Whereas early Buddhism focused on the life, and previous lives, of the Buddhahimself, Mahayana Buddhism added several other incarnations of the Buddha aswell as numerous other Bodhisattvas 菩薩Bodhisattvas were beings who had achieved enlightenment but, unlike thehistorical Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) of early Buddhism, some Bodhisattvas(e.g., Avalokiteshvara ) delayed final enlightenment in order to assist all beings intheir own attainment of salvation.Where early Buddhists believed the Buddha had attained nirvana and left thisworld behind, Mahayana Buddhists understood the Buddha and other Bodhisattvasto be continuing, compassionate presences. p.15111