Abstract

This is a qualitative research consisting of three objectives: (1) To study origin and development of Bodhisattva concept in Mahāyāna Buddhism, (2) To study concept of Bodhisattva in Mahāyāna Buddhism. (3) To an analytical study of Bodhisattva in Mahāyāna Buddhism.

The result of this study, we can see that the original of bodhisattva ideal maybe begins from the Arahant ideal. Because during the development of the Mahāyāna Bodhisattva doctrine, the most accessible documentation for this development is found in the original early Buddhism sutras. Besides, the early Bodhisattva concept was only for the Buddha as found in the system Buddhist scriptures such as Dīgha Nikāya, Majjihama Nikāya, etc. Later when Mahāyāna Buddhism developed bodhisattva theory in the important sutras of Mahāyāna and the difference between the Mahāyāna and Theravāda Buddhism is the numbers of Bodhisattvas had appeared in the two systems of the sutras. But the Bodhisattva in Mahāyāna Buddhism is the personify of the characteristics of the Buddha such as compassion, loving-kindness, and wisdom, in historical context and difference geography, so there is suitable change to propagate the Dhamma.

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