Verified
Grammatical Analysis
Bodhisatta: [m.] A Buddha-to-be; One destined for Awakening. Formed by bodhi (awakening, supreme knowledge) + satta (being, attached to, destined for). (Sanskrit: Bodhisattva).
Orthodox Definition
In orthodox Theravāda, the term Bodhisatta has a highly specific, restricted usage. It refers exclusively to a being who has made a formal, unshakeable resolution (abhinīhāra) to become a Sammā-sambuddha in the future, and who has received a definitive prediction (viyākaraṇa) from a living Buddha that their goal will succeed.
Once this prediction is received, the being is considered a “Confirmed Bodhisatta” (Niyata Bodhisatta). From that moment on, they spend countless lifetimes fulfilling the Ten Perfections (Pāramī) to the absolute highest degree. The term is heavily used in the suttas when the Buddha describes his own unawakened past (e.g., “Monks, before my enlightenment, while I was still an unawakened Bodhisatta…”).
The Theravāda tradition recognizes the immense compassion of the Bodhisatta, but strictly maintains that the primary goal for all beings is Arahatship (following the current Buddha’s path), not the Bodhisatta path, which is reserved for an exceedingly rare few.
Quote
Pāramīpūraṇakāle pana sarāgasadosasamohasseva sato āgatāgatānaṃ yācakānaṃ alaṅkatapaṭiyattaṃ sīsaṃ kantitvā galalohitaṃ nīharitvā suañjitāni akkhīni uppāṭetvā kulavaṃsappadīpaṃ puttaṃ manāpacāriniṃ bhariyanti evamādīni dentassa aññāni ca khantivādisadisesu attabhāvesu chejjabhejjādīni pāpuṇantassa āgamanīyapaṭipadaṃ sandhāyetaṃ vuttaṃ.
However, this statement refers to the path leading to Buddhahood during the time of fulfilling the perfections, when, still being afflicted with lust, hatred, and delusion, the Bodhisatta would cut off his adorned and prepared head, extract blood from his throat, pluck out his well-anointed eyes, give away his son who was the light of his family lineage, his pleasing wife, and other such things to beggars who came, and endured various mutilations and dismemberments in existences similar to that of the ascetic Khantivādi.— Sāratthappakāsinī (Sagāthāvagga-aṭṭhakathā)
Textual References
- Canonical: Buddhavaṃsa – The foundational text detailing the ascetic Sumedha’s vow before Buddha Dīpaṅkara, establishing the Theravāda Bodhisatta paradigm.
- Canonical: Jātaka – The 547 past-life stories of Gotama Buddha demonstrating his progressive perfection of virtues.
- Commentary: Jātakatthavaṇṇanā – The traditional backdrop source; Sāratthappakāsinī (Sagāthāvagga-aṭṭhakathā) – Describing the Bodhisatta’s intense sacrifices during the path.