suffering people
- selflessConcerned with others' welfare
helper · savior · benefactor · guide · healer · protector · servant · noble · virtuous · dedicated
- deitiesZeus, Odin, Thor, goddess, Ra
- Asian Sculptureseated Buddha, standing Buddha, garden Buddha, guardian lion, foo dog
- BuddhaSiddhartha, Gautama, Buddha, enlightenment, nirvana
- Buddhist objectsBuddha, Buddha statues, Buddha images, prayer wheels, prayer flag
- Chinese BuddhismBuddhist monasteries, Buddhist texts, Mahayana, Shaolin Temple, Shaolin
- divine titlesLord, Christ, Messiah, Redeemer, Most High
BodhisattvaMara
Hebrew name meaning bitter
egoist · demon · narcissist · self-seeker · misanthrope