Aspects of Mahayana Buddhism and its Relation to Hinayana c8.s6: IV. Arciṣmatī or Bodhipakṣyapratisamyuktā-dhiprajñāvihāra

Aspects of Mahāyāna Buddhism and its Relation to Hīnayāna c8.s6

Language: English

IV. Arciṣmatī or Bodhipakṣyapratisamyuktā-dhiprajñāvihāra

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A Bodhisattva passes from the third to the fourth bhūmi after acquiring the ten dharmālokas¹, i.e., after obtaining insight into sattvadhātu (world of sentient beings), lokadhātu (various worlds), dharmadhātu (universe), ākāśadhātu (space), vijñānadhātu (world of consciousness), kāmadhātu (world of desires), rūpadhātu (world of forms), ārūpyadhātu (world of formlessness), udārādhyāśayādhimuktidhātu (spheres of noble intention and aspiration) and māhātmyādhyāśayādhimuktidhātu (spheres of magnanimous intention and aspiration).

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¹ Cf. B. Bh., pp. 14-5.

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He becomes an accomplished member of the Tathāgata family by acquiring the following ripeners of knowledge,—unbending aspiration, implicit faith in the three ratnas, clear perception of the origin and decay of saṃskāras, of the non-origination of things in reality, of the incoming and outgoing of the world, of saṃsāra (worldly existences) and nirvāṇa (cessation), and of the actions of beings of the various spheres.

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He practises the four smṛtyupasthānas (earnest thoughts) and exerts to acquire further merits and preserve the merits already acquired and not to commit evil actions any more. He practises the ṛddhipādas, the five indriyas² and balas, the seven bojjhaṅgas and the eight mārgas.³

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² Viz., Śraddhā, Virya, Smṛti, Samādhi and Prajñā.

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³ Cf. B. Bh., p. 15.

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In this bhūmi he gets rid of satkāyadṛṣṭi and its relevant factors and performs actions leading only to sambodhi.

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As he acquires the various qualities of this bhūmi, his mind becomes softer, aspiration stronger, compassion for the sentient beings greater, and consequently he becomes more and more energetic.⁴ His doubts are removed and his cittāśaya becomes immeasurable.

Linked texts (1)

Bodhisattvabhūmi — Sanskrit