Bodhisattva refers to an individual who has dedicated himself or herself to the Buddhist practice. This practice leads to the enlightenment of all the sentient beings that have committed themselves to bodhicitta. Once they take vows, the Bodhisattva commit themselves to fulfilling specific roles in the presence of their master by observing not only special ritual but also taking pledges. The responsibilities of Bodhisattva include saving all beings from difficulties, learning the truth and educating others, abolishing all evil desires, and leading all beings to Buddhahood. Regardless of the number of beings, bodhisattva ensures he orshe has protected them against Samsara by leading them to Buddhahood. Thus, Bodhisattva helps other beings out of compassion through eradicating the source of their suffering (Imagawa 2015).
Similarly, Bodhisattva is believed to enlighten people as he possesses a lot of wisdom. According to studies, Bodhisattva represents great knowledge that enables him to eradicate ignorance (Imagawa 2015). Based on this, individuals who need to pass their exams or overcome sticky life issues seek assistance from Bodhisattva. Overall, Bodhisattva are naturally engaged in the society, struggling to change the lives as well make the world a better place for other beings.
The word Bodhisattva is derived from two words; “Bodhi” that refers to awakening and “sattva” that stands for sentient beginning. Avalokiteshvara which means to look at or to inspect was the most important Bodhisattva. It was characterized with a gold color and it took a sitting position always.
Bodhisattva is an enlightened being that never becomes Buddhist despite reaching the required stages because of their responsibilities in the society. The statue of Bodhisattva was of made of clay that was painted in gold and other paintings. In the modern society people tend to model Buddha and make statues that resemble the Buddha to conceal individuals that are considered Bodhisattva.
Work Cited
Imagawa, Misaki. Appreciating Buddhist Art: Part Three – Bodhisattvas, 2015. Web. Sep. 30, 2018. http://www.beprimitive.com/blog/appreciating-buddhist-art-part-three-bodhisattvas
