The story of Ksitigarbha was first described in the Sutra of The Great Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, one of the most popular Mahayana Buddhist sutras.

" Previous to Saichō, all monastic ordinations took place at Tōdai-ji temple under the ancient Vinaya code, but Saichō intended to found his school as a strictly Mahayana institution and ordain monks using the Bodhisattva Vows only.

Along reading Buddhist sutras such as Sutra of The Great Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, Amitabha Sutra or Diamond Sutra, Ritsu offer refuge, Pure Land Buddhists nianfo and Tibetan Buddhists chant Om mani padme hum repeatedly.

He is sometimes known as the twin brother of the " earth store " bodhisattva Ksitigarbha, and is even briefly mentioned in the Sutra of The Great Vows of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

During Kūkai's administration of the Sōgō, additional ordination ceremonies were added to Tōdai-ji, including ordination of the Bodhisattva Precepts from the Brahma Net Sutra and the esoteric Precepts, or Samaya, from Kukai's own newly established Shingon school of Buddhism.

In his writings, Nichiren refers to his identity in a variety of ways, nevertheless always related to the Lotus Sutra, for example: " I, Nichiren, am the foremost votary of the Lotus Sutra ".. Of the many figures appearing in the Lotus Sutra, Nichiren chose his spiritual identity as that of Bodhisattva Superior Practices, and identified his goal as attaining Buddhahood: " From the beginning … I wanted to master Buddhism and attain Buddhahood ".

The path to enlightenment in pre-Lotus Sutra teachings is based on the gradual practice of the Bodhisattva stages leading to Buddhahood.

In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he or she is referred to as Ajita Bodhisattva.

It belongs to the so-called Threefold Lotus Sutra that is also composed of the Lotus Sutra and the Sutra of Meditation on the Bodhisattva Universal Virtue.

Also in the Lotus Sutra category is the Samantabhadra Meditation Sutra, which is also called the Sutra of Meditation on the Bodhisattva Universal Virtue.

The Bodhisattva Samantabhadra ( Universal Virtue ) is portrayed in the 28th chapter of the Lotus Sutra as the protector of the Dharma teachings from every kind of persecution.

* The Earth Store ( Treasury ) Sutra is a text on Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva

Nichiren is regarded as the appearance in this world of Superior Practice Bodhisattva who is given the mission in chapter 21 of the Lotus Sutra to uphold the true Dharma in the Latter Day of the Law.

Nichiren is seen as the votary of the Lotus Sutra fulfilling its prophecy in acting as the appearance of Bodhisattva Jōgyō (" Superior Practice "), who leads all bodhisattvas in propagating the Lotus Sutra.

The Lankavatara Sutra has a section where the Bodhisattva Mahamati asks Buddha 108 questions and another section where Buddha lists 108 statements of negation in the form of " A statement concerning X is not statement concerning X ".

He is also mentioned as an epithet of the Buddha Śakyamuni in the Sutra of Meditation on the Bodhisattva Universal Virtue, who dwells in a place called " Always Tranquil Light ".

This collection includes the Śrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda Sūtra, the Longer Sukhāvatīvyūha Sutra, the Akṣobhyavyūha Sūtra, a long text called the Bodhisattva Piṭaka, and others.

In chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha describes how the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara changes his form to meet the needs of the student.

Image: Kano White-robed Kannon, Bodhisattva of Compassion. jpg | A White-Robed Kannon, Bodhisattva of Compassion, by Kanō Motonobu ( 1476 – 1559 ), Japanese

The universal door of Guanshi Yin Bodhisattva ( The bodhisattva who contemplates the sounds of the world ) ( Translated by The Buddhist Text Translation Society in USA )

Within these chapters it is revealed that all persons can attain Buddhahood in this lifetime and Shakyamuni transfers the essence of the sutra to the Bodhisattvas of the Earth led by Bodhisattva Superior Practices ( Jogyo ), entrusting them with the propagation of the essence of the sutra in the Latter Day of the Law.

Preference for these titles generally depends on the school to which a person belongs, with " Shōnin " being commonly used within Nichiren Shū, which regards Nichiren as a Buddhist reformer and embodiment of Bodhisattva Superior Practices, while " Daishōnin " is the title used by followers of most, but not all, of the schools and temples derived from the Nikkō lineage, most notably the Sōka Gakkai, who regard Nichiren as ' The Buddha of the Latter Day of the Law ' and also Nichiren Shōshū, who regard Nichiren as ' The True Buddha ', or ' Buddha of True Cause '.

* Engaging in Bodhisattva Behavior, full unpublished translation of the Bodhicaryavatara by Alexander Berzin

Blessed by the guru, whom the disciple regards as a Bodhisattva, or the embodiment of Buddha, the disciple can continue on the way to experiencing the true nature of reality.

He is regarded as a Bodhisattva by some Indian Buddhists, though he never claimed himself to be a Bodhisattva.

In Chinese Buddhism, Guan Yu is revered by most practicing Buddhists as Sangharama Bodhisattva () a heavenly protector of the Buddhist dharma.

His Buddhist name " Zhu Wuneng ", given by Bodhisattva Guanyin, means " pig ( reincarnated ) who is aware of ability ," or " pig who rises to power ", a reference to the fact that he values himself so much as to forget his own grisly appearance.

These texts are said to have been related to Asaṅga by the Bodhisattva Maitreya, though Maitreya may have been the actual founder of the Yogacra-school.

Another Hossō scholar, Jōkei was among Hōnen's toughest critics, and frequently sought to refute his teachings, while simultaneously striving to make Buddhism more accessible to a wider audience as Hōnen by reviving devotion to Maitreya Bodhisattva and teaching followers the benefits of rebirth in the Tusita Heaven, rather than the Pure Land of Amitabha.

In Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, one of the foremost authoritative texts on the Bodhisattva path is the Bodhicaryavatara by Shantideva.

: Senju, known as the Thousand-Hand Avalokitesvara, is a Bodhisattva sent to protect the incarnation of the bodhisattva Miroku by Dainichi Nyorai ( Mahavairocana ).

* The Bodhisattva in Buddhism by Walpola Rahula Thera-German language

According to the Pancavimsatisahasrika and Astasahasrika Prajnaparamita any Bodhisattva on the path to Buddhahood is eligible for Vajrapani's protection, making them invincible to any attacks " by either men or ghosts ".

A large Buddhist monastery normally has a front hall, housing the statue of a Bodhisattva, followed by a great hall, housing the statues of the Buddhas.

It is said that Gautama Bodhisattva received his first Niyatha Vivarana, ( or definite foresighting by a Buddha ) from Dīpankara Buddha.

Through seeing the Red Crown, which is presented in a ceremony even today by the Kenting Tai Situpa, one is instantly and irreversibly set onto the path of enlightenment and receives the blessing of the Bodhisattva Maitreya.

One of the earliest specimens of Nepalese Thanka / Thangka painting dates from the thirteenth / fourteenth century and shows Amitabha surrounded by Bodhisattva.

* Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Ancient India by Bodhisattva Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

*' Bodhisattva Warriors ' by S. Nagaboshi.

A Bodhisattva is one who, motivated by great compassion, has a spontaneous wish to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings, and who becomes dedicated to their ultimate welfare.

While virtually all Nichiren Buddhist schools regard him as a reincarnation of the Lotus Sutra's Bodhisattva Superior Practices, Jōgyō Bosatsu ( 上行菩薩 ), some schools of Nichiren Buddhism's Nikkō lineages regard him as the actual Buddha of this age, or the Buddha of the Latter day of the Law.

The goal of spiritual practice within the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions is to become a Bodhisattva ( i. e. attainment of a state in which one will subsequently become a Buddha -- after some further reincarnation ), whereas the goal for Theravada practice is specific to become an arahant ( i. e. attain enlightenment with no intention of returning, not even as a Buddha ).

Composed in its earliest form some time before 150 CE, the Bodhisattva Vimalakirti appears in the guise of a layman in order to teach the Dharma.

In addition, some Mahayana Buddhists worship their chief Bodhisattva, Avalokiteshvara, and hope to embody him.