bodhisattva　菩薩 One who seeks to attain bodhi (enlightenment). Its archetype is found in Gautama Siddhārtha who performed practices in order to emancipate himself from sufferings and finally became the Buddha Śākyamuni. As the Mahayana movement arose, the term came to mean one who makes vows not only to attain the highest enlightenment (self-benefit) but also to save all suffering beings (benefiting others), and thus sets out on the course of practice known as “six paramitas”. In addition, Mahayana Buddhism has many bodhisattvas who symbolize various qualities of Buddha, e.g., Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara who represents the Buddha’s compassion.See sravakas and pratyekabuddhas, three vehicles, and Mahayana.