bodhisattva
noun
bo·dhi·satt·va ˌbō-di-ˈsət-və 
-ˈsät-
-ˈsät- variants or boddhisattva
: a being that compassionately refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others and is worshipped as a deity in Mahayana Buddhism
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The actress plays a character named Guanyin, who helps her nephew navigate the challenges of American high school while maintaining her secret identity as the all-powerful Buddhist bodhisattva of Compassion. 
Clark Collis, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2022 Such lavish adornment identifies him as a bodhisattva, a being committed to helping others reach spiritual enlightenment. Lee Lawrence, WSJ, 31 Jan. 2020 Gwaneum, also known as Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit, is the most popular bodhisattva in East Asia. Anna Diamond, Smithsonian, 18 Oct. 2019 Hike through lush cedar forests, passing old tea houses which provided rest to pilgrims until the early 20th century, and small jizo bodhisattva statues placed by locals to protect travelers. National Geographic, 12 June 2019 The bearded bikers in black leather knelt gently in the shrines and gazed up at images of Avalokiteshvara, a bodhisattva personifying infinite compassion and mercy. Lawrence Osborne, Town & Country, 30 Mar. 2015 While other bodhisattvas have either lived in the past or are expected in the future, Guanyin exists in the here and now. Lee Lawrence, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2017 Reinstalled in 2016 after undergoing conservation, the sculpture portrays the bodhisattva of compassion, an enlightened being known as Avalokitesvara in India, where Buddhism originated, and in China as Guanyin. Lee Lawrence, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2017 Lokeshvara, the 10-armed bodhisattva of compassion, was the answer, Mace said. Steven Litt, cleveland.com, 15 Oct. 2017 See More
Clark Collis, EW.com, 12 Apr. 2022 Such lavish adornment identifies him as a bodhisattva, a being committed to helping others reach spiritual enlightenment. Lee Lawrence, WSJ, 31 Jan. 2020 Gwaneum, also known as Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit, is the most popular bodhisattva in East Asia. Anna Diamond, Smithsonian, 18 Oct. 2019 Hike through lush cedar forests, passing old tea houses which provided rest to pilgrims until the early 20th century, and small jizo bodhisattva statues placed by locals to protect travelers. National Geographic, 12 June 2019 The bearded bikers in black leather knelt gently in the shrines and gazed up at images of Avalokiteshvara, a bodhisattva personifying infinite compassion and mercy. Lawrence Osborne, Town & Country, 30 Mar. 2015 While other bodhisattvas have either lived in the past or are expected in the future, Guanyin exists in the here and now. Lee Lawrence, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2017 Reinstalled in 2016 after undergoing conservation, the sculpture portrays the bodhisattva of compassion, an enlightened being known as Avalokitesvara in India, where Buddhism originated, and in China as Guanyin. Lee Lawrence, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2017 Lokeshvara, the 10-armed bodhisattva of compassion, was the answer, Mace said. Steven Litt, cleveland.com, 15 Oct. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Sanskrit bodhisattva one whose essence is enlightenment, from bodhi enlightenment + sattva being — more at bid entry 1
First Known Use
1801, in the meaning defined above