Bodhisattva Definition
bōdĭ-sŭtvə
noun
An enlightened being who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others.
American Heritage
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.
Webster's New World
(Buddhism) An enlightened being existing in a form of existence beyond the ordinary forms of physical reality understood and acknowledged by scientific thought, resembling the Western notion of angels, but with a wealth of its own nuances and expectations. These include the compassionate working for enlightenment of all sentient beings.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
- boddhisatva
Other Word Forms of Bodhisattva
Noun
Singular:
bodhisattva
Plural:
bodhisattvasOrigin of Bodhisattva
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Sanskrit bodhisattvaḥ one whose essence is enlightenment bodhiḥ perfect knowledge bheudh- in Indo-European roots sattvam essence, being (from sat- existing es- in Indo-European roots)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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Borrowed from Sanskrit बोधिसत्त्व (bodhi-sattva, “enlightened existence”).
From Wiktionary
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