Correct Option (B)
Statements 2 and 3 are correct.
- Statement 2: A Bodhisattva is characterized by profound compassion (Karuna) and is actively engaged in the pursuit of enlightenment. This path involves cultivating wisdom and altruism for the benefit of all beings.
- Statement 3: A central tenet of the Bodhisattva ideal, primarily within Mahayana Buddhism, is the vow to postpone one's own final Nirvana (salvation) until all other sentient beings have been liberated from suffering. This reflects a commitment to collective enlightenment over individual liberation.
Incorrect Options
Statement 1 is incorrect.
- The concept of Bodhisattva is central to Mahayana Buddhism, not Hinayana (Theravada) Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the Bodhisattva path, where an individual delays their own enlightenment to help others. In contrast, Hinayana (Theravada) Buddhism primarily focuses on the ideal of the Arhat, who achieves individual liberation from suffering.
Given that statement 1 is incorrect, options (1) and (4) are eliminated. Since both statements 2 and 3 are correct, option (3) which includes only statement 2 is also incorrect. Therefore, option (2) is the correct answer.