妙法蓮華經文句 2.71

2.71

As for "all never retrogressing from anuttarā samyaksambodhi," this clarifies their stage. "Anu" [etc.] is translated here as "unexcelled"; the path is as explained in the Subtlety of the Object, and the stage is as explained in the Subtlety of the Stage. As for "never retrogressing," when non-retrogression is discussed in terms of stage, practice, and mindfulness, four distinctions should be made: Not being born into the three evil destinies is non-retrogression of stage; not being born in borderlands, possessing all faculties complete, and not receiving a female body is non-retrogression of practice; always knowing past lives is non-retrogression of mindfulness—possessing these is termed the stage of avaivartika. This is the meaning according to the Tripiṭaka [teaching]. If prior to the sixth mind, the "light-feathered" bodhisattvas have not yet established the faculty of faith, and their stage still retrogresses; from the seventh mind upward, and from the first bhūmi to the sixth bhūmi, not retrogressing into ordinary beings or the two vehicles is called non-retrogression of stage; although the direct afflictions are already exhausted, because they are not yet able to cultivate the myriad practices comprehensively, their practice still retrogresses; reaching the seventh bhūmi is called non-retrogression of practice, yet thoughts of the two vehicles still arise, hence there is retrogression of mindfulness; reaching the eighth bhūmi, where contemplation of the path flows equally into the stream of the Dharma water, is called non-retrogression of mindfulness; this is called the stage of avaivartika. This is merely the meaning of the Ten Bhūmis shared by the three vehicles. The Dilun masters say: "The ten abodes are non-retrogression of realization; the ten practices are non-retrogression of stage; the ten dedications are non-retrogression of practice; the ten bhūmis are non-retrogression of mindfulness." This is the meaning of the distinctive teaching; it does not accord with this sūtra and is not used here. The Yingluo jing says: "At the first bhūmi the three contemplations become manifest; thought by thought they are quiescent and naturally flow [into the ocean of omniscience]." This too is non-retrogression of the distinctive teaching, and is not used here either. If [we follow] the Avataṃsaka Sūtra, which clarifies that at the first abode one attains the one body and immeasurable bodies of the Tathāgata and is endowed with the three non-retrogressions, this is the non-retrogression of the perfect teaching. This is the one real matter; we now use this to determine the stage.