How does the Christian expectation of an end to history (eschaton) , as expressed in Isaiah 25:6-9 and Revelation 21:1-6a, compare with the Bodhisattva vow to work tirelessly for the liberation of all beings?
The Christian expectation of an "end to history", and the Bodhisattva vow in Mahayana Buddhism to work tirelessly for the liberation of all beings, both envision a final fulfillment, a transformative culmination of the spiritual path that offers profound peace, liberation, and the ultimate dissolution of suffering. However, they diverge in key aspects regarding the nature of time, the role of the individual, and the dynamics of salvation or liberation.
1. Vision of Ultimate Fulfillment and Peace
In Isaiah 25, we find a prophecy that speaks of God preparing a "feast" for all peoples, removing the "shroud that enfolds all peoples" and wiping away all tears—a vision of unity, healing, and joy in God's presence. Revelation 21 expands on this, portraying a "new heaven and a new earth" where God dwells among people, eradicating death, mourning, and pain.
In parallel, the Bodhisattva vow in Mahayana Buddhism expresses the aspiration to lead all sentient beings to liberation, envisioning a state free from suffering and infused with boundless compassion and wisdom. This vision, too, sees suffering as transient and focuses on the potential for all beings to awaken.
Comparison: Both traditions offer a powerful vision of a reality where suffering is no more, and love reigns supreme. They view the ultimate reality as radiant, infused with love or wisdom, and beyond sorrow.
Contrast: The Christian vision presents a specific "end" or final consummation of history, an event after which suffering will cease universally as God's will is fully realized. The Bodhisattva ideal, however, sees the goal as a timeless aspiration to awaken all beings, working within the endless cycles of samsara (cyclic existence).
2. Time, Eternity, and Cyclic Existence
In the Christian eschatological view, time is linear, with a beginning and a definite end where God's kingdom will be fully realized, bringing human history to a close in a redeemed, perfected state. This end is understood as a unique event—a complete and final transformation.
The Bodhisattva path operates within samsara, the endless cycles of birth, death, and rebirth, without a defined "end" in time. Liberation, or nirvana, is beyond time and is realized through individual transformation rather than a one-time, universal event:
And for as long as living beings remain,
Until then may I, too, abide
To dispel the misery of the world.
- Shantideva, Bodhisattvacharyavatara, X(55)
Comparison: Both paths view time in the context of a deeper spiritual reality, where ultimate peace is beyond ordinary experience.
Contrast: Christianity envisions a historical endpoint where God fulfills the divine promise universally, ending suffering once and for all. The Bodhisattva view accepts that samsara may continue indefinitely, with the Bodhisattva remaining active to help each being find liberation over time, without an expectation that all suffering will end universally at once.
3. Role of the Individual in Salvation or Liberation
In Christian eschatology, salvation is understood as God's gift, initiated by divine grace, culminating in a communal redemption. Humanity is invited to receive this gift, and the "new creation" is ultimately enacted by God in fulfillment of divine promises.
The Bodhisattva path, by contrast, requires the practitioner to actively cultivate the qualities of wisdom and compassion to an advanced degree. The Bodhisattva takes personal responsibility for helping others, cultivating the "Awakening Mind" (Bodhicitta) of love, compassion and wisdom, and tirelessly striving to guide beings to enlightenment through compassionate activity.
Comparison: Both traditions see the ultimate state as an intimate, communal experience rather than isolated individual enlightenment, emphasizing interconnectedness and the dissolution of suffering.
Contrast: In Christianity, the ultimate fulfillment is an act of divine intervention, granted by God’s will. In the Bodhisattva ideal, liberation is sought through the practitioner's own cultivated aspiration and disciplined spiritual development, continuously extended to others in an endless commitment.
4. Compassion and Universal Care
The Christian vision, as expressed in both Isaiah and Revelation, sees God as deeply compassionate, promising to be present with humanity and offering the gift of eternal peace. The vision is one of divine compassion reaching out to humanity to eradicate sorrow and death.
The Bodhisattva embodies compassion in action, aspiring to take on the suffering of others and work until all beings are liberated. The Bodhisattva path teaches selfless service to others, not through a single act of redemption but through boundless, ongoing service, even if it takes aeons.
Comparison: Both traditions place compassion as central to the ultimate goal. Divine compassion in Christianity and the selfless compassion of the Bodhisattva both serve as sources of comfort, solace, and liberation from suffering.
Contrast: The Christian tradition sees compassion culminating in a single divine act of redemption, while the Bodhisattva path views compassion as a continual practice, a "work without end" embraced willingly by the Bodhisattva for all beings.
Conclusion
The Christian and Bodhisattva visions of ultimate peace and liberation offer deep insights into compassion, selfless love, and the end of suffering. Yet, where Christianity points to an ultimate culmination and end to suffering enacted by God's will in a new creation, the Bodhisattva path sees liberation as the fruit of tireless, endless dedication to others' awakening within the boundless cycles of existence. Both call us to a commitment beyond self-centered concerns, inviting a response of deep love and compassionate service—whether in anticipation of a divine conclusion or as an endless journey of care for all beings.
Even if there is no eschaton and no rebirth, the joyful path of love, compassion and wisdom is available to both Christians and Buddhists through the development of the indwelling Holy Spirit or Bodhicitta. As the Karaniya Metta Sutta says, "This is called a sublime abiding here and now."
This saying points us to a profound truth: the path of love, compassion, and wisdom offers its own fulfillment in this very life, regardless of metaphysical beliefs about an ultimate end or cycles of rebirth.
For both Christians and Buddhists, this path of transformation—through the indwelling Holy Spirit or Bodhicitta—opens an inner sanctum of sublime peace. The Holy Spirit, understood as the “mind of Christ,” and bodhicitta, the “Awakening Mind,” both embody that luminous love and compassion which transcend ordinary self-centered concerns. This path, therefore, becomes an invitation to abide deeply in this awakened love, living out compassion as an expression of innate spiritual joy.
Such a practice aligns with the core wisdom of both traditions: a true spiritual life does not depend on distant promises but is accessible as a present, lived experience. For Christians, the Holy Spirit is often described as a presence of divine grace that transforms the heart, teaching us to love and serve others as Christ did. For Buddhists, bodhicitta represents the arising of boundless compassion and wisdom in the heart-mind, guiding every thought and action towards the benefit of all beings.
Both the Holy Spirit and bodhicitta remind us that while ultimate realities or conclusions may be mysterious or even unknowable, the essence of the spiritual journey is to live now in love, peace, and compassionate service – a “sublime abiding” that becomes a way of living that transforms each moment, uplifting both oneself and others. Here, the path itself is the destination, a "kingdom within" that is realized as we deepen our love and wisdom.
In this way, Christians and Buddhists alike find that by cultivating a heart full of compassion, rooted in wisdom, we experience the divine within us, a reality that offers joy, fulfillment, and peace beyond circumstance—a truly sublime abiding here and now.
This is an appropriate reflection for the Christian celebration of All Saints Day, since this is the path of all the saints and Bodhisattvas.
All Saints Day honors this path shared by the saints and Bodhisattvas—a path of boundless love, compassion, and wisdom. Both saints and Bodhisattvas exemplify lives dedicated to others, embodying selfless service and the realization of divine qualities in the world. On this day, Christians celebrate those who have become radiant beacons of divine love, courage, and compassion, much like the Bodhisattvas who vow to serve all beings until every last one is liberated from suffering.
Saints and bodhisattvas represent humanity’s highest potential, revealing the timeless truth that love and compassion transform not only individual lives but also radiate outwards, uplifting entire communities. Whether it is the saints empowered by the Holy Spirit to heal, forgive, and guide others, or the Bodhisattvas motivated by bodhicitta to offer solace, wisdom, and liberation, both traditions show us that the path of spiritual awakening is one of communion with others, rooted in the joy of self-giving love.
All Saints Day, then, is a reminder that the saintly path is open to each of us. It is a celebration of those who have walked this path before us, as well as an invitation to follow their example, to open ourselves to the Holy Spirit or bodhicitta, allowing our lives to become vessels of compassion, strength, and peace. Through this practice, we honor the saints and Bodhisattvas not as distant figures but as living inspirations, demonstrating that the “sublime abiding” is indeed available here and now, in the heart of every person willing to walk the path of love.
- John 15:9