Buddhist term for an enlightened being who delays nirvana to save others. Also used figuratively for a compassionate person.
Kannon Bodhisattva is considered a symbol of compassion.
He has a heart like a bodhisattva.
High Monk (imperial title)
Historical title granted by the imperial court to eminent monks. Not a common modern usage.
That monk was granted the title of Bosatsu by the imperial court.
title for Shinto kami (manifestation theory)
In honji-suijaku thought, a title applied to Shinto deities as manifestations of Buddhist bodhisattvas. Specialized historical-religious term.
See also: 本地垂迹説
In honji-suijaku theory, Shinto kami are sometimes given the title of bosatsu.
She always helps people in trouble; she's like a bodhisattva.
I prayed to the bodhisattva at the temple for my family's health.
観音 is one specific, named bodhisattva (Avalokiteśvara), while 菩薩 is the general category term for such beings.
菩薩 (bodhisattva) embodies compassionate, benevolent Buddhist virtue, in contrast to 夜叉, which embodies fierce, demon-like ferocity.
菩提 shares the kanji 菩 with 菩薩 but means 'enlightenment' itself, not the being who seeks it.
羅漢 (an arhat) is a Buddhist saint who has reached final enlightenment for himself, distinct from 菩薩, who postpones nirvana to help others.
Honorific counter for Buddhist images and deities.
Used for statues or images of Bosatsu (菩薩), similar to counting Buddhist statues/images with 躯 (く).
buddhas and bodhisattvas
Buddha-like compassion
Samantabhadra of long life; long-life Fugen Bosatsu
Standard kanji spelling; the reading ぼさち is obsolete.
From Sanskrit bodhisattva via Chinese 菩薩 (púsà). The reading ぼさつ is the standard Japanese adaptation; ぼさち is an older, now obsolete form.