You are currently logged-out. You can log-in or create an account to see more talks, save favorites, and more.
Bodhisattva Talks

In Buddhism, a bodhisattva (English: BOH-dee-SUT-və; Sanskrit: बोधिसत्त्व, romanized: bodhisattva; Pali: बोधिसत्त, romanized: bodhisatta) or bodhisatva is a person who is on the path towards bodhi ('awakening') or Buddhahood.
In the Early Buddhist schools, as well as modern Theravāda Buddhism, bodhisattva (or bodhisatta) refers to someone who has made a resolution to become a Buddha and has also received a confirmation or prediction from a living Buddha that this will come to pass.
In Mahāyāna Buddhism, a bodhisattva refers to anyone who has generated bodhicitta, a spontaneous wish and compassionate mind to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. Mahayana bodhisattvas are spiritually heroic persons that work to attain awakening and are driven by a great compassion (mahākaruṇā). These beings are exemplified by important spiritual qualities such as the "four divine abodes" (brahmavihāras) of loving-kindness (maitrī), compassion (karuṇā), empathetic joy (muditā) and equanimity (upekṣā), as well as the various bodhisattva "perfections" (pāramitās) which include prajñāpāramitā ("transcendent knowledge" or "perfection of wisdom") and skillful means (upāya).
In Theravāda Buddhism, the bodhisattva is mainly seen as an exceptional and rare individual. Only a few select individuals are ultimately able to become bodhisattvas, such as Maitreya. Mahāyāna Buddhism generally understands the bodhisattva path as being open to everyone, and Mahāyāna Buddhists encourage all individuals to become bodhisattvas. Spiritually advanced bodhisattvas such as Avalokiteshvara, Maitreya, and Manjushri are also widely venerated across the Mahāyāna Buddhist world and are believed to possess great magical power, which they employ to help all living beings.
Title | Speaker | |
---|---|---|
Fragrant Teaching and Incarnated BeingsSerial: TL-00794 ADZG Monday Night, Vimalakirti Sutra, Tenzo, Bodhisattva, Buddha, Bodhisattva, Time |
May 15 2023 Hybrid |
|
Buddha Fields, Zazen, and Quantum EntanglementSerial: TL-00793 ADZG Sunday Morning, Vimalakirti Sutra, Bendowa, Bodhisattva Vow, Buddha, Practice, Bodhisattva |
May 14 2023 Hybrid |
|
Inconceivably AwakeningSerial: TL-00792 ADZG Sunday Morning, Vimalakirti Sutra, Enlightenment, Awakening, Bodhisattva, Practice, Bodhisattva, Time... |
May 07 2023 Hybrid |
|
Inconceivable LiberationSerial: TL-00789 ADZG Sunday Morning, Vimalakirti Sutra, Sariputra, Liberation, Buddha, Bodhisattva |
Apr 09 2023 Hybrid |
|
Compassionate Paths to Buddhahood Buddha, Compassion, Bodhisattva |
Jan 13 2023 |
|
Selfless Giving in Zen Practice Buddha, Practice, Bodhisattva |
Dec 03 2022 |
|
Unity in the Way-Seeking MindSerial: RB-03071 Zen-Riffs Vow, Suffering, Bodhisattva |
Sep 17 2020 Johanneshof |
|
Beyond Knowing: Zen's Attentional PathSerial: RB-03064 Zen-Riffs Bodhisattva, Practice, difficulty |
Aug 12 2020 Johanneshof |
|
Vows of Selfless Spiritual Service Vow, Practice, Bodhisattva |
Mar 15 2020 |
|
March 15th, 2020, Serial No. 04524 Vow, Practice, Bodhisattva |
Mar 15 2020 |
|
The Womb of the Tathagata #3: Our Buddha Nature PreceptsVerifying the truth of the teachings through words and phrases Precepts, Bodhisattva, Suffering, Consciousness |
Jun 09 2018 PM No Abode Hermitage |
|
The Womb of the Tathagata #3: Our Buddha Nature PreceptsOrigins of the Bodhisattva precepts; development and commentaries; the reasons for Buddhas appearing in this world. Precepts, Buddha Nature, Transmission, Heart Sutra, Precepts, Bodhisattva,... |
Jun 09 2018 AM No Abode Hermitage |
|
March 11th, 2018, Serial No. 04422 Compassion, Bodhisattva, Perfect Wisdom |
Mar 11 2018 |
|
Bodhidharma Listening to the Cries of the WorldAvalokiteshvara clearly seeing the emptiness of five skandhas; listening to the cries of the world, the suffering of beings. Compassion, Suffering, Emptiness, Buddha, Suffering, Bodhisattva |
Mar 03 2018 PM No Abode Hermitage |
|
March 3rd, 2018, Serial No. 04419 Consciousness, Bodhidharma, Bodhisattva |
Mar 03 2018 |
|
March 3rd, 2018, Serial No. 04420 Buddha, Bodhisattva, Suffering |
Mar 03 2018 |
|
October 8th, 2016, Serial No. 04313 Buddha, Samadhi, Bodhisattva |
Oct 08 2016 |
|
The Pivotal Activity of All the BuddhasCompassion, Practice Period, Practice, Compassion, Bodhisattva |
Sep 17 2016 AM No Abode Hermitage |
|
The Pivotal Activity of All the BuddhasCompassion, Bodhisattva, Liberation, Bodhisattva, Practice, Buddha |
Sep 17 2016 PM No Abode Hermitage |
|
September 17th, 2016, Serial No. 04309 Practice, Compassion, Bodhisattva |
Sep 17 2016 |
|
September 17th, 2016, Serial No. 04310 Bodhisattva, Buddha, Practice |
Sep 17 2016 |
|
Walking the Bodhisattva Path Together Bodhisattva, Lay, Practice |
Sep 15 2016 |
|
September 14th, 2016, Serial No. 04307 Practice, Compassion, Bodhisattva |
Sep 14 2016 |
|
Liberty and Justice for All BeingsSerial: TL-00427 ADZG Sunday Morning, American, Bodhisattva, Time |
Jul 03 2016 ADZG Temple |
|
Sit to Become Free of SittingComplete Perfect Enlightenment, Precepts, Bodhisattva, Practice, Bodhisattva,... |
Feb 06 2016 PM No Abode Hermitage |
|
September 19th, 2015, Serial No. 04224 Effort, Bodhisattva, Practice |
Sep 19 2015 |
|
Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi, Part 6: Not Abiding In RenunciationRenunciation, Suzuki Roshi, Liberation, Jewel Mirror Samadhi, Renunciation,... |
Aug 08 2015 AM No Abode Hermitage |
|
Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi, Part 5: Wholeheartedly Wondering Who You AreCompassion, Jewel Mirror Samadhi, true dharma, Bodhisattva, Doubt |
Jul 11 2015 PM No Abode Hermitage |
|
Being Present Beyond AttainmentSerial: RB-03516 Practice-Period_Talks Zazen, Suzuki Roshi, Bodhisattva |
2015 Johanneshof |
|
December 7th, 2014, Serial No. 04184 Suffering, Bodhisattva, Practice |
Dec 07 2014 |
|
Zen Mindfulness: Bridging Philosophy and PsychotherapySerial: RB-02280 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Koan, Bodhisattva, Buddha |
Sep 2014 Kassel |
|
Cultivating Inner Attention Through PracticeSerial: RB-02584 Seminar_Buddha-Fields Consciousness, Bodhisattva, Zazen |
Jun 2014 Rastenberg |
|
April 12th, 2014, Serial No. 04125 Bodhisattva, Wisdom, Consciousness |
Apr 12 2014 |
|
January 19th, 2014, Serial No. 04100 Bodhisattva Way, Bodhisattva, Patience |
Jan 19 2014 |
|
Liberation from PassionLotus Sutra, Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva Way, Passions, Manjushri, Desire, Lotus Sutra... |
Dec 14 2013 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
|
Embodying Zen Through Mindful AwarenessSerial: RB-04166 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Time, Practice, Bodhisattva |
Aug 2013 Kassel |
|
February 2nd, 2013, Serial No. 04045 Ceremony, Complete Perfect Enlightenment, Bodhisattva |
Feb 02 2013 |
|
January 25th, 2013, Serial No. 04042 Bodhisattva, Precepts, Ceremony |
Jan 25 2013 |
|
October 14th, 2012, Serial No. 04002 Bodhisattva, Karmic Consciousness, Concentration |
Oct 14 2012 |
|
Unveiling Zen's Hidden TreasuresSerial: RB-02271 Sesshin Time, Sesshin, Bodhisattva |
Oct 2012 Johanneshof |
|
September 2nd, 2012, Serial No. 03994 Vow, Time, Bodhisattva |
Sep 02 2012 |
|
2012.07.30-serial.00141 Buddha, Practice, Bodhisattva |
Jul 30 2012 |
|
2012.07.29-serial.00139 Buddha, Vow, Bodhisattva |
Jul 29 2012 |
|
Bodhisattva CeremonySerial: BZ-02252 3 Pure Precepts, Saturday Lecture Bodhisattva, Repentance, Vow, Repentance, Evil, Precepts, Karma, Vow, Four Noble... |
Jul 07 2012 Berkeley Zen Center |
|
Transcending Self: Zens Path to LiberationSerial: RB-03975 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Practice, Bodhisattva, Consciousness |
Jun 2012 Rastenberg |
|
Zen's Dance with Language EdgesSerial: RB-03976 Seminar_Zen_and_Psychotherapy Practice, Bodhisattva, Practice Period |
Jun 2012 Rastenberg |
|
Awakening: Beyond Individuality TogetherSerial: RB-02851 Seminar_The_Susceptibility_of_a_Bodhisattva Bodhisattva, Interdependence, Time |
Jun 01 2012 Rastenberg |
|
Pathways of Mindful GenerositySerial: RB-02852 Seminar_The_Susceptibility_of_a_Bodhisattva Practice, Bodhisattva, Time |
Jun 01 2012 Rastenberg |
|
Mindful Bodhisattva: Body and PracticeSerial: RB-02849 Seminar_The_Susceptibility_of_a_Bodhisattva Practice, Bodhisattva, Buddha |
Jun 01 2012 Rastenberg |
|
Embodying Interconnected Stillness in PracticeSerial: RB-02847 Seminar_The_Susceptibility_of_a_Bodhisattva Practice, Time, Bodhisattva |
Jun 01 2012 Rastenberg |