The Bodhisattva

The Bodhisattva ideal lies at the heart of Mahayana Buddhism. A bodhisattva is one who aspires to attain full Buddhahood, not merely for personal liberation but for the benefit of all sentient beings. Motivated by boundless compassion (karuṇā) and wisdom (prajñā), the bodhisattva vows to remain within saṃsāra until every being is freed from suffering.

Unlike the arahant, who seeks personal liberation from the cycle of birth and death, the bodhisattva deliberately postpones final nibbāna, cultivating countless perfections (pāramitās) such as generosity, morality, patience, effort, meditation, and wisdom across innumerable lifetimes. This long path reflects both great courage and selfless commitment.

The bodhisattva recognises that self and other are ultimately not separate. Realising the emptiness of all phenomena, they work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of others while seeing the illusory nature of individuality. This non-dual understanding transforms compassion into an expression of wisdom itself.

In Mahayana teachings, anyone can take the bodhisattva vow, making this path universally accessible. It offers a vision of enlightenment not as personal escape but as participation in the liberation of all life. The bodhisattva becomes a beacon of hope, embodying the highest expression of the Dharma through unshakeable compassion.

Ultimately, the bodhisattva path is not one of sacrifice, but of profound joy — the joy of seeing all beings as one’s own and walking together toward freedom.

“Beings are numberless; I vow to save them. Delusions are endless; I vow to cut through them. Dharma gates are boundless; I vow to enter them. The Buddha Way is unsurpassable; I vow to realise it.”
— The Four Great Vows, Mahayana tradition