Difference Between Arhat and Bodhisattva

An Arhat is someone who has attained enlightenment and is free from the cycle of rebirth. A Bodhisattva is someone who seeks Buddhahood in order to help all beings become free from suffering. The main difference is the emphasis placed on personal liberation or helping everyone reach liberation.

Arhat

An Arhat has overcome ignorance, craving and attachment, which cause suffering and keep people in samsara, the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. They have attained nirvana, freedom from suffering and rebirth. The Arhat is an important ideal in Theravada Buddhism: it shows what a person can achieve by following the Buddha’s teaching.

Bodhisattva

A Bodhisattva is an important ideal in Mahayana Buddhism. Bodhisattvas work towards becoming Buddhas so that they can help others reach liberation. Their actions are guided by compassion, meaning concern for the suffering of others. They may be described as delaying final nirvana to continue helping other beings.

Remember the distinction

Think of the Arhat ideal as attaining liberation from samsara and the Bodhisattva ideal as working towards Buddhahood for the benefit of all beings. Both are concerned with ending suffering and follow Buddhist teachings; the contrast is in what each ideal emphasises.

For example, if asked to compare the two ideals, you could write: “An Arhat has reached nirvana and escaped samsara, whereas a Bodhisattva aims for Buddhahood and continues to help others overcome suffering.” This comparison identifies each goal and makes the difference explicit, without claiming that either path ignores compassion.

In an exam answer, avoid saying that a Bodhisattva simply ‘refuses enlightenment’. A Bodhisattva may be highly spiritually advanced. The more accurate point is that they continue to act compassionately for others rather than treating their own liberation as the only goal. Likewise, do not suggest that Arhats are selfish: becoming an Arhat does not mean a person cannot help others.