35BONAVENTURE, StBODHISATTVA. A Sanskrit term that, in
Buddhism, refers to a being who is on
the way to becoming a Buddha. Various
traditions within Buddhism offer differ-
ent paths toward release from suffering
and enlightenment. The bodhisattva path
is one aimed at the highest form of
enlightenment (to be a Buddha) and
begins with the formation of a compas-
sionate intention to assist all sentient
beings. Traditionally, a vow was taken in
the presence of a Buddha to enter upon
the bodhisattva path. This path includes
basic moral purification, meditative
practices, and the development of various
disciplines until certain non-retrogressive
states are reached. Part of the purpose of
the path is to accumulate merit, which
can then be used to assist all sentient
beings. Bodhisattvas, then, are chiefly
characterized by compassion for all sen-
tient beings and wisdom to see into the
true nature of all reality. They are often
seen as compassionate savior figures,
particularly in the Mahayana tradition
(although they are present in earlier
forms of Buddhism as well). Important
examples are Maitreya (the Buddha to
come), Av a l o ki t e s v a ra (the bodhisattva
of compassion—in Tibetan Buddhism
the Dalai Lama is an incarnation of this
bodhisattva), and Manjusri (the bodhisat-
tva of wisdom).
BOEHME, JACOB (a.k.a. Jacob Behmen)
(1575–1624). A German mystic who
stressed the unity and primordial nature
of God. The deepest level of all reality
is God, who Boehme referred to as the
Abyss, or Ungrund. The trinity emerges
from Ungrund, which in turn creates
the cosmos. Boehme’s works include
Aurora, or The Dawn (1612), De Tribus
Principiis, or Description of the Three
Principles of Divine Being (1619), De
Triplici Vita Hominis, or Concerning the
Three Divisions in the Lives of Men (1620),
The Signature of All things (1622), and
The Great Mystery or An Explanation of
the First book of Moses (1623).BOETHIUS, ANICIUS MANLIUS SEV-
ERINUS (c. 475/480–524/6). A Roman
philosopher who defended an atemporal
concept of God, arguing that God does
not exist sequentially. Rather, God enjoys
an absolute simultaneity or completion.
Boethius wrote his most important book,
The Consolations of Philosophy, in prison
prior to his execution. This work is con-
sidered a model of natural theology and it
includes a critique of wordly fame and the
pursuit of earthly glory. His other works
include De topicis differentiis (The Theory
of Topics), five Opuscula sacra (short
theological treatises), and On the Differ-
ence of Nature and Person.BONAVENTURE, St. (GIOVANNI DI
FIDANZA) (1221–1274). A French
philosophical theologian who defended
the ontological argument. Bonaventure
was a devoted follower and promoter