• Bodhisatta

The name given to a being who aspires to Bodhi or Enlightenment. The Commentaries (e.g., DA.ii.427) define the word thus: Bodhisatto ti panditasatto bujjhanakasatto; bodhisankhátesu vá catusu maggesu ásatto laggamánaso ti Bodhisatto. See also AA.i.453. For a discussion of the meaning of the word see Har Dayal: The Bodhisativa Doctrine, pp.4ff.

The word can therefore be used in reference to all those who seek Nibbána, including Buddhas, Pacceka Buddhas, and the disciples of Buddhas (Buddha-paccekabuddha-buddha-sávaká), but is commonly used only of those beings who seek to become Buddhas. The word may have been used originally only in connection with the last life of a Buddha, in such contexts as "in the days before my Enlightenment, when as yet I was only a Bodhisatta”. E.g., M.i.17, 114, 163; so also in the Mahápadána Sutta (D.ii.13) and the Acchariyaabbhutadhamma Sutta (M.iii.119).

But already in the Kathávatthu (e.g., 283 90, 623) the previous lives of Gotama Buddha and other saints had begun to excite interest and speculation.

In the developed form of the ideas regarding Bodhisattas, a Bodhisatta's career started with his making a resolution before a Buddha (abhiníhárakarana or múlapanidhána) to become a Buddha for the welfare and liberation of all creatures. In later literature, the abhiníhára is preceded by a period during which the Bodhisatta practises manopanidhi, when he resolves in his mind to desire to become a Buddha without declaring this intention to others.

For the abhiníhára to be effective, eight conditions should be fulfilled (Bu.ii.59; explained at BuA.75f. and SNA.i.48f): the aspirant should be

• (1) a human being,
• (2) a male,
• (3) sufficiently developed to become an arahant in that very birth,
• (4) a recluse at the time of the declaration,
• (5) he should declare his resolve before a Buddha,
• (6) should be possessed of attainments such as the jhánas,
• (7) be prepared to sacrifice all, even life, and
• (8) his resolution should be absolutely firm and unwavering.

In the case of Gotama Buddha, his abhiníhára was made at Amaravátí in the presence of Dípankara Buddha. His name at that time was Sumedha (q.v.). The Buddha, before whom the abhiníhára is made, looks into the future and, if satisfied, declares the fulfilment of the resolve, mentioning the particulars of such fulfilment. This declaration is called vyákarana, and is made also by all subsequent Buddhas whom the Bodhisatta may meet during his career. Having received his first vyákarana, the Bodhisatta proceeds to investigate the qualities which should be acquired by him for the purposes of Buddhahood (buddhakárakadhammá), in accordance with the custom of previous Bodhisattas. These he discovers to be ten in number, the Ten Perfection, (dasapárami):

• dána,
• síla,
• nekkhamma,
• paññá,
• viriya,
• khanti,
• sacca,
• aditthána,
• mettá and
• upekhá.

Bu.ii.116ff. Sometimes thirty páramí are spoken of, each of the ten being divided into three, varying in kind and degree. Thus, in the case of

• dána, the dánapárami consists in giving one's limbs,
• dána upapárami in giving away one's external possessions and
• dánapáramatthapáramí in giving one's life, this last being the most excellent.

In the case of Gotama Buddha, examples of births in which the ten párami were practised to the highest degree are as follows: the Ekarája, Khantivádí, Cúlla-Sankhapála, Mahájanaka, Mahásutasoma, Múgapakkha, Lomahamsa, Sattubhattaka, Sasa, and Sutasoma Játakas (BuA. 50; J.i.44f).

He also develops the four Buddhabhúmi (catasso buddhabhúmiyo) - 

• ussáha,
• ummagga,
• avatthána and
• hitacariyá - 

explained respectively as zealousness (viriya), wisdom (paññá), resolution (adhitthána) and compassion (mettábhávaná).

He cultivates the six ajjhásayas which conduce to the maturing of Enlightenment (bodhiparipákiyá samvattanti), these six being:

• nekkhammajjhásaya,
• pavivekajjhásaya,
• alobhajjhásaya,
• adosajjhásaya,
• amohajjhásaya and
• nissaravajjhásaya. SNA.i.50

A Bodhisatta, during his career, escapes from being born in eighteen inauspicious states (atthárasa abhabbatthánáni). He is never born blind, deaf, insane, slobbery (elamúga) or crippled, or among savages (milakkkesu), in the womb of a slave, or as a heretic. He never changes his sex, is never guilty of any of the five ánantarikakammas, and never becomes a leper. If born as an animal, he never becomes less than a quail or more than an elephant. He is never born either among various classes of petas nor among the Kálakañjakas, neither in Avíci nor in the lokantaraka nirayas, neither as Mára, nor in worlds where there is no perception (asaññibhava), nor in the Suddhávásas, nor in the Arúpa worlds, nor ever in another Cakkavála. SNA.i.50 f.

Besides practising the (thirty) párami, all Bodhisattas must make the five great sacrifices (mahápariccágá) -  giving up

• wife,
• children,
• kingdom,
• life and
• limb (J.vi.552)  

and must fulfil the three kinds of conduct (cariyá)

• ñátatthacariyá,
• lokatthacariyá and
• buddhiatthacariyá  

and the seven mahádanas as practised by Vessantara, which caused the earth to quake seven times. DA.ii.427; DhA.iii.441; the BuA. (116 f.) gives a story about Mangala Buddha which corresponds to that of Vessantara in regard to Gotama Buddha. See Kharadáthika.

The length of a Bodhisatta's career varies; some practice the páramí for at least four asankheyyas and one hundred thousand kappas, others for at least eight asankheyyas and one hundred thousand kappas, and yet others for sixteen asankheyyas and one hundred thousand kappas. The first of these periods is the very least that is required and is intended for those who excel in wisdom (paññá). The middle is for those who excel in faith (saddhá); and the last and highest for those whose chief feature is perseverance (viriya) (SNA.i.47 f).

In their penultimate life all Bodhisattas are born in Tusita (see Buddha), where life lasts for fifty seven crores and six million years, but most Bodhisattas leave Tusita before completing their life span. Vipassí, e.g., was among the exceptions (DA.ii.427).

As the time for the announcement of their last birth approaches, all is excitement because of various signs appearing in the ten thousand world systems. The devas of all the worlds assemble in Tusita and request the Bodhisatta to seek birth as a human being, that he may become the Buddha. The Bodhisatta withholds his reply until he has made the Five Great Investigations (pañcamahávilokaná) regarding time, continent, place of birth, his mother and the life span left to her. Buddhas do not appear in the world when men live to more than one hundred thousand years or to less than one hundred. They are born only in Jambudípa and in the Majjhimadesa, and only of a khattiya or brahmin clan. The Bodhisatta's mother in his last birth must not be passionate or given to drink; she should have practised the párami for one hundred thousand kappas, have kept the precepts inviolate from birth, and should not be destined to live more than ten months and seven days after the conception of the Bodhisatta.

Having satisfied himself as to these particulars, the Bodhisatta goes with the other devas to Nandanavana in Tusita, where he announces his departure from their midst and disappears from among them while playing. On the day of his conception, the Bodhisatta's mother takes the vows of fasting and celibacy at the conclusion of a great festival, and when she has retired to rest, she dreams that the Four Regent Gods take her with her bed, bathe her in the Anotatta Lake, clad her in divine garments, and place her in a golden palace surrounded by all kinds of luxury. As she lies there the Bodhisatta in the form of a white elephant enters her womb through her right side. The earth trembles and all the ten thousand world systems are filled with radiance. Immediately the Four Regent Gods assume guard over mother and child. Throughout the period of pregnancy, which lasts for ten months; exactly, the mother remains free from ailment and sees the child in her womb sitting crossed legged (like a preacher on a dais, says the Commentary DA.ii.436). At the end of the ten months; she gives birth to the child, standing in a grove, never indoors. Suddhávása brahmins, free from all passion, first receive the child in a golden net, and from them the Four Regent Gods take him on an antelope skin and present him to his mother. Though the Bodhisatta is born free of the mucous otherwise present at birth, two showers of water -  one hot, the other cold -  fall from the sky and bathe mother and child. The child then takes seven strides to the north, standing firmly on his feet, looks on all sides, and seeing no one anywhere to equal him, announces his supremacy over the whole world and the fact that this is his last birth. (Gotama Buddha as the Bodhisatta, spoke, in three different births, as soon as born -  as Mahosadha, as Vessantara, and in his last birth, J.i.53).

Seven days after birth his mother dies. She dies because she must bear no other being. The Bodhisatta's time of conception is so calculated that the mother's destined life span completes itself seven days after his birth. From the Commentary (DA.ii.437; UdA.278) account it would appear that the age of the Bodhisatta's mother at the time of his birth is between fifty and sixty (majjhimavayassa pana dve kotthásá atikkamma tatiyekottháse).

The Bodhisatta's last birth is attended by various miracles. The Commentaries see, in the various incidents connected with the Bodhisatta's last birth, signs of various features, which came, later, to be associated with the Buddha and his doctrine; for details see DA.ii.439ff.

Soothsayers, being summoned, see on the child's body the thirty two marks of a Great Man (mahápurisa), (for details of these see D.ii.17ff.; M.ii.136f. The reasons for these marks are given at D.iii.145ff ) and declare that the child will become either a Cakkavatti or a Buddha. His father, desiring that his child shall be a Cakkavatti rather than a Buddha, brings him up in great luxury, hiding from him all the sin and ugliness of the world. But the destiny of a Bodhisatta asserts itself, and he becomes aware of the presence in the world of old age, disease, death and the freedom of mind to be found in the life of a Recluse. In the case of some Bodhisattas (e.g., Vipassí) these four signs (nimittáni as they are called) are seen by them at different times, but in the case of others on one and the same day (DA.ii.457).

Urged by the desire to discover the cause of suffering in the world and the way out of it, the Bodhisatta leaves the world on the day of his son's birth.

• Some Bodhisattas leave the world riding on an elephant (e.g., Dípankara, Sumana, Sumedha, Phustsa, Sikhí and Konágamana),
• some on a chariot (e.g., Kondañña, Revata, Paduma, Piyadassí, and Kakusandha),
• some on a horse (e.g., Mangala, Sujáta, Atthadassí, Tissa, Gotama), and
• some in a palanquin (e.g., Anomadassí, Siddhattha and Vessabhú).
• Some, like Nárada, go on foot,
• while Sobhita, Dhammadassí and Kassapa travelled in the palaces of their lay life.

Having left the world, the Bodhisatta practises the austerities, the period of such practices varying.

• In the case of Dípankara, Kondañña, Sumana, Anomadassí, Sujáta, Siddhattha and Kakusandha it was ten months;
• for Mangala, Sumedha, Tissa and Sikhí it was eight;
• for Revata seven;
• for Piyadassí, Phussa, Vessabhú and Konágamana six;
• for Sobhita four;
• for Paduma, Atthadassí and Vipassí two weeks;
• for Nárada, Padumuttara, Dhammadassí and Kassapa one week;
• and for Gotama six years (for the reason for this great length in the last case, see Gotama).

On the day the Bodhisatta attains to Buddhahood, he receives a meal of milk rice (páyása) from a woman and a gift of kusagrass, generally from an Ájívíka, which he spreads under the Bodhi-tree (the Bodhi tree is different for each Bodhisatta) for his seat. The size of this seat varies;

• the seats of Dípankara, Revata, Piyadassí, Atthadassí, Dhammadassí and Vipassí were fifty-three hands in length;
• those of Kondañña, Mangala, Nárada and Sumedha fifty seven hands;
• that of Sumana sixty hands;
• those of Sobhita, Anomadassí, Paduma, Padumuttara and Phussa thirty eight;
• of Sujáta thirty two;
• of Kakusandha twenty six;
• of Konágamana twenty;
• of Kassapa fifteen;
• of Gotama fourteen (BuA. 247).

Before the Enlightenment the Bodhisatta has five great dreams:

• (1) that the world is his couch with the Himálaya as his pillow, his left hand resting on the eastern sea, his right on the western, and his feet on the southern;
• (2) that a blade of tiriyá(kusa) grass growing from his navel touches the clouds;
• (3) that white worms with black heads creep up from his feet, covering his knees;
• (4) that four birds of varied hues from the four quarters of the world fall at his feet and become white;
• (5) that he walks to and fro on a heap of dung, by which he remains unsoiled.

For the explanations of these dreams see A.iii.240f.; these dreams are referred to at J.i.69.

The next day the Bodhisatta sits cross legged on his seat facing the east, determined not to rise till he has attained his goal. The gods of all the worlds assemble to do him honour, but Mára (q.v.) comes with his mighty hosts and the gods flee. All day, the fight continues between Mára and the Bodhisatta; the párami alone are present to lend their aid to the Bodhisatta, and when the moment comes, the Goddess of the Earth bears witness to his great sacrifices, while Mára and his armies retire discomfited at the hour of sunset, the gods then returning and singing a paean of victory. Meanwhile the Bodhisatta spends the night in deep concentration; during the first watch he requires knowledge of past lives, during the second watch he develops the divine eye, while during the last watch he ponders over and comprehends the Paticca-samuppáda doctrine. Backwards and forwards his mind travels over the chain of causation and twelve times the earth trembles. With sunrise, omniscience dawns on him, and he becomes the Supremely Awakened Buddha, uttering his udáná of victory, while the whole world rejoices with him.

For the Paticca-Samuppada see D.ii.31ff.; for the other details see J.i.56ff., where the story of Gotama is given. DA.ii.462ff gives similar details regarding Vipassí; BuA.248 says it is the same for all Bodhisattas.

The above is a brief account, as given in the books, of certain features common to all Bodhisattas. In addition to these, particulars of the personal career of the Bodhisatta who became Gotama, are found, chiefly in the Buddhavamsa and the Játakatthakathá. It has already been stated that each Bodhisatta receives the vyákarana from every Buddha whom he meets, and Gotama was no exception.

• He received his first vyákarana as the ascetic Sumedha, from Dípankara;
• and then, as a cakkavatti, from Kondañña;
• as the brahmin Suruci, from Mangala;
• as the Nága king Atula, from Sumana;
• as the brahmin Atideva, from Revata;
• as the brahmin Ajita, from Sobhita;
• as a yakkha chief, from Anomadassí;
• as a lion, from Paduma;
• as an ascetic (isi) from Nárada;
• as a governor (Maháratthiya) Jatila, from Padumuttara;
• as the youth Uttara, from Sumedha;
• as a Cakkavatti, from Sujáta;
• as the youth Kassapa, from Piyadassí;
• as the ascetic Susíma, from Atthadassí;
• as Sakka, from Dhammadassí;
• as the ascetic Mangala, from Siddhattha;
• as Sujáta, from Tissa;
• as King Vijitáví, from Phussa;
• as the Nága king Atula, from Vipassí;
• as King Arindama, from Sikhí;
• as King Sudassana, from Vessabhú;
• as King Khema, from Kakusandha;
• as King Pabbata, from Konágamana;
• and as the youth Jotipála, from Kassapa.

The Játakatthakathá gives particulars of other births of the Bodhisatta (to the births given below and taken from the Játakatthakathá should be added those given in the Pubbapilotikhanda of the Apadána i.299ff.; also UdA, and given Gotama )   e.g., as

• Akitti,
• Ajjuna,
• Atthisena,
• Anitthigandha,
• Ayoghara,
• Araka,
• Arindama,
• Alínacitta,
• Alínasattu,
• Asadisa,
• Ádásamukha,
• Udaya,
• Udayabhadda,
• Katthaváhana,
• Kanhadípáyana,
• Kanhapandita,
• Kapila,
• Kappa,
• Kassapa,
• Kárandiya,
• Kálingabháradvája,
• Kunála,
• Kundakumára,
• Kuddálaka,
• Kusa,
• Komáyaputta,
• Khadiravaniya,
• Guttila,
• Ghata,
• Canda,
• Candakumára,
• Campeyya,
• Cittapandita,
• Cullaka setthi,
• Culladhanuggaha,
• Chaddanta,
• Chalangakumára,
• Janasandha.
• Junha,
• Jotipála (= Sarabhanga),
• Takkapandita,
• Takkáriya,
• Tirítavaccha,
• Temiya (=Múgapakkha),
• Díghávu,
• Duyyodhana,
• Dhanañjaya,
• Dhamma,
• Dhammaddhaja,
• Dhammapála (prince and brahmin),
• Nárada,
• Nigrodha,
• Nimi,
• Pañcálacanda,
• Pañcávudha,
• Pandita,
• Padumakumára,
• Baka,
• Bodhikumára,
• Brahmadatta (in several births),
• Bhaddasála,
• Bharata,
• Bhallátiya,
• Bhúridatta,
• Bhojanasuddhika,
• Makhádeva,
• Magha,
• Mandhátá,
• Mahákañcana,
• Mahájanaka,
• Mahádhana,
• Mahábodhi (= Bodhi),
• Mahásílava,
• Mahásudassana,
• Mahimsása,
• Mahosadha,
• Mátanga,
• Múgapakkha (= Temiya,)
• Yuvañjaya,
• Rakkhita,
• Ráma,
• Lomasakassapa,
• Vacchanakha,
• Vidhura,
• Visayha,
• Vessantara,
• Sankicca,
• Sankha,
• Santusita,
• Sambhava,
• Sarabhanga,
• Sádhína,
• Siri,
• Suciparivára,
• Sujáta,
• Sutana,
• Sutasoma,
• Suppáraka,
• Suvannasáma,
• Susíma,
• Senaka,
• Seruva,
• Sona,
• Soma,
• Somadatta,
• Somanassa,
• Hatthipála and
• Hárita.

In these and other births the Bodhisatta occupied various stations in life, such as that of an

• acrobat (Dubbaca Játaka);
• ájívaka (Lomahamsa Játaka);
• ascetic (numerous births);
• barber (Illísa Játaka);
• caravan leader (Kimpakka and Mahávánija Játakas);
• carpenter (Samuddavánija Játaka);
• chaplain (various births);
• conch blower (Sankhadhamana Játaka);
• councillor (Kacchapa, Kaláyamutthi, Kukku, Giridanta, Dhúmakári, Pabbatúpatthara, Pádañjali, Putabhatta, Válodaka Játakas);
• courtier (Báhayi, Sálittaka, etc., Játakas);
• dice player (Litta Játaka);
• drummer (Bheriváda Játaka);
• elephant trainer (Sangámávacara Játaka);
• farmer (Kañcanakkhandha, Kummásapinda, Síhacamma, Suvannakakkata Játakas);
• forester (Khurappa Játaka);
• gardener (Kuddálaka Játaka);
• goldsmith (Kunála Játaka);
• hawker (Seriva Játaka);
• horse dealer (Kundakakucchisindhava Játaka);
• householder (Gahapati and Jágara Játaka, also as Kundaka, Sutana and Hárita);
• judge (Kútavánija, Rathalatthi Játakas);
• king (numerous births, e.g. Arindama, Ádasamukha, etc.);
• mariner (Suppáraka Játaka);
• merchant (several births, e.g. as Pandita, etc.);
• minisiter (numerous births, e.g. as Senaka, Vidhura);
• musician (Guttila); physician (Káma, and Visavanta Játakas);
• potter, (Kacchapa, Kumbhakára Játakas);
• robber (the scholiast, J.ii.389, explains that when a Bodhisatta is born as a wicked man it is due to a fault in his horoscope ) (Kanavera, Satapatta Játakas);
• smith (Súnci Játaka);
• squire (e.g., Nanda Játaka);
• stonecutter (Babbu Játaka);
• teacher (numerous births, e.g. Anabhirati, Durájána, Losaka Játakas);
• treasurer (e.g. as Cullaka, Visayha, Sankha and Suciparivára);
• tumbler (Ucchitthabhatta Játaka); and
• valuer (Tandulanáli Játaka).

The Bodhisatta was born

• as a candála in several births (e.g., as Citta and Mátanga);
• in several instances as Sakka, (e.g.in the Kámaníta, Kelisíla, Mahápanáda and Vaka Játakas;).
• He was born several times in the deva world (e.g. as Dhamma and Bhaddasála, also in the Kakkáru, Kámavilápa and Mittavinda Játakas.)
• He was a Brahmá of the Ábhassara world (Candábha and Janasodhana Játakas);
• and a Mahábrahmá (Parosahassa and Mahánárada Kassapa), in the latter his name was Nárada.
• He was an air sprite (Puppharatta Játaka) and a mountain sprite (e.g. Káka and Samudda Játakas);
• a treesprite in numerous births (e.g. Áyácitabhatta, Baka, Matakabhatta, Rukkhadhamma Játakas);
• and a forest sprite (Kandina and Gúthapána Játakas).

Many Játakas mention the birth of the Bodhisatta among animals -  e.g.,

• as buffalo (Mahisia Játaka);
• bull (as Ayyakálaka, Nandivisála, Mahálohita, Sárambha);
• cock (in the two Kukkuta Játakas, Nos. 383, 448);
• crow (as Víraka and Supatta and in Káka Játaka);
• dog (Kukkura Játaka);
• elephant (e.g., Chaddanta and Sílava Játakas;);
• fish (Mitacintí);
• frog (Haritamáta Játaka);
• garuda (e.g., Sussondi Játaka);
• goose (e.g. Ulúka, Cakkaváka, Neru, Palása Játakas);
• hare (Sasa Játaka);
• horse (Ájañña, Bhogájáníya Játakas and as Vátaggasindhava);
• iguana (Godha Játaka);
• jackal (Sigála Játakas);
• kinnara (as Canda);
• lion (e.g., Guna, Sigála Játaka (No.152), Súkara Játakas);
• mallard (Nacca Játaka);
• monkey (Kapi, Nalapána, Mahákapi, Sumsumára Játakas and as Nandyia);
• parrot (e.g. as Jambuka, Pupphaka, Potthapáda, and Rádha);
• peacock (Nos. 42, 375, Mora, Báveru, and Mahámora Játakas);
• pig (Mahátundila Játakas);
• pigeon (Kapota, Káka No.395, Romaka, Lola Játakas);
• quail (the three Vattaka, and Sammodamána Játakas);
• rat (Aggika and Bilára Játakas);
• snake – nága   (as Cámpeyya, Bhuridatta, Mahádaddara, Sankhapála);
• vulture (as Aparanna and in the three Gijjha Játakas, Nos. 164, 399, 427), and
• woodpecker (as Khadiravaniya and in Javasakuna Játaka).

The Bodhisatta was born several times in the purgatories (Ap.i.299 ff). The wishes of Bodhisattas are generally fulfilled (J.iii.283; v.282, 291; vi. 401, 405, etc.), chiefly because of their great wisdom (J.iii.282) and zeal (J.iii.425). The wisdom of a Bodhistatta is greater than that of a Pacceka Buddha (J.iv.341).

See also Buddha.