Which statement about the Bodhisattva ideal is correct?

Which statement about the Bodhisattva ideal is correct?

• A. A Bodhisattva seeks immediate Nirvana without helping others
• B. A Bodhisattva rejects Nirvana entirely
• C. A Bodhisattva helps others find enlightenment and delays their own Nirvana
• D. A Bodhisattva seeks power and fame within the sangha

Answer: (C)

The Bodhisattva ideal centers on awakening for the sake of all beings and choosing to postpone final Nirvana in order to help others reach enlightenment. In Mahayana, a Bodhisattva commits to the goal of Buddhahood but vows to delay entering Nirvana until every being is liberated, using compassion and skillful means to guide others. This is why the statement that a Bodhisattva helps others find enlightenment and delays their own Nirvana is the best description: it captures the selfless motivation and the practical refrain from final liberation until all are helped. The other ideas miss the mark because pursuing immediate Nirvana without assisting others reflects an individual liberation focus typical of the Arhat path, rather than the Bodhisattva vow. Rejecting Nirvana entirely contradicts the Bodhisattva’s aim to become a Buddha for the sake of all beings. Seeking power and fame within the sangha runs against the humility and altruistic intent that define the Bodhisattva ideal.

The Bodhisattva ideal centers on awakening for the sake of all beings and choosing to postpone final Nirvana in order to help others reach enlightenment. In Mahayana, a Bodhisattva commits to the goal of Buddhahood but vows to delay entering Nirvana until every being is liberated, using compassion and skillful means to guide others. This is why the statement that a Bodhisattva helps others find enlightenment and delays their own Nirvana is the best description: it captures the selfless motivation and the practical refrain from final liberation until all are helped.

The other ideas miss the mark because pursuing immediate Nirvana without assisting others reflects an individual liberation focus typical of the Arhat path, rather than the Bodhisattva vow. Rejecting Nirvana entirely contradicts the Bodhisattva’s aim to become a Buddha for the sake of all beings. Seeking power and fame within the sangha runs against the humility and altruistic intent that define the Bodhisattva ideal.