Bhadrapala (Bhadrapāla) A bodhisattva who is among the assembly described in chapters one and twenty of the Lotus Sutra.
bodhisattva A person who aspires to attain buddhahood and carries out various altruistic practices in order to achieve that goal. Compassion is the outstanding characteristic of the bodhisattva, who focuses not only on his or her own buddhahood, but on assisting others to attain theirs. The bodhisattva is particularly important in Mahayana Buddhism.
bodhi tree The pipal tree at Buddhagaya under which Shakyamuni attained enlightenment.
Brahma (Brahmā) Also called Mahabrahman (Mahābrahman). An Indian deity regarded as the personification of the fundamental universal principle. In Buddhism he was adopted as a protective deity. He lives in the first of the four meditation heavens in the world of form above Mount Sumeru and rules the saha world.
Brahma (Brahmā) heaven Another name for the first of the four meditation heavens in the world of form.
Brahma (Brahmā) king King of the Brahma heaven, a deity who has attained supremacy in a particular world. In the Lotus Sutra a great number of Brahma kings appear.
Brahman A member of the priestly class, the highest of the four classes in ancient Indian society.
brahma practice Religious practices of a pure nature.
brahma sound 1. A pure sound or pure voice. 2. The voice of a Brahma king.
buddha An “awakened one,” or one who has reached the highest level of enlightenment. In Mahayana Buddhism, the number of buddhas is infinite. Thus in the Lotus Sutra, the term “the Buddha” is used to refer specifically to Shakyamuni Buddha.
buddha way The state of enlightenment. See also way.