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| Maitreya Buddha of the future is currently a transcendent bodhisattva who will be the universal Teaching-Buddha on Earth in a future age (500px/Devon Pucel/flickr.com) |
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| Hindu-Mahayana fuse: Maitreya Kwan Yin (YG Low/flickr) |
According to the traditional belief a bodhisattva (Pāli bodhisatta), before reaching his final rebirth as and becoming a buddha on the human plane (manusya loka), is reborn and lives in the contented deva world of Tusita-heaven, a celestial space world of bliss (cf. A. IV, 127; VIII, 70).
In the Pāli canon -- a collection in the ancient exclusively Buddhist language related to Sanskrit, from the word pali, which means "text" -- and its commentaries, the designation "Bodhisatta" is given
only to Prince Siddhartha before his enlightenment and as a reference to his former births.
The Buddha himself uses this term when speaking of his life prior to
enlightenment (e.g., MN 4, MN 26).
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| On the shores of samsara (Intercept) |
Bodhisattahood is neither mentioned nor recommended as an "ideal" higher than
or alternative to full enlightenment (arhatship) nor is there any record in the Pāli scriptures of
a disciple declaring it as his aspiration other than the Bodhisatta doing so long ago -- aeons ago -- in front of Kassapa Buddha, who then foresaw his future and firmly declared his eventual success if he persisted.
See bodhi for a fuller discussion of enlightenment.
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