Bodhisattvas are enlightened sentient beings who are aware of all sentient beings’ sufferings, feel sympathy for others’ plight, and act to give help to them.

Bodhisattvas are those who have faith in the Buddha’s teachings and seek to practise them, who then vow to liberate themselves and others, and who can even disregard themselves in order to save others.

Bodhisattvas can be either ordinary people or noble ones. The bodhisattva path consists of 52 stages. Bodhisattvas on any of the first 40 stages before the 10 grounds are ordinary beings, whereas those on any of the last 12 stages are noble ones.

-- Venerable Sheng Yen