bodhisattva
noun
bo·dhi·satt·va
ˌbō-di-ˈsət-və 
-ˈsät-
-ˈsät-
variants
or boddhisattva
: a being that compassionately refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others and is worshipped as a deity in Mahayana Buddhism
Examples of bodhisattva in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Loo was dubious about a Tang Dynasty statue of a bodhisattva, bought by the Meyers and included here.
—
Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2022
Yeoh portrays Guanyin, Wei-Chen's unassuming auntie who helps her nephew navigate the challenges of high school — all while maintaining a secret identity as the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2022
That’s because there’s a bodhisattva among them.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 23 Nov. 2021
Six represent the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, while the other five likely depict Tara, who is known as a deity in Hinduism and a female bodhisattva—central figures who delay personal enlightenment in order to offer earthbound worshippers salvation—or Buddha in different Buddhist traditions.
—Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2021
Such lavish adornment identifies him as a bodhisattva, a being committed to helping others reach spiritual enlightenment.
—Lee Lawrence, WSJ, 31 Jan. 2020
Gwaneum, also known as Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit, is the most popular bodhisattva in East Asia.
—Anna Diamond, Smithsonian, 18 Oct. 2019
Hike through lush cedar forests, passing old tea houses which provided rest to pilgrims until the early 20th century, and small jizo bodhisattva statues placed by locals to protect travelers.
—National Geographic, 12 June 2019
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Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2022
Yeoh portrays Guanyin, Wei-Chen's unassuming auntie who helps her nephew navigate the challenges of high school — all while maintaining a secret identity as the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion.
—Jessica Wang, EW.com, 11 Sep. 2022
That’s because there’s a bodhisattva among them.
—Helen Shaw, Vulture, 23 Nov. 2021
Six represent the Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, while the other five likely depict Tara, who is known as a deity in Hinduism and a female bodhisattva—central figures who delay personal enlightenment in order to offer earthbound worshippers salvation—or Buddha in different Buddhist traditions.
—Livia Gershon, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2021
Such lavish adornment identifies him as a bodhisattva, a being committed to helping others reach spiritual enlightenment.
—Lee Lawrence, WSJ, 31 Jan. 2020
Gwaneum, also known as Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit, is the most popular bodhisattva in East Asia.
—Anna Diamond, Smithsonian, 18 Oct. 2019
Hike through lush cedar forests, passing old tea houses which provided rest to pilgrims until the early 20th century, and small jizo bodhisattva statues placed by locals to protect travelers.
—National Geographic, 12 June 2019
Cite this Entry
“Bodhisattva.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bodhisattva. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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