四教義 9.5

9.5

Second, generally clarifying the bodhisattva stages of the distinctive teaching involves three points: first, clarifying the count of stages according to the Yingluo jing; second, clarifying severing and subduing according to the three contemplations of the Dàpǐn jīng; and third, distinguishing the stages by correlating them to Dharma gateways according to the Nirvāṇa Sūtra. First, regarding clarifying the count of stages according to the Yingluo jing: the Yingluo has seven categories of clarifying the stages. The seven stages are: first, the ten faiths; second, the ten abodes; third, the ten practices; fourth, the ten dedications of merit; fifth, the ten stages (bhūmis); sixth, virtual enlightenment; and seventh, the stage of wondrous enlightenment. The initial ten minds of faith are external ordinary beings, the stage of subduing forbearance at the stage of dry wisdom in the distinctive teaching. The ten abodes are the stage of the lineage of practice; from here onward through the thirty minds, the stages of understanding and practice are all internal ordinary beings of the distinctive teaching. The nature stage is the stage of pliant forbearance; deduced according to the meaning of the distinctive teaching, it is like the dharma of warmth. The ten practices are the lineage of nature; deduced according to the meaning of the distinctive teaching, they are like the dharma of summits. The ten dedications of merit are the lineage of the Path; deduced according to the meaning of the distinctive teaching, they are like the dharma of forbearance and the supreme worldly dharmas. Question: Why must the distinctive teaching clarify warmth, summits, and forbearance? Answer: Since the ten stages correspond to the four fruits, they must be clarified. The shared teaching shares the semblance understanding of the real, which is explained as the dharmas of warmth, summits, forbearance, and supreme worldly dharmas. Now, in the distinctive teaching, the distinctive semblance understanding of the real doctrinally establishes these names in order to make the comparative distinction clear. Next, the ten stages are the noble lineage; these all enter the noble stages of the four fruits of the distinctive teaching, completely severing ignorance and the distinctive delusions of view and thought. Sixth, clarifying the stage of virtual enlightenment: this is the nature of virtual enlightenment; looked at from the perspective of bodhisattvas, it is called the Buddha stage of virtual enlightenment; looked at from the perspective of the Buddha stage, it is called the vajra-mind bodhisattva, and is also called the bodhisattva of the stainless stage. Seventh, clarifying the stage of wondrous enlightenment: also called the nature of wondrous enlightenment, this is the ultimate fruition of buddha bodhi, the fruit of great nirvāṇa.