Definitions HQ

The Bodhisattva (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the fool who has become wise by persisting in his folly.

Bodhisattva (n.) renounces ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠nirvana and so stands higher than the one who attains it; he sees a deep contradiction in a nirvana won by himself for himself.

Bodhisattva (n.) vows ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠to be born again and again until, over countless ages, even the grass and the dust have become Buddhas.

Bodhisattva (n.) goes ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠back into society and takes up its conventions without attachment — playing the social game instead of taking it seriously.

Bodhisattva (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠a joker, a "wild" card that can be played as any card in the pack: he plays his role instead of taking it seriously.

Bodhisattva (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠not expected to be celibate — nor is he likely to be a libertine, since he needs no sexual escape from the "problem" of life.

Bodhisattva (n.) teaches ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠by attraction, not commandment: his whole activity is dance, a vortex that draws others from then to now.

The Bodhisattva (n.) has ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠no need to escape from the round of birth and death, because he sees that it is Nirvana.

The Bodhisattva (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the saviour who vows to put off his own final withdrawal from the world until every living thing has been freed.