In Buddhism, Buddhahood (Sanskrit: बुद्धत्व, Buddhatva) refers to the highest state of spiritual awakening or enlightenment (bodhi), attained by a being who has completely eradicated all ignorance, defilements, and the cycle of rebirth (संसार Saṃsāra). A Buddha is one who has realized the ultimate truth of existence through direct, experiential wisdom and has developed boundless compassion and insight, liberating themselves and guiding others toward liberation.
The process of attaining Buddhahood is often associated with perfecting the Pāramitās (perfections), which include qualities like generosity, morality, patience, and wisdom. A fully enlightened Buddha possesses perfect knowledge of The Four Noble Truths and the nature of reality, including the doctrine of dependent origination (the interdependent nature of all phenomena).
There are various forms of Buddhahood depending on the school of Buddhism. In Mahāyāna Buddhism, for example, the concept of Buddhahood is expanded to include Saṃbhogakāya (bliss body), धर्मकाय Dharmakaya (truth body), and निर्माणकाय Nirmāṇakāya (emanation body). Mahayana also teaches the बोधिसत्त्व Bodhisattva path, where beings vow to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. In Theravāda, the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, is seen as a Sammāsambuddha, or perfectly self-enlightened one, who rediscovered the path to liberation and shared it with the world.
Buddhahood is often contrasted with Arahantship, another form of enlightenment in which one achieves personal liberation but does not necessarily possess the qualities of a fully awakened Buddha, such as the ability to teach on the same profound level. Nonetheless, both paths lead to freedom from suffering and the cessation of rebirth.
In essence, Buddhahood represents the culmination of the spiritual journey in Buddhism, where one transcends the ordinary dualistic perception of self and world and realizes the ultimate, unconditioned truth.