No More Learning

The Buddhas who were honoured by the Lord in Dipankara= - avadana and whose names could not be enu- merated in an aeon ('kalpa') (by the lord) were never forbidden from any practice (' charya ') during their bodhi- sattva period. Dipankara also did not refute any of the lord's 'charyas' However, when he (i. e bodhisattva Dipankara) was noticed, in the state of 'santa animitta-vihara ' ( a state of absolute equipoise and tranquillity) during the eighth 'bhurni', he expounded this (teaching) but there also he did not forbid its practice. The bodhisattva's supreme revelling in the 'animitta'v' during the eighth 'bhumi' has been forbidden
'by the Buddhas in Dasabhumisvara 'lest they may attain their 'nirvana' here itself'. If no 'charya ' (practice) is to be performed at all, it would negate all that has been said earlier (about the bodhisattva's charya),
Again, Brahma-pariprichha says: "He gives in charity but does not desire its fruit; he guards his 'sila ' but it is never superimposed. " "0 Brahma! become non-returning Cavaivartika ')'? in Buddha dharmas when equipped with four 'dharmas'. " What four? Accepting the unlimited 'samsara ', veneration and worship of limitless Buddhas etc. will stand against anything. It is proper to say that practice should be done neither with mild senses ('mridu indriya'j'" nor with sharp senses Ctiksana indriya. ')" alone, for in this way, for the bodhisattvas established in the first stage to the tenth, the 'charya' (practice) of 'dana' etc. is generated nor does he roam'" not in the residual appendices. ? ' thus has it been said. It is improper to say that one who has entered the 'bhumi' is of 'soft senses'. As has been stated in Arya Upali- pariprichha; "Only he who is established in the non- generating Idharma-ksanti' should practise renunciation C'tyaga'),7? great renunciation (rna hatya ga )? ' and total renunciation Cati-tyaga'j. ? " Sutra samuchaya also says: 'the
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BHAVANA. KRAMA
BHA. VANA. KRAMA-III 97
Kasiraja (the king of Kasi) to be a fool (lit. of tainted wisdom) who gave away pieces of his flesh to the falcon in lieu of that of the pigeon? 'No Lord' replied Maitreya. The Lord continued, '0 Maitreya! Whatever 'kusal-rnulas' (root-merits) equipped with six perfections were earned by me while practising the conduct of the bodhisattvas, did they do any harm to me? 'No lord! ' replied Maitreya. The lord said, '0 Ajita! ' you also practised perfect 'dana' paramita (the perfection of giving) for sixty aeons C'kalpas') and equally practised 'prajna- paramita ' (the perfection of Wisdom) for sixty 'kalpas'. Even then, these ignorant persons will say that a single path like that of 'sunyata alone will lead to enlightenment (bodhi). Such a person will become impure of conduct Ccharya') or practice. " While practising 'sunyata ' alone they will enter into the 'sravaka ' s ' 'nirvana'. Therefore, 'prajfia must be practised with 'u pa ya ya' .
Acharya Nagarjunapada says in Sutra-sammuchaya, bodhisattva should not practise serious dharmas without the skill of means Cupayaya '). " Herein, the acharya has expounded what he got from sources like Arya Vimalakirti- nirdesa etc. and not that these are the words of Acharya Nagarjunapada (himself). It is not proper for learned observors to forsake the Lord's words which comprise scriptures Cagama') and logic ('yukti') and accept the words of ignorant fools. It is said in Arya Ratna-kuta: "Sunyata which comprises the blessing of omnipotence and is accompanied by such 'kusalas ' (merits) as giving Cdana ') etc. should be meditated upon as such. " And again; "0 Kasyapal just as the king performs all his functions with the assistance of his minister, so also does the "prajfia ' of the bodhisattvas
equipped with the skill of 'upayaya ' perform all the tasks of lord Buddha. "
He who practises 'sunyata' only will not have entry into 'nirvana'. The lord has said in Arya Tathagata-guhya surra, "One should not practise' ekanta-nirlambana-chitta', i. e. the solitary propless mind; skill in means Cupayaya') should also be practised. " To illustrate this, it is added, "0 Kulaputra! just
bodhisattva, equipped with the attainment of the six perfections, functions through the 'riddhi' (special power) of Tathagata. There is nothing speedier than the speed of Tathagata's power. And, for the boddhisattvas, there is no path speedier than that of the six perfections, and the ten 'bhumis'. " The sutra says that mental generation (i. e. tendencies) is refined gradually like the refining of gold . . Arya Lankavatara and Dasa-bhurnisvara also state: "When the bodhisattva gets established in 'tathata ' he enters the first 'bhumi'. After that, step by step, he enters the 'Tathagata bhumi, after refining the preceding 'bhumis'. Therefore, there is no other gateway than that of 'bhumis' and 'paramitas ' (perfections) to simultaneously enter the city of Buddha. "
It is improper to say that as all the Six Perfections come within the ambit of 'dhyana' and that all of them are fulfilled by its practice, so other perfections like dana etc. need not be practised. If it were so then, owing to the six perfections coming within the ambit of Lord Buddha's (gomaya- mandala)" only mandala," should be' practised and not "dhyana ' etc. Even a . sravaka ' who has entered the absorption C'sama patti ') of 'nirodha' -samadhi" will be deemed to have attained the fulfilment of the six perfections through the non-recurrence C'a-sarnudachara ') of the objective ('nimitta') etc. In that case there will be nothing to proclaim the contrast between the "sravaka ' and the bodhisattva. The bodhisattvas must practise the six perfections under all circumstances. In order to substantiate it, the lord has shown the presence of all other 'pararnitas' (perfection) in every single "paramita '. It is said in Sarvadharma-vaipulya; "0 Maitreya! about this acquisition of the six perfections which has been spoken of for the enlightenment of bodhisattvas, the ignorant persons would say that the bodhisattvas should be well instructed in the perfection of wisdom Cprajfia-paramita') alone, of what avail is his interest in other 'pararnitas'? They regard the other "pararnitas as 'stained'. Then, 0 Ajita! do you take that
" A
? 98 BHA. VANAKRAMA
BHAvANAKRAMA-III
99
as fire burns only with its requisite material Cupadana') and is quietened in its absence, so also the mind is fired by its prop Calambana') and becomes quietened in its absence. The bodhisattva, with his "prajna-paramita ' (perfection of wisdom) honed and equipped with the skill of 'upayaya ' knows how to calm down 'alambana' but will not calm down the one with benificent roots. In him no 'klesalambana' (the prop of mental defilements) arises but he is established in the 'prop of perfection' Cparamita-alambana ') instead. He examines the 'alambana' of 'sunyata ' but will look to 'rnahakaruna ' (great compassion) as the 'alambana' for all sattvas. In this way, '0 Kulaputra! the bodhisattva attains the mastery of 'alarnbana' with his refined perfection of 'prajna'(wisdom) and the skill of 'upayaya ' (means). " So saying in detail, he further amplifies; "The bodhisattva has no such 'alambana' as is not meant for the accumulation of the knowledge of the reality of things, that is, Buddhas 'jnana' The bodhisattva, all whose 'alambanas' get transformed into supreme enlightenment, alone is skilful in 'upayaya ' and such a one sees all 'dharmas' as embracing 'bodhi'. Even then, 0 Kulaputra! there is nothing in the three thousand or many thousands of' loka-dhatus' (wordly components) which is not meant for the 'sattvas' enjoyment. 0 Kulaputra' there is no such 'alambana' which the skilful-in-effort bodhisattva does not consider useful for his enlightenment. " Thus said at length. In this manner, the acquisition of wisdom Cprajna') and means Cupayaya') by bodhisattvas has been indicated in an unlimited number of sutras. If he himself cannot start the valorous effort of accumulating 'punya' collection through 'dana' etc. it is not proper for him to preach it to others as that would be tantamount to deceiving both himself and others.
It has been propounded in the 'yukti' (literature of logic) and 'agama' (scripture) that the bodhisattvas, after 'bhuta- examination' should make a collection of such 'punya' accumulations as 'dana' etc. So the wise ones have said that one should forsake like poison the words of egotistical, half- read persons and act in accordance with the nectar like words
of such learned scholars as Acharya Nagarjuna and others by generating mahakaruna for all 'rnahasattvas ' remain ing unattached as a magician and should endeavour to uplift the whole world through the transformation of all beneficient practices like 'dana ' etc. into 'anuttra-samyaka-sambodhi' (transcendental, supreme enlightenment). It has been said in Arya Dharma-samgiti, "Just as a magician endeavours to undo his own creation and being already aware of its illusionary aspect, is unattached to it, so also the bodhisattva, conscious of illusionary nature of the three states of existence Ctribhava ') past, present and future and having attained perfect enlightenment is ready (to do his duty) towards the world because he already knows its reality. "
In this way, he who constantly practises 'prajfia ' and 'upayaya ' with reverence, his mental emanations having gradually matured, more and more of extremely pure 'ksana'" is generated for him. His meditation on the meaning of things having attained excellence, he becomes aware of the extremely clear' dharma dhatu " ? (the true essence of things) devoid of all fictionality Ckalpana-jala '). He attains transcendental knowledge as clear as the calm, windless lamp. He then achieves the 'alambana ' of the ultimate of things and enters the 'darasana marga '. He attains the first 'bhumi' (stage). After refining the succeeding stages one after another and removing all accumulated' avarnas ' like
(refining) gold, attains unattached and unassailable 'jfiana ' and reaches 'Buddha bhumi' (the stage of Buddhahood), the foundation of all virtue; also he obtains 'alambana ' in the shape of the fulfilment of his work. Therefore, those who desire 'Buddha-hood ' should endeavour to tread the Middle Path.
Mayall people attain the Middle path as the result of whatever 'punya' (merit) I may have earned by indicating the 'madhya marga' (middle path) in this way.
Good people, after removing the dirt of jealousy ere. remain insatiate, like the ocean with its waters and, after good examination, continue accepting good words just as the
? 100 BHi\VANAKRAMA
(royal) swan gladly weans milk from water.
Hence, the learned people, after overcoming the
prejudices of their minds, should accept good words from even the ignorant.
Here ends the final Bhavanakrama composed by Acharya Kamalasila.
GLOSSARY - I
1. Bhavanakrarna - 'bhavana ' is meditation; it consists of visualisation and contemplation of a resolve, an object or an idea and strictly meditating on it in accordance with vows undertaken; the sequence of meditational process. For example, 'rna itri', 'karuna', 'rnudita ' and 'upeksa' are the four exalted states of the mind. Also called 'brahrna-vihara ' the 'bhavana ' of these four leads the practitioner to 'sarnyaka' pratipatti or true realisation, his mental defilements having evaporated.
2. 'adfkarmika ' - a novice initiate who wishes to pursue the bodhisattva path, of the four-fold tantra quadrangle in Mahayana- krtya-tantra, charya-tantra, yog-tantra and anuttar~tantra - krryatantra's standard text is Adikarma-pradeep which deals with the rules of initiation and subsequent conduct as prescribed for an 'adlkarmik bodhisattva'
3. sarvajfiata - the knowledge of the true nature of all phenomena, that is, 'nissvabhavata'.
4. karuna - compassion.
5. bodhichitta - enlightened mind.
6. pratipatti - perception, comprehension.
7. dharmah - disciplines, instructions, practices.
8. bhadanta - an honorific for a realised monk.
9. purvangama - that which goes ahead of a thing; precursor, fore-
runner.
10. as at 9 above.
11. adhisthana - object of contemplation, focal idea to reflect on. 12. sarnbhara - accumulation, collection.
13. trividha dukha - three-fold suffering of body, mind and speech. 14. traidhatuka - beings living in the three worlds of humans, gods
and hell dwellers, the earth, the heavens, the hells.
15. pretas - disembodied spirits, 'preta-loka' is one of the six realms
of existence after death.
16. tiryaka - another realm of existence where one is born as a
dragging, crawling beast.
17. samadhana-chetsa - of composed mind.
18. pra~ma - tranquillity.
19. anusaya - impurity generated by feelings of attachment, lust etc. 20. karnavachara - one who always wanders in the realm of desire or
kama; it is also equated with, 'deva-loka ' by some as the gods
always dwell in 'kama'.
21. defilements born of actions. 22. suffering born of sarnskaras.
? 102 BHA. VANA. KRAMA
GLOSSARY-! 103
23. chitta-samata - a mental attitude of total equality for all beings; it is achieved through the practice of 'paratma-sarnata ' or by exchanging your own self with others.
24. sama-pravritta - equitably disposed towards all; equal concern . .
25. nispanna - complete, full, equanimous.
26. bodhichitta - a mind that aspires after bodhi or the enlightenment
of a bodhisattva.
27. prarthnakararn - importunate, solicitous.
28. samyaka-sambodhi - the ultimate or correct knowledge of reality;
true cognition of 'bhuta-tathata'.
29. par-sarnadapana - acquiring by others.
30. pratipatti - attainment of supreme knowledge.
31. vajra-ratna - adamantine gem; supreme, impenetrable substance.
32. chittotapada - generating the mind, inducing it towards
'sarvajfiata ' .
33. gut:tas- qualities.
34. sravaka - lit. hearer.
35. pratyeka-buddha - lit. solitary realiser.
36. paramita - perfection
37. upayaya - means, practice.
38. dana-pararnita - perfection of giving.
39. parjfia-pararnita - perfection of wisdom.
40. pranidhi - vow, fixing the mind with determination.
41. kusala-rnula - practices that lead to meritorious action, root-merit.
42. anumodana - commending.
43. sadharanani - common, ordinary.
44.
Buddha-dharma - pratices enjoined on a bodhisattva.
45. bodhi-sarnbhara - accumulation of the attributes of
enlightenment.
46. vipaka - fruit, result in maturation of actions done.
47. akasa-dhatu - the element of space or sky.
48. buddha-ksetrani - Buddha-fields, believed to be two dozen in
number; the Mahayana concept of the presence of more than one Buddha simultaneously presiding in their own 'lokas' or worlds, their' ksetras' (fields) like the sukha-vati-vyuha of Amitabha Buddha.
49. pranidhi-chitta - a mind fixed on the goal of achieving bodhi.
50. Prasthan-chitta - a mind ready to travel on the path of bodhi.
51. samvar - vow.
52. sarnbhara - collection, accumulation.
53. kalyana-rnitra - jinas, bodhisattvas, realised ones, A kalyana-rnitra is described as one who is capable of instructing in serious themes and is equipped with extraordinary attributes, the foremost of
'kalyana-rnitras' is Lord Buddha himself as revealed by him to Ananda in the following words: 'mama hi Anan da kalyat:tmitramaagmya 'jati-dbarmab sattvah 'jati-dbarmama parimunchanti '.
54. Manjusri as Arnbara-raja, the story of.
55. aprarnana - the four cordial virtues of 'maitri', 'karuna, 'rnudita'
and 'upeksa' - the 'brahma-viharas' - have been designated by the scriptures as 'aprarnana '. because they are limitless and everlasting and they wash away the dirt of attachment, envy jealousy and ill-will so that the bodhisattva may practise 'parahita ' or others' well-being.
56. samgraha-vastu - comprises the four-fold acquisition of love, compassion, joy and detachement, the 'brahrna-viharas'.
57. 'silpa' - craft.
58. upayaya - lit. approaching, coming near, means; it also refers to
compassion or 'bhuta-daya' and to that state of samadhi in which
'prajfia' is born. In the latter state it is 'upayaya pratyaya'.
59. samgrah-vastu - see 56 above.
60. ksetra-parisudhi - purification of the (bodhisattva's) field.
61. bahu-parivsra sarnpata - the wealth of a large family or entourage
of disciples.
62. sattva partpaka-nirrnana - helping maturation of sattvas
meritorious acts.
63. samklesa - defilements.
64. sarngrah-jfiana - the knowledge of cultivating 'rnaitri', karuna,
'mudita and upeksa'.
65. parichheda - analysis, discrimination.
66. bhumi - stage, level.
67. dasa-bhumi - ten stages of a bodhisattva's 'sadhana', 'rnudita ',
'virnala ', 'prabhakari', 'archismati ', 'sudurjaya ', 'abhimukti',
'durangrna', 'achala', 'sadhumati' and 'dharma-rnegha'.
68. astarna-bhurni - 'achala' or steadfast, the eighth stage of
boddhisattva-hood.
69. vyuthana - the fourth of the five steps for the resolve to rise up
from a balanced 'dhyana' after a desired span of time, because the first dhyana is not without its inherent shortcomings; the resolve to rise above these is 'vyuthana'.
70. achala - the eighth 'bhurni' in which the seeker fully understands the nissvabhavata of things and is not affected by the pleasures of the body, the mind and the speech, he remains 'achala', immovable, steadfast.
71. dharma-mukha-srota - the source of all dharma practice. 72. upasarnhara - conclusion, finish.
? 104 73.
74.
BHAvANAKRAMA
ksanti - one of the six perfections; in this context it is 'faith' - 'sradha' with 'ruchi' or interest in the pursuit of vows.
dasa-bala - an epithet of lord Buddha who possessed ten singularly distinct powers; knowledge of all places, knowledge of all time, knowledge of all the different spheres, knowledge of all different kinds of emancipation, knowledge of other's conduct, knowledge of the good and evil force of karma, knowledge of the obstacles from klesas and the absorption of dhyana, knowledge of previous lives; has pure, divine eyes and is capable of destroying all defilements.
chatur-vaisarda - four great attributes ascribed to Lord Buddha; 1. his body was 'anasrva', pure, made up of flawless substances and attributes; 2. he could assume unlimited 'rupakayas' and bodies simultaneously at different places, 3. his powers were immeasurable. 4. his glory and effulgence had no bounds. siinti-vimoksa-vihiira - the state of calm abiding. jfiana-mukhachintyta - a state of peace and steadiness born of 'jfiana '.
dharrnata - the nature of dharmas or, all phenomena which is 'nissvabhavata' or 'sunyata '.
tathagata - one who has realised the 'tathata ' or 'as it-ness' of things, the 'as-it-ness' being their insubstantial non-true existence; hence 'tathata' is identical with 'paramartha satya'.
dharma-dhatu - the essence of all 'dharmata ' which is 'sunyata', it is indentical with 'bhuta-koti', 'tathata ' ete. 'dhatu ' comprises factors which join up to produce a phenomena and there are eighteen 'dhatus' - six senses, six object, six cognitions. Of the six object - dhiitus the last is 'dharma-dhiitu', which in itself comprises sixty four dharmas.
sarvadharma sunyata - the emptiness of all phenomena. sarva-dharrnanuplabdhi - the non-existence of all phenomena. avikalpa-dharmatii - to understand the true nature of phenomena; 'vikalpa ' is defined as 'asrava partantra' or unclean dependent as it is born of 'partyayas', to rise above it is 'anasrava vikalpa' or the unblemished alternative or 'avikalpa', the opposite of'vikalpa'.
aprarnanata - There are ten dharmas of a handsome mind (sobhana chaitska), 'sradha ' 'apramada', 'prasrabdhi ', 'apeksa ', 'hri' 'apatrapa' 'alobha' 'advesa' 'maitri' and 'ahimsii'. 'Apramapa ' is one of-the f-our divisions of 'sobhana chaitsika' and comprises 'karuna ' and 'rnudita '. "apramanata ' is handsome, inimitable quality or nature,
abhinirhara -- accumulation, appropriation; the various 'bhumis'
GLOSSARY-!
75.
76.
77. 78. 79.
80.
81. 82. 83.
84.
bodhisattva.
93. apramana-sattva - unlimited hordes of sentient beings.
94. aprarnana dharma-vibhaktata - illimitable variety and division of
dharmas and their analyses.
95. abhinirhara dwara - door or entrance to the accumulation of
merit.
96. abhinirhara karma - action that leads to accumulation of karma. 97. adhimukti - final release from cyclic existence; also means 'faith'
or 'sraddha'.
98. avabodha - true enlightenment or knowledge of the ultimate
truth of all phenomena.
99. sarvajna-jnanahhinirhara - the garnering of the knowledge of
'sarvajfiata or of the ultimate truth of things, their 'nissvabhavata'. 100. parinirvana - release from cyclic existence.
101. pratisrabdhi - retardation.
102. avaran - upper crust, cover or lid of 'avidya ' (ignorance) or
'pratitya ' (the apparent) which hinders cognition of the reality or
'yathabhuta [fiana ' of phenomena.
103. pratiksepa karma - contrary, contradictory action; neglecting etc. 104. sobhana samjna - fair, correct cognition.
105. asobhana samjnii - incorrect, ugly, unbecoming cognition.
106. pratiksapti - retards, obstructs.
107. samudiigama - cultivation, generation.
108. upayaya-paramita - perfection of 'karuna' or compassion.
109. Ajit - name of a bodhisattva.
110. Kasiraja - King 'Sivi' of Varanasi whose compassion was put to test by god Indra; the latter in the guise a of preying falcon, pounced on a pigeon; he offered to cut a piece of his own flesh as compensation to the falcon if it released its prey from its talons; when put in the scales the pigeon grew heavier and heavier in weight and the compassionate king went on slicing pieces of his flesh; finally, the god resumed his original form, blessed and
85.
congratulated Kasiraja and made him whole before disappearing.
105 are also called 'viharas' because the bodhisattvas roam about in
them for the 'abhinirhiira' of 'kusala ' or merit.
86. prabha-maQ. qala - halo, aura of light around a divine being.
87. svaranga-visudhi - refinement of speech, in mantra recitation.
88. nirvikalpa - undifferentiated, transcendental without an
alternative or 'vikalpa '.
89. paryanta-garni - unlimited, extending in all directions, infinite.
90. aparyanta - limitless.
91. aparyanta - eternal
92. aprarnana-ksetra - the
fields of
illimitable
compassion
of a
? 106 BHAVANAKRAMA
111. Maitreya - a bodhisattva.
112. Kalpa - cosmic period; a fabulous period of time comprising thousands of years of mortals' time calculation; at the end of a 'kalpa ', the world is annihilated.
113. naya - system or path; Mahayana consists of two 'nayas'; 'paramita-naya ' and 'rnantra-naya '. It is said that Lord Buddha taught the former at gridhra-kuta and the latter at 'sri-parvata'.
114. Paryavasna - end, conclusion.
115. prattsthapita - installed, established.
116. rupa-kaya - material form; also called "nirmana-kaya ', the
historical form of 'sakyarnuni' which he assumed for the world.
117. ksetra - field, domain.
118. parivara - progeny, continuum, entourage.
119. viparyasa - contrariety, delusion which makes one believe as real
or true what is unreal or untrue.
120. anta - limit.
121. samaropa - superimposition.
122. apavada - refutation, negation, contradiction.
123. laksana - attributes, marks, signs; the 32 ordinary and 80 special
marks of Lord Buddha.
124. anuvyanjana - expression.
125. abhisamaya - true 'joana'; it has two stages; 'dharma-ksanti' i. e.
passion for dharma and' dharrna-darsana ' or experiencing
dharma.
126. dharma-kava - the subtle form of Lord Buddha which is in-
corporeal, indescribable "pararnarthic ' in essence and is the
equivalent to 'sunyata'.
127. sambhava - generation, creation.
128. udagrahana - grasping, taking up, holding onto.
129. unrnarga - deviation, wrong road.
130. vyapadesa - appellation, designation.
131. samadhi - a state of meditational absorption; 'samyaka adheiyte
ekagri-knyate' 'viksepana'.
132. srutamayi - listening to and reading of scriptures etc.
133. agarna - collection of scriptures.
134. chintarnayi - reflective, contemplative.
135. neetartha - intelligible meaning.
136.