With reference to the religious history of India, consider the followi

With reference to the religious history of India, consider the following statements:

1. The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Hinayana sect of Buddhism.
2. Bodhisattva is a compassionate one on his way to enlightenment.
3. Bodhisattva delays achieving his own salvation to help all sentient beings on their path to it.

1 only

2 and 3 only

2 only

1, 2 and 3

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC IAS – 2016

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Statements 2 and 3 are correct descriptions of the Bodhisattva concept, which is central to Mahayana Buddhism. A Bodhisattva is indeed a compassionate being who has attained a high level of enlightenment but chooses to delay their own final Nirvana (salvation) to help all other sentient beings achieve liberation. Statement 1 is incorrect; the concept of Bodhisattva is central to Mahayana Buddhism, while Hinayana (Theravada) focuses on the path to becoming an Arhat, an individual who achieves personal enlightenment and liberation.

The Bodhisattva ideal, characterized by compassion and the vow to save all beings, is a cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhism.

In Mahayana Buddhism, the path of the Bodhisattva is seen as superior to that of the Arhat, emphasizing universal salvation and the interconnectedness of all beings. Key Bodhisattva vows include the resolve to attain perfect enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings and to liberate all beings from suffering.

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