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  1. bodhisattva love

Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. n. Buddhism An enlightened being who, out of compassion, forgoes nirvana in order to save others.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. n. In Buddhism of the northern school, or the later development called the Mahayana, one of a numerous class of beings who, having arrived at supreme wisdom (bodhi), have to pass through human existence only once more before attaining to Buddhahood, or complete enlightenment, and entrance into Nirvana. Among Singhalese Buddhists called bodhisat and bodisat, among the Chinese poosah, and among the Japanese bosatsŭ.
  2. n. Also, any religious teacher.

Wiktionary

  1. n. Buddhism An person,generally who has taken specific lay or monastic vows; is on the road to perfect knowledge; specifically, one who foregoes personal nirvana in order to help others achieve enlightenment.
  2. n. Buddhism An enlightened being existing in a form of existence beyond the ordinary forms of physical reality understood and acknowledged by Western 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.

WordNet 3.0

  1. n. Buddhist worthy of nirvana who postpones it to help others

Etymologies

  1. Borrowed from Sanskrit बोधिसत्त्व (bodhi-sattva, "enlightened existence"). (Wiktionary)
  2. Sanskrit bodhisattvaḥ, one whose essence is enlightenment : bodhiḥ, perfect knowledge; see bheudh- in Indo-European roots + sattvam, essence, being (from sat-, existing; see es- in Indo-European roots). (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)

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‘bodhisattva’ has been looked up 1925 times, loved by 2 people, added to 16 lists, commented on 1 time, and has a Scrabble score of 20.