Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c8.s2.t2.12

c8.s2.t2.12

The Adhimukticaryāvihāra is the name given to the first attempts made by a Bodhisattva to develop Bodhicitta, the noble aspiration. In this bhūmi the Bodhisattva actually starts on his march to the Tathāgatavihāra, while in the Gotravihāra he gives only an indication of same.² When he completes the duties of the adhimukticaryā, he can be said to have done the work preliminary to the first bhūmi, the Pramuditā. In the Adhimukticaryāvihāra, a bodhisattva practises bhāvanās in a limited degree, and is incapable of retaining what is acquired. He makes only an attempt fo- nirnimitta-bhāvanā (i.e., meditation of the Absolute devoid of all signs).³ He is possessed of pratisamkhyānabala (power of discriminating knowledge) and applies himself to the duties of a bodhisattva with pratisamkhyāna-prajñā and not by natural tanmayatā (absorption). He cannot yet have the Bodhisattva-bhāvanās, which make one steadfast and non-receding. He is not above the five fears, viz., of livelihood, dispraise, death, evil destiny (durgati) and censure by the assembly.⁴ With pratisamkhyā he exerts himself for the good of beings and not out of natural love and compassion. Sometimes, he explains things wrongly and sometimes he interests himself in improper spheres or in the material requisites of life. He may have reverential faith (śraddhā) but no innate knowledge of truth. He possesses only limited śrutamayi and cintāmayi prajñā (knowledge derived from hearing and reflection),¹ which again sometimes gets bewildered. He follows the bodhisattva-path with great difficulty and sluggish knowledge (dhandha-abhijñā) and does not develop a very strong desire for bodhi. Now and then he forgets the right means in which beings should be trained and even the Buddhavacana. Occasionally he imparts teaching incautiously and fails to produce the desired result. At times he takes away his mind from bodhi and loses energy for the observance of Bodhisattva-saṃvaras (disciplines) or for rendering service to beings. Sometimes he also seeks his own happiness, though after reflection he seeks the happiness of others as well. Not unoften he notices his own failings but lacks sufficient energy to correct them. He likes instruction in the Bodhisattva-dharmas but sometimes he gets frightened by the magnitude of the task. He is not endowed with all the bodhipakṣika-dharmas. These are the chief indications by which it can be ascertained whether or not a person is in the Adhimukticaryābhūmi.