THE CONCEPT OF BODHISATTVA IN MAHAYANA BUDDHISM: FROM IDEAL TO PAACTICE

Abstract

This article analyzes the Mahāyāna Buddhist concept of the Bodhisattva, examining its progression from an ideal to an embodied practice. It extends the discussion into theoretical analyses within Buddhist psychology and Buddhist sociology to explain the dynamics of the “mind of compassion” and the role of the Bodhisattva as a model for contemporary human and social development. The Bodhisattva ideal is not merely a religious aspiration; rather, it reflects a process of mental cultivation that transforms the ego into selflessness through the practice of the pāramitās, meditation, and the cultivation of loving-kindness and compassion an approach consistent with Buddhist psychological principles concerning positive mental transformation. In addition, the article links the Bodhisattva ideal with Buddhist sociology as a conceptual framework for creating a compassionate society grounded in the interdependence of all beings and peaceful coexistence. The analysis proposes ways to integrate the Bodhisattva paradigm with human development theories and social policies such as education, organizational management, and sustainable development to enhance both psychological well-being and global social balance. Thus, the article underscores that the Bodhisattva is not merely a religious symbol, but an ethical framework that can be meaningfully applied in the contemporary world.

The concept of the Bodhisattva is one of the key ideas that distinguishes Mahāyāna Buddhism from Theravāda Buddhism, emphasizing self-sacrifice for the welfare of all beings. A Bodhisattva refers to one who aspires to enlightenment in order to help all sentient beings be freed from suffering, choosing not to hasten into Nirvana for their own sake first.