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The Evolution of the Bodhisattva Ideal: A Comparative Philological and Doctrinal Analysis of the Pāli Canon and Early Mahāyāna Literature
This study examines the development and transformation of the bodhisattva concept through comparative analysis of canonical Pāli texts and early Mahāyāna literature. Drawing upon philological evidence from the Jātaka tales, Buddhavaṃsa, and foundational Mahāyāna sūtras including the Lotus Sūtra and Perfection of Wisdom literature, this research traces the evolution from the historical Buddha's preenlightenment journey to the fully developed bodhisattva doctrine. The investigation employs textual criticism and doctrinal comparison to demonstrate how the bodhisattva ideal underwent significant conceptual expansion, shifting from describing the Buddha’s past lives to establishing a universal path of compassionate awakening. Findings reveal that while the Pāli tradition presents the bodhisattva path as exceptional and primarily retrospective, early Mahāyāna sources reconceptualize it as the supreme spiritual ideal accessible to all practitioners. This transformation reflects broader soteriological developments within Buddhist thought, particularly regarding the tension between individual liberation and universal salvation. The study contributes to understanding how fundamental Buddhist concepts evolved across different textual traditions and geographical contexts.
Keywords: bodhisattva, Pāli Canon, Mahāyāna Buddhism, comparative Buddhism, Buddhist soteriology.
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