Human Development
Bodhisattva
Description:
A transcendent bodhisattva is an enlightened being who, in the [mahayana] tradition, by practice of the [paramita] (perfect virtues), has followed the path to Buddhahood but, from compassion - [karuna] - defers his own enlightenment in order to serve the enlightenment of others as a spiritual practitioner. He enters [nirvana] after liberation of all beings, meanwhile living in a state of [apratisthita nirvana], liberation in this world, no longer bound by thoughts or desires and creating no karma to bind him, free of the natural laws of the universe and manifesting in any form. The earthly [bodhisattva] has not yet attained [buddhahood] but is on the path towards this goal through compassion, altruism and earnest intent to attain enlightenment. Ascending orders of bodhisattva commence with the stream winner and end in full Buddhahood, 20 different kinds of saint or bodhisattva being enumerated. The way of the [bodhisattva] is contrasted with the Arhat of the [hinayana] tradition who retires from the world to work for his own enlightenment. In [hinayana] tradition, the Buddha was a [bodhisattva] in previous existences.