In Mahāyāna thought, universal salvation is grounded in the conviction that every sentient being can ultimately awaken. This is expressed doctrinally through the teaching of Buddha-nature (tathāgatagarbha), which holds that all beings possess an inherent potential for enlightenment, so that no one is permanently excluded from liberation. On this basis, the goal of practice is not limited to personal release from saṃsāra, but extends to the awakening of all beings without exception. The understanding of emptiness (śūnyatā) further underlines this universality, suggesting that there are no fixed, inherent barriers that would forever separate the enlightened from the unenlightened.

The bodhisattva ideal is the primary embodiment of this vision. Bodhisattvas generate the resolve (bodhicitta) to attain buddhahood for the sake of all beings and take vows that explicitly commit them to “save” however innumerable beings may be. They are described as postponing their own final nirvāṇa until every sentient being has been brought to liberation, working across countless lifetimes for universal awakening. Their activity is animated by great compassion (mahākaruṇā), which is regarded as inseparable from wisdom and directed impartially toward all forms of life.

To make this vast aim workable in the messy reality of diverse minds and capacities, Mahāyāna emphasizes skillful means (upāya). Buddhas and bodhisattvas adapt teachings, practices, and even entire religious environments to meet beings where they are, so that each individual receives guidance appropriate to their situation. The doctrine of merit transference (pariṇāmanā) further extends this compassionate strategy: the spiritual merit accumulated through practice can be dedicated to others, supporting their progress and easing their suffering. In this way, spiritual advancement is not treated as a private possession, but as a resource to be shared for the benefit of all.

Universal salvation is also envisioned in more cosmic and devotional forms. Mahāyāna scriptures describe buddhas such as Amitābha presiding over Pure Lands—realms designed to make progress toward enlightenment especially accessible. Pure Land teachings hold that through entrusting oneself to Amitābha, even ordinary beings with limited spiritual capacity can attain rebirth in such a realm and move steadily toward buddhahood. Taken together, these elements present a vision in which the entire cosmos is suffused with compassionate activity, and the ultimate horizon of the path is nothing less than the complete awakening of all sentient beings.