Bodhisattva facts for kids

Buddhism
Basic terms
Three Jewels Four Noble Truths Dukkha Samudaya Nirodha Marga Noble Eightfold Path Buddhahood Enlightenment Nirvana
People
Gautama Buddha Dalai Lama Bodhisattva Sangha
Schools
Theravada Mahayana Zen Vajrayana Nyingma Kagyu Sakya Gelug
Practices
study Dharma Meditation Metta

A bodhisattva according to Buddhism is a Buddhist who has attained enlightenment, but who as a selfless act, delays his or her entry to Nirvana (non-existence) for the sake of others.

The word Bodhisattva can also refer to certain specific bodhisattvas such as Chenrezig, Manjushri and Vajrapani.

Images for kids

• 

  Bronze statue of Avalokiteśvara. Sri Lanka, ca. 750 CE

• 

  The Bala Bodhisattva dedicated in "the year 3 of Kanishka" (circa 123 CE). Sarnath Museum.

• 

  Twenty-five Bodhisattvas Descending from Heaven. Japanese painting, c. 1300.

• 

  Probable early image of a Bodhisattva (Bimaran casket, 50 CE).

• 

  Wood carving of Avalokiteśvara. Liao China, 907-1125

• 

  Mural of Padmapani in Ajanta Caves. India, 5th century

• 

  Standing bodhisattva. Gandhāra, 2nd-3rd century.

• 

  Standing bodhisattva. Gandhāra, 2nd-3rd century.

• 

  Mural of bodhisattvas. China, Tang Dynasty.

• 

  Ākāśagarbha Bodhisattva. Japan, 9th century.

• 

  Mural of a bodhisattva. China, 10th century.

• 

  Seated Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara (Guanyin), wood and pigment, 11th century, Chinese Northern Song dynasty, St. Louis Art Museum

• 

  Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva. India, 11th-12th century.

• 

  Mahāsthāmaprāpta Bodhisattva. China, 13th century.

• 

  Youthful Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva silver statue. Java, 9th century Indonesia.

• 

  Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva crossing the sea. Japan, 14th century.

• 

  Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva. Japan, 15th century.

• 

  Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. Japan.

• 

  Maitreya Bodhisattva. Thiksey Monastery, Ladakh, India

• 

  "Standing Bodhisattva" (pre-1234). Brooklyn Museum, New York City.

• 

  Daizuigu Mahapratisara Bodhisattva. Guimet Museum.

• 

  Shrine with an Image of a Bodhisattva. Brooklyn Museum