Guanyin of the Southern Sea. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.
The Bodhisattva Award is given to a member or organization in the Kansas City area as a token of recognition for their work in making the Kanas City community a better place. The award recipients are those who engender the ideals of a Bodhisattva, working to alleviate the suffering of others through compassion, loving-kindness, and wisdom.
What is a Bodhisattva?
The Sanskrit term bodhisattva, which is defined as “awakening hero” or “spiritual warrior of enlightenment,” denotes a courageous individual whose entire being is dedicated towards a single goal, i.e. to bring about the welfare of all sentient beings.
The bodhisattvas practice on the basis of their wish to benefit others. They are motivated by bodhicitta, awakened mind/heart, the aspiration to attain enlightenment in order to benefit all sentient beings. A common example is Avalokiteśvara, a Bodhisattva associated with compassion, variably depicted, described, and portrayed in various cultures as either male or female. Most common male form is Chenrezig, female for is Guanyin.
The following are past recipients of the Bodhisattva Award.
- 2000 – Ahmed El-Sherif
- 2001 – Vern Barnet – CRES
- 2002 – Alvin L. Brooks
- 2003 – Dr. Sharon Lee
- 2004 – Ron Poplau – Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
- 2005 – Sr. Corita Bussanmas & Sr. Berta Sailer
- 2006 – Fr. Pat Tobin – Harvesters
- 2007 – Evelyn Van Kemeske – Shawnee Community Services
- 2008- Gloria Baker Feinstein
- 2009 – Dr. Gary Morsch – Heart to Heart International
- 2010 – Fr. Paisius Altschul – Reconciliation Services
- 2011 – Rev. Sam Mann
- 2012 – Ira Harritt – American Friends Service Committee
- 2013 – Bob Hertzen
- 2014 – Chief Daryl Forte
- 2015 – Lama Chuck Stanford
- 2016 – One Struggle KC
- 2017 – Dr. Sofia Khan, MD – KC for Refugees
- 2018 – Midwest Innocence Project
- 2019 – PeaceWorks Kansas City
- 2022 – Bird Ellington Fleming – Traditional Music Society
- 2023 – Judy Ancel