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Development of Bodhisattva
in Buddhism
By
Somboon Phanna, PhD
Graduate School, MCU
Introduction to Bodhisattva
 Walpola Rahula stated that the bodhisattva
ideal has traditionally been held to be higher
than the state of a śrāvaka not only in
Mahayana but also in Theravada Buddhism.
 He also quotes an inscription from the 10th
Century king of Sri Lanka, Mahinda IV (956972 CE), who had the words inscribed "none
but the bodhisattvas will become kings of a
prosperous Lanka,"
Introduction to Bodhisattva
 There is a wide-spread belief, particularly in the West, that
the ideal of the Theravada, which they conveniently
identify with Hinayana, is to become an Arahant while that
of the Mahayana is to become a Bodhisattva and finally to
attain the state of a Buddha. It must be stated that this is
incorrect.
 This idea was spread by some early Orientalists at a time
when Buddhist studies were beginning in the West, and the
others who followed them accepted it without taking the
trouble to go into the problem by examining the texts and
living traditions in Buddhist countries.
 But the fact is that both the Theravada and the Mahayana
unanimously accept the Bodhisattva ideal as the highest.
Definitions of “Bodhisattva”
 The word “Bodhisattva” comes from two Sanskrit words
(Pali: Bodhisatta): \
-Bodhi = Enlightenment, Knowledge
-Satta = Being
 Bodhisattva: “the one committed to enlightenment.”
 Bodhisattva: “the one who seeks Enlightenment for the
sake of all beings”
 Bodhisattva = “a being (sattva) who aspires to
enlightenment (bodhi)
 Bodhisattva = “a being who is destined for enlightenment.”
 Bodhisattva = “a being who is well on the way to becoming
a Buddha.”
Meanings of Bodhisattva
In early Buddhism, bodhisattva refers to “the
previous lives of a (or the) Buddha.”
In Mahayana Buddhism, bodhisattva refers to a
human being committed to the attainment of
enlightenment for the sake of others. Becoming a
bodhisattva is the goal of Mahayana Buddhism.
 Bodhisattva may also refer in Mahayana
Buddhism to archetypal bodhisattvas: mythical
beings such as Avalokiteshvara and Manjushri,
who are objects of devotion.
Meanings of Bodhisattva
 The word bodhisattva therefore originally
meant something like “a being who is well on
the way to becoming a Buddha.”
 The previous lives of the bodhisatta
Sakyamuni are told in the Jataka (birth stories)
that illustrate the Buddha-to-be’s
development of good qualities such as
patience, generosity, and compassion.
Meanings of Bodhisattva
 The Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra
contains a simple and brief definition for the
term bodhisattva, which is also the earliest
known Mahāyāna definition. This definition is
given as the following:
“Because he has enlightenment as
his aim, a bodhisattva-mahāsattva is
so called.”
Bodhisattva in Early Buddhism
The word “bodhisatta” appears in
the Pali canon to refer to:
 (a) The historical Buddha,
Shakyamuni, before his enlightenment,
and
 (b) The current life or lives of the
Buddha-to-come, Maitreya (Pali
Metteya).
Bodhisattva in Early Buddhism
 In Theravada Buddhism, the term bodhisatta is used to
refer to Gautama Buddha in his previous lives and as a
young man in his current life in the period during which he
was working towards his own liberation. \
 When, during his discourses, he recounts his experiences as
a young aspirant, he regularly uses the phrase "When I was
an unenlightened bodhisatta..."
 The term therefore connotes a being who is "bound for
enlightenment", in other words, a person whose aim is to
become fully enlightened.
 In the Pāli canon, the bodhisatta is also described as
someone who is still subject to birth, illness, death, sorrow,
defilement, and delusion.
Bodhisattva in Theravada Buddhism
In later Theravada literature, the term
"bodhisatta" is used frequently in the sense of
someone on the path to liberation.
The later tradition of commentary also
recognizes the existence of two additional
types of bodhisattas: the paccekabodhisatta,
who will attain Paccekabuddhahood, and the
savakabodhisatta, who will attain
enlightenment as a disciple of a Buddha.
Bodhisattva in Theravada Buddhism
Kings of Sri Lanka were often described as
bodhisattvas, starting at least as early as
Sirisanghabodhi, who was renowned for his
compassion, who took vows for the welfare of
the citizens, and was regarded as a mahāsatta.
 Many other kings of Sri Lanka from the 3rd
century until the 15th century were also
described as bodhisattvas and their royal duties
were sometimes clearly associated with the
practice of the Ten Pāramitās.[
Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism
The Mahayana seems to have arisen at least in
part because of a perception that Buddhist
practitioners in certain schools (which they
pejoratively dubbed the “Hinayana,” or
“Lesser Vehicle”) had too narrow a conception
of the Buddhist path, seeing it purely in terms
of liberating oneself from suffering without
regard to the wellbeing of others.
Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism
This self-centered orientation was in conflict with
the Buddha’s original emphasis that his disciples
“go forth for the welfare of the many” and with
his own untiring concern with the wellbeing of
others.
Mahayanists therefore looked back to the
Buddha’s own life for inspiration. Prior to his own
enlightenment, the Buddha-to-be, or
Bodhisattva, was said to have spent countless
lifetimes cultivating the perfection of compassion
and generosity.
Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism
 Mahāyāna Buddhism encourages everyone to
become bodhisattvas and to take the
bodhisattva vows.
 With these vows, one makes the promise to
work for the complete enlightenment of all
sentient beings by practicing the six
perfections
Bodhisattva vow
 A Bodhisattva vow is found at the end of the
Avatamsaka Sutra by Samantabhadra. In the
Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra, Shantideva explains that the
Bodhisattva vow is taken with the following famous
two verses from Sutra:
Just as all the previous Sugatas, the Buddhas
Generated the mind of enlightenment
And accomplished all the stages
Of the Bodhisattva training,
So will I too, for the sake of all beings,
Generate the mind of enlightenment
And accomplish all the stages
Of the Bodhisattva training.[