The History of Buddhist Thought c24.48

c24.48

Other discussions of the bodhisattva’s career are found, and it is clear that the subject was discussed and elaborated by different schools variously without any great changes in system or principle. The Bodhisattvabhūmi is a work of the Yogāchāra school, and goes into minute details. It begins by discussing the ten principles which belong to the career of a bodhisattva, and it adds two more stages. These are preliminary and previous to making the vow. (1) Gotrabhūmi, the stage in which the destined bodhisattva comes to belong to the clan or family of Buddhas. It corresponds to the prakṛticaryā, the “natural” conduct of the bodhisattva as given in the Mahāvastu (above p. 201). Five gotras are given in the Mahāvyutpatti (61), (a) that of the disciple’s career, (b) pratyekabuddha’s career, (c) tathāgata’s career (which the bodhisattva follows), (d) undetermined gotra, (e) absence of gotra. The last not absolutely predestined destinies. Those whose gotra is undetermined or non-existent may in some instances originate roots of goodness through the teaching of bodhisattvas or Buddhas. The second preliminary stage is Adhimukticaryābhūmi, “stage of aspiration,” in which the thought of enlightenment has been formed, but the vow has not yet been made.