菩薩戒義疏 1.7

1.7

Next, clarifying the stages. The teachings expounded during the course of the Bhagavān Śākyamuni's lifetime, when investigated according to their meaning, fully clarify four teachings: namely, the Tripiṭaka, shared, distinctive, and perfect teachings. For instance, the Dàzhìdù lùn cites Kātyāyana to clarify the limits of the six perfections: King Śibi substituting himself for the pigeon is the completion of dāna; King Sumati not lying is the completion of śīla; the ascetic Kṣāntivādin's mind remaining unmoved while King Kali dismembered him is the completion of kṣānti; Mahātyāgavān bailing out the sea is the completion of vīrya; the bird nesting on Sāṃkāśya is the completion of dhyāna; the minister Govinda dividing the land to end dispute is the completion of equanimous wisdom: this is the partial bodhisattva. The Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra explains that there are bodhisattvas who arouse the mind in correspondence with sarvajña: this is the shared bodhisattva. There are bodhisattvas who arouse the mind to sport with spiritual powers and purify Buddha lands, or who, in the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa-sūtra, possess the inconceivable liberation, transforming their bodies to ascend seats while still submitting to rebukes and scoldings: this is the distinctive bodhisattva. Those who, upon arousing the mind, immediately sit at the bodhimaṇḍa, attain right awakening, turn the wheel of the Dharma, and deliver sentient beings: this is the perfect bodhisattva. The depth and shallowness of the practices and stages among these four bodhisattvas shall now be explained.