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GLOSSARY

Bodhisattva (Pusa)

In Chinese 'Bodhisattva' is usually referred to by the Chinese word pusa. In Buddhism a 'Bodhisattva' is a potential Buddha, or someone who has achieved perfect enlightenment and is entitled to enter directly into 'Nirvana', but who renounces this in order first to bring salvation to all suffering mankind. Such figures appear alone, or in pairs in support of a Buddha.

Unlike the Buddha, who is always a simple figure without adornment, Bodhisattvas are crowned and loaded with jewels. The four best-known Bodhisattvas are

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