bodhisattva
bodhisattva
Definition
bo·dhi·sattva (bō′di sut′və, -sät′-)
noun
Buddhism a person who has achieved great moral and spiritual wisdom and is a potential Buddha, esp. such a person who rejects nirvana in order to assist suffering mankind
Etymology: Sans, lit., one enlightened in essence < bodhi, enlightenment (< IE base *bheudh-, to be alert, recognize > OE beodan, to command: see bid) + sattva, being, existence (< IE *sent-, part. stem of base *es-, be > is)
bodhisattva
Usage Examples
Preposition: of
- compassion: The Dalai Lama, for example, is believed to be an emanation of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.
Possessives
- anger: A novice bodhisattva's anger at a mature bodhisattva, for instance, will not de-commission her, but it will impede her development.
Converse of object
- become: From the moment anyone undertakes the Vow, he becomes a fledgling bodhisattva.
Adjective modifier
- mature: A novice bodhisattva's anger at a mature bodhisattva, for instance, will not de-commission her, but it will impede her development.
- great: One might argue that Vimalakirti, the great householder bodhisattva, does not quite belong in this august company.
Modifies a noun
- ideal: The figure offers an exceptionally compelling image of the bodhisattva ideal.
- path: Or, perhaps, has Williams come up with a better, presumably more rational approach to the bodhisattva path?
- practice: But I and others will also turn to it for direction and inspiration in our personal bodhisattva practice.
- way: The Lotus Suutra emphasizes consequences and the practice of the bodhisattva way for the purpose of saving living beings.
