BODHISATTVAS. Literally " he whose essence is becoming enlightenment," a term used in Buddhism. A term applied to a Buddha at a certain stage in his development. Thus, when Gautama became incarnate and was born of Maya, he was a Bodhisattva. Now " when a Bodhisattva undertakes the task of a Buddha, then his goal is Nirvana : with that, naturally, all earthly relation comes to an end." But, " many of those lofty beings, who are in a position to tread the last way of life, are possessed by a strong craving to aid their fellow beings around them, to lead them into the true way of knowledge, and this craving determines them to willingly forego the Buddhaship which they might attain, in order to live for countless years in the state of a Bodhisattva engaged in tasks of ministry to lower things. The Bodhisattva meanwhile exists in one of the many heavens, possesses divine powers, is filled with kindly intentions towards the suffering world below him, and is ready to help those who appeal to him." The Bod
hisattva Avalokita is considered to be reincarnate regu larly in the Dalai Lama of Lhassa. In Tibetan temples are to be seen on wall-paintings representations of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and saints. The Bodhisattva " is sumptuously adorned after the manner of an Indian Prince. The head is covered with a crown, the orna ments coming down over the ears; he wears bracelets, and has chains on his breast; precious stones, either real or imitation, are worn in profusion. The hair is not shaved off, but bound in a knot on the top of the bead. Some Bodhisattvas show several heads or arms. Avalo kita especially is often represented with eleven heads, with four or many more (" thousand ") arms. The saints, on the other hand, generally wear the normal monk's habit and a monk's cap." See H. Hackman.