Q: With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements
a) The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
b) Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
c) Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The correct answer is 2 and 3 only.
Bodhisattva
- It is central to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
- The Mahayana Buddhist tradition describes the bodhisattva as the person who pursues the road of enlightenment and engages in altruistic activities.
- The bodhisattva’s most important quality is compassion, which is an empathic sharing of others’ sufferings. Therefore,
- Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- It is held that the Bodhisattva makes four vows expressing a determination to work for the happiness of others; “However innumerable sentient beings are, I vow to save them; However inexhaustible the passions are, I vow to master them; however limitless the teachings are, I vow to study them; however infinite the Buddha-truth is, I vow to attain it.” Hence statement 3 is correct.
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