bodhisattva
Buddhist selfless striver
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is a being who seeks enlightenment not just for themselves but for all sentient creatures.
In Mahayana Buddhism especially, the bodhisattva delays their own entry into nirvana to help others along the path.
The term extends loosely to anyone who embodies selfless compassion: She's a bodhisattva, always putting others first.
The Dalai Lama is considered an incarnation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.
Buddhism stressing universal liberation
Distinct periods or platforms
- perfectionsStates of being faultless
- cultivationFostering growth through care
- progressMovement toward improvement
- journeyTravel from place to place
practice · training · development · generosity · patience · discipline · effort · meditation
Focused attention practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- vipassanaClear-seeing contemplative practice
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- mantraRepeated focus phrase
mudra · visualization · offering · prostration · chanting · recitation · devotion · ritual
Prioritizing others over oneself
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- letting goReleasing one's grasp
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- non-attachmentFreedom from possessive clinging
generosity · giving · offering · service · dedication · delayed · nirvana · samsara
Strong desire for achievement
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- resolveFirmness of purpose
- preceptRule governing behavior
pledge · intention · promise · perseverance · oath · devotion · undertaking · determination
Sharing another's emotions
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- loving-kindnessBenevolent, tender affection
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
- careAttentive regard for others
sensitivity · gentleness · warmth · understanding · patience · tolerance · heart · benevolence
Deep perceptive understanding
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- realizationGrasping what's true
- emptinessAbsence of substance
clarity · perception · truth · awakening · discrimination · penetrating · luminous · perfection
Original model for copies
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- modelRepresentation or paradigm
- exemplarTypical perfect instance
- inspirationSource of creative impulse
devotion · veneration · iconography · statue · image · celestial · earthly · savior
Mahayana
Buddhism stressing universal liberation
stages
Distinct periods or platforms
- perfectionsStates of being faultless
- cultivationFostering growth through care
- progressMovement toward improvement
journey · practice · training · development · generosity · patience · discipline · effort · meditation · wisdom
meditation
Focused attention practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- vipassanaClear-seeing contemplative practice
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
mantra · mudra · visualization · offering · prostration · chanting · recitation · devotion · ritual · merit
selflessness
Prioritizing others over oneself
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- letting goReleasing one's grasp
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
non-attachment · generosity · giving · offering · service · dedication · delayed · nirvana · samsara · rebirth
aspiration
Strong desire for achievement
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- dedicationWholehearted loyalty to purpose
- resolveFirmness of purpose
precept · pledge · intention · promise · perseverance · oath · devotion · undertaking · determination · conviction
empathy
Sharing another's emotions
- mercyCompassion toward offenders
- loving-kindnessBenevolent, tender affection
- tendernessGentle, caring quality
care · sensitivity · gentleness · warmth · understanding · patience · tolerance · heart · benevolence · sympathy
insight
Deep perceptive understanding
- discernmentKeen perception and judgment
- understandingMental comprehension of something
- realizationGrasping what's true
emptiness · clarity · perception · truth · awakening · discrimination · penetrating · luminous · perfection · transcendent
archetype
Original model for copies
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- modelRepresentation or paradigm
- exemplarTypical perfect instance
inspiration · devotion · veneration · iconography · statue · image · celestial · earthly · savior · helper
- Buddhismdharma wheel, Four Noble Truths, nirvana, dharma, Mahayana
- Dharmic Traditionsdharma, karma, moksha, samsara, atman
- Japanese religionShinto, kami, Shintoism, Buddhism, torii
- Asian BeliefsBuddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism, Theravada
- Asian sacred artthangka, pagoda, stupa, sand mandala, dharma wheel
- Buddhist artthangka, scroll painting, cave painting, Tara, mandalas
bodhisattvaMara
Hebrew name meaning bitter
demon · tempter · hungry ghost · rakshasa · obstructor