A bodhisattva (Pāli bodhisatta; Tib. byang-chub sems-dpa'; Ch. pusa; Jpn. bosatsu) is generally considered to be a person (sattva) in pursuit of awakening (bodhi) to become a buddha. All Buddhist traditions acknowledge the figure of the bodhisattva, but they differ on its interpretation.
In early Indian Buddhism and in some later traditions—including Theravada, at present the major form of Buddhism in Sri Lanka and other parts of Southeast Asia—the term bodhisattva was used primarily to refer to the Buddha Shakyamuni (as Gautama Siddhartha is known) in his former lives.
What were the Mahayana and Hinayana ideologies of Buddhism? Ans. Mahayana Buddhism considered Gautama Buddha to be a divine being who guided his followers to attain nirvana. On the other hand, Hinayana Buddhists consider Gautama Buddha as an ordinary human being who attained Nirvana.
“blowing outIt is used to refer to the extinction of desire, hatred, and ignorance and, ultimately, of suffering and rebirth. Literally, it means “blowing out” or “becoming extinguished,” as when a flame is blown out or a fire burns out. nirvana. Related Topics: brahman bodhi.
the state of enlightenmentDefinition of bodhi : the state of enlightenment attained by a Buddhist who has practiced the Eightfold Path and achieved salvation.
noun Buddhism. a person who has attained prajna, or Enlightenment, but who postpones Nirvana in order to help others to attain Enlightenment: individual Bodhisattvas are the subjects of devotion in certain sects and are often represented in painting and sculpture.
The Theravada school is sometimes referred to as Hinayana (“little vehicle”) by Mahayana Buddhists, but it should be noted that this is considered an insult by Theravada Buddhists in that it suggests their school is not as important as Mahayana.
Mahayana (Greater Vehicle) Hinayana (Smaller Vehicle) Vajrayana (Diamond Vehicle) Mahayana Buddhism consider Gautama Buddha to be a divine being who will help his followers to attain nirvana. Mahayana Buddhists may choose to stay in the cycle of samsara out of compassion for others.
The Buddha died in the early 5th century B.C. His teachings, called the dharma, spread over Asia and developed into three basic traditions: Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana. Buddhists call them "vehicles," meaning they are ways to carry pilgrims from suffering to enlightenment.
Definition of samsara : the indefinitely repeated cycles of birth, misery, and death caused by karma.
(nirvaanam) Glossary of Hinduism terms. In Indian religions, nirvana is synonymous with moksha and mukti. All Indian religions assert it to be a state of perfect quietude, freedom, highest happiness as well as the liberation from attachment and worldly suffering and the ending of samsara, the round of existence.
The nirvana-in-life marks the life of a monk who has attained complete release from desire and suffering but still has a body, name and life. The nirvana-after-death, also called nirvana-without-substrate, is the complete cessation of everything, including consciousness and rebirth.