Re: [Rel - To^n Gia'o] Bodhisatva - Bodhidharma

[a1@bpworld.com]

Tha^n cha`o ca'c anh chi.,

Attached is a relevant quote from VN-Buddhism's archive.

Binh

------- Quoted Message -------
From: ANSON Binh <binh.anson@wrc.wa.gov.au>
To: "e-vn.buddhism" <vn-buddhism@saigon.com>
Subject: [vn-buddhism] Bodhisatva and Mahasatva : To wrap up.
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 16:16:00 +0800

vn-buddhism - Mesg from ANSON Binh <binh.anson@wrc.wa.gov.au>

G'day Dhamma friends,

Thanks for all interesting exhanges so far on the subject. Back to the
original questions poasted by Kie^.t, I'd like to offer my answer:

1. The original meaning:

	Bodhi: enlightenment, gia'c ta'nh
	Satva (satta, in Pali): being, hu+~u ti`nh
	Maha: great, dda.i

	Bodhisatva: bo^` dde^` ta't ddo?a, bo^` ta't (abbreviation),
enlightened being, gia'c hu+~u ti`nh
	Mahasatva: Ma ha ta't ddo?a, Ma ha ta't (abbreviation), great being,
dda.i hu+~u ti`nh

	The English translation of "satva" as "being" is not very clear.
"Satva" means the being in the six realms of Samsara (Co~i Ta Ba`):
human, deities, animals, hungry ghosts, asuras, and hellish beings.

2. Extended meaning:

2.1 In Theravada texts: Bodhisatta is used only to denote the Buddha
before enlightenment and in his previous lives.

2.2 In Mahayana texts: The Mahayanists extended the concept of
Bodhisatva into many meanings:

	(a) As with the Theravada, Bodhisatva is used to denote the Buddha
	    before enlightenment
	(b) enlightened being with the intention to help others to be
	    enlightened as well.
	(c) those who adopt the Mahayanist ideal and take the Bodhisatva 
	    vows
	(d) those who are generous, helpful, and compassionate

	In Mahayana texts, the terms "Bodhisatva Mahasatva" (Bo^` Ta't Ma
Ha Ta't) was also used to denote another class of Bodhisatva: the Great
Bodhisatva (Dda.i Bo^` Ta't), which were reserved for the much worshipped
bodhisatvas such as: Avalokitsevara (Qua'n The^' A^m), Manjusri (Va(n
Thu`), etc ... 

	By the way, where were the stories and beliefs of those Mahayana
idols (Avalokitsevara, Manjusri, Amitabha - A Di Dda`, ...) originally
from ? >From the Buddhist history books I read, it seems that they were
originally from the Near-East (the old Persia-Afghanistan-Pakistan
region). 

	Ons small note on the mantras in Buddhism: the practice of mantras
by Indian Buddhists started in around 200-400 AD, and Tantrayana (Ma^.t
To^ng) became popular in around 500-700 AD, when Buddhism was on the
decline in India, and Hinduism became prominent. 

With Metta,
Bi`nh Anson