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A Buddhist’s goal, or destiny, is to attain Buddhahood. A Buddha is someone who is awake, or enlightened. They combine perfect understanding with perfect love and compassion. Below are three major paths to Buddhahood.

Bodhisattva (Mahayana Buddhism)

Mahayana Buddhists follow the Bodhisattva path. Mahayana means ‘great vehicle’, which refers to the idea of the Bodhisattva path as a ‘vehicle’ to Buddhahood.

A Bodhisattva has attained perfect morality, patience, energy, wisdom, meditation and generosity, which together are known as the Six Perfections. A Bodhisattva does not seek enlightenment for themselves, but seeks the end of all other beings’ suffering. They willingly stay on Earth to assist others.

The word in Sanskrit is a combination of ‘bodhi’ (meaning enlightenment) and ‘sattva’ (meaning essence). Therefore, a Bodhisattva is someone whose essence is enlightenment.

Manjushri is an important figure in Mahayana Buddhism. He is the Bodhisattva of wisdom and is widely represented in Buddhist art and literature. He is shown in images and statues holding a burning sword (representing enlightenment) and a lotus flower (representing wisdom). Buddhists can read the teachings of Manjushri and focus on him when they meditate.

Arhat (Theravada Buddhism)

When a person follows the Arhat path, they seek perfect understanding and perfect calm in their mind. An Arhat understands that pleasures can be a distraction. Therefore, an Arhat aims to cease craving, seek total inner contentment and follow the teachings of the Buddha.

The Arhat path is sometimes called the Hinayana, or the ‘lesser vehicle’. However, as ‘lesser’ has a negative meaning, it is usually called Theravada, or ‘teachings of the elders’. The word comes from the Sanskrit ‘arhat’ and the Pali ‘arahant’ meaning a ‘perfected person’ or ‘one who is worthy’.

Pure Land

Pure Land Buddhism follows Amida Buddha, also known as Amitabha Buddha. Amida, who features in the Mahayana Buddhist texts, was a king who attained enlightenment. He gave up his kingdom to create a pure land, or a land free from suffering. This land, known as Sukhavati or Land of Bliss, is a place where Pure Land Buddhists aim to be reborn.

Buddhists who follow this path read Amida’s teachings and focus on him as a role model. They also follow Buddhist teachings and practices in order to attain Buddhahood.