Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c8.4

c8.4

As the Mahāyānists hold that an insight into dharma-śūnyatā is the only means of attainment of the highest knowledge, and that an insight into pudgalaśūnyatā equips an adept for proceeding higher up and realising dharma-śūnyatā, they divide their stages of progress into two sections. The first, comprising the first six bhūmis, leads an adept to the realisation of Pudgalaśūnyatā, while the second, comprising the last four bhūmis, gives him the real knowledge, Dharmaśūnyatā or Dharmasamatā. Thus, the first satisfies the aspiration of the Hinayānists and hence corresponds to their four stages, while the second lies beyond their reach, as they do not admit Dharmasamatā.