The saint of the
Drstiprapta
class (vi.
Abhidharmakosabhasyam-Vol-3-Vasubandhu-Poussin-Pruden-1991-PDF-Search-Engine
6) and the weak character of his faculties, fell away many times from "occasional deliverance": in his disgust, he struck himself with a dagger.
By reason of his indifference with respect to his body and life, he obtained the quality of Arhat at the
368
very moment of his death, and Nirvana. Therefore he did not
fall away from the quality of Arhat.
5. The Dasottara teaches, "There is a dharma which one should
produce, namely occasional, cherished deliverance. There is a
dharma that one should actualize, namely the immovable deliver- 369
If occasional and cherished deliverance were the quality of an Arhat, and so if the quality of Arhat were of two types, why does the Dasottara, alone among the Sutras, speak twice, under two distinct names, of the quality of Arhat? Moreover, no part of the Scripture employs the expression "to produce the quality of Arhat"; it always says that one should actualize this quality.
Would you say that the quality of Arhat, to the extent that it is
370
associated with weak faculties, is to be produced? What do you
mean by that? That it can be "produced"? But then the quality of Arhat associated with sharp faculties, itself, can be produced. That it merits being produced? All the more reason the second quality of Arhat merits being produced.
Therefore occasional deliverance is not a quality of Arhat.
6. But, if this is the case, why does the Scripture speak of the "occasionally delivered" Arhat?
Such is an Arhat who, because of the weakness of his faculties depends on certain circumstances in order to actualize the absorption. An Arhat who is opposed to this is one who is "not occasionally delivered. "
371
7. According to the Abhidharma,
causes that sensual desire arises: 1. the latent defilement (anufaya) of sensual desire has not been completely known, has not been
ance of the mind. "
it is by reason of three
? abandoned; 2. some dharmas present themselves as favorable to the increase of sensual desire; and 3. there is erroneous judgment. [Now the totality of these three causes is impossible in the case of the Arhat. ]
Would one say that the Abhidharma speaks of sensual desire
which is produced by the totality of its causes, [but that sensual
desire can arise having incomplete causes, by the sole force of the
external object, the visaya]? But what dfoarma can arise without its 372
ii. Let us pass on to arguments from reason.
In the Arhat there are arisen dharmas which are opposed to the defilements and which are of such a nature that the defile- ments are reduced to the condition of absolutely not being able to arise, anutpattidharman. How then could the Arhat fall away?
Would you say that such dharmas are not arisen in the Arhat,
that the defilements exist within him in the state of a seed, that
which constitutes the seed of the defilements not having been
373
uprooted? In this hypothesis, how can one say of the Arhat that
he is ksindsrava, a person whose vices (dsrava) are cut off (ksina)? And if he is not a ksindsrava, how can one say that he is an
374 Arhat?
iii. But [answer the Vaibhasikas], the theory of the non-falling
75 away of the Arhat is contradicted by the Angdrakarsupama. *
376
This Sutra says, "A wise Aryan Sravaka who follows this rule
of life, who passes his time in this way (evam carata evam
causes being complete?
377 378 viharatas), '--it happens sometimes,
through weakness of mindfulness, that he produced bad thoughts. " Now this Aryan
Sravaka is not a Saiksa, but an Arhat, for the Sutra says later, "For a long period of time his mind is inclined towards distant separation from the defilements . . . his mind is turned towards Nirvana/'
379
And we know further
inclined towards separation," etc. , are some of the powers of the Arhat, which power is yet determined by the words, "his mind is cold, purged with respect to all the dharmas in which the vices
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that these qualities, "having the mind
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have their abode/'
We would answer: Yes, such are the texts.
karsupama refers to a Saiksa and not to an Arhat. In fact it is only of a Saiksa that one can say that "as long as the actions of a Bhiksu are not 'well understood,' even when he thus cultivates these
381 actions, the defilements will sometimes arise within him. "
***
The Vaibhasikas maintain that one can also fall away from the quality of Arhat.
***
Are the Arhats the only ones who are divided into six families (gotra)? Is this also the case for others?
58c. The Saiksas and the non-Aryans are also of six
382 families.
Saiksas and Prthagjanas are also of six families: the families of the Arhats have their antecedents in these families.
58d. In the Path of Seeing, there is no perfecting.
One can perfect his faculties outside of the Path of Seeing the Truths, but not while one traverses this Path, for, in view of its rapidity [in all fifteen moments, vi. 28], one cannot accomplish the
383 preparatory practices required for perfecting.
Some perfect their faculties as Prthagjanas;
385 Sraddhadhimuktas.
384
some, as
380
But the Angara-
? The Sutra quoted above (p. 1006) says, "I declare that one can fall away from any one of the four blisses of absorption which one has acquired; but, with respect to the immovable deliverance of mind which is physically actualized, I declare that one absolutely cannot fall away from it. "
How can it be that an Immovable Arhat can fall away from the blisses?
59a-b. There are three types of falling away: from that
which is acquired, from that which has not yet been
386 acquired, and from fruition.
Whoever falls away from the possession of a spiritual quality, falls away from what has been acquired.
Whoever does not acquire a spiritual quality that is to be acquired, falls away from that which has not yet been acquired.
Whoever does not actualize a spiritual quality that he possesses, falls away from his fruition (upabhoga).
*##
59c-d. The last, with respect to the Master; the second also,
with respect to an Immovable One; all three, with respect
387 to others.
1. The Buddha falls away only from fruition: [occupied with the good of his followers, he ceases his enjoyment of the blisses]. 2.
Among these falling aways,
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The Immovable One (the Akopyadharman) falls away from both
his fruition and from what has not yet been acquired: for he has
not necessarily acquired the dharmas proper to very distinguished
Consequently the fact that an Immovable One falls away from his fruition is not in contradiction with the above Sutra.
The masters who deny any falling away {aparihdnivddin) say,
"The pure deliverance of any Arhat is immovable: but an
Immovable One is to be defined as we have said; consequently one
cannot object: how does an Immovable One fall away from the
389 blisses? "
***
Does the saint who falls away from the state of Arhat take up a new existence?
390 60a. He does not die having fallen away from his result.
He never dies in the state of having fallen away from his result. In fact the Sutra says, "Oh Bhiksus, it happens that the wise Aryan Sravaka experiences weakness of mindfulness, that his mindful- ness becomes slow. But he quickly rejects, he makes disappear,
391 destroys, annihilates [this weakness of mindfulness]. "
If it were otherwise, if a person, having become an Arhat, falls
388
from what they have acquired.
persons.
3, The Arhats who are not immovable also fall away
away from the state of Arhat, and could continue to transmigrate, 392
the religious life {brahmacarya) would not inspire confidence.
A person fallen away from a state does not do that which a
person who resides in this state cannot do:
60b. He does not do what should not be doneJ
? Even though fallen, he does not do that which is in contradic- tion with his state (for example, abrahmacarya). In the same way a hero can be moved, but he does not fall.
***
How many Irresistible Paths and Paths of Deliverance are included in the transformation or perfecting of the faculties?
60c-d. For the Immovable One, there are nine paths of two
394 types.
The Prativedhanadharman who perfects his faculties and penetrates the family of the Immovable Ones, should produce nine Irresistible Paths, nine Paths of Deliverance, exactly like the Saiksa, in order to obtain the quality of Arhat [in detaching himself from Bhavagra].
Why is this?
395 60d. By reason of his intense cultivation.
The Prativedhanadharman has intensely cultivated the family of weak faculties; consequently this family cannot be transformed without a great effort: it has, in fact, been made firm both by the Path of the Saiksa and by the Path of the Asaiksa.
61a. For the Drstiprapta, one of each type.
For the transformation of the faculties by which a Sraddhad- himukta [=a Saiksa of weak faculties] becomes a Drstiprapta [=a Saiksa of sharp faculties], there must be an Irresistible Path and a
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Path of Deliverance.
In the two cases (60c-d and 61a), there is a preparatory path
(prayogamdrga).
***
These Irresistible Paths and Paths of Deliverance are
61b. Pure paths
For the faculties of Aryans cannot be transformed by impure paths.
##*
Where can the faculties be transformed?
61b. There is transformation among humans.
Only humans can transform their faculties; there is no
transformation elsewhere, for elsewhere falling away is impossi-
35 ble. *
***
In what sphere do the ASaiksas and the Saiksas exist in order to transform their faculties?
397 61c. The Asaiksas in nine spheres.
Namely in andgamya, dhydndntara, the Four Dhyanas and
? three Arupyas, [for the same state of Arhat can be obtained in these spheres].
6ld. The Saiksa, in six.
With the exception of the three Arupyas. Why is this?
61d-62b. Because the Saiksa who increases his faculties by
398 abandoning his state and his progress, obtains the state.
When the Saiksa perfects his faculties, he loses a state (=Sakrdagamiphala), a state that he had acquired by the path of weak faculties; he loses his visesa, that is, the progress that he had made--preparatory paths, Irresistible Path, Path of Deliverance, and Path of Excellence,--in the detachment of the Dhyanas, a
399
progress realized with his weak faculties. He obtains only a state
belonging to the family of sharp faculties, a state forming part of
the detachment of Kamadhatu, not the state of Anagamin which is
400 of Arupyadhatu.
*#*
The Arhats, by reason of their difference of faculties, are nine in number.
62c-d. Two Buddhas and seven Sravakas, the Arhats have
401 nine classes of faculties.
The Sravakas are seven in number, the five the first of which is the Parihanadharman, plus the Immovable One (=the Akopyad- harman) which is divided into two, depending on whether he was from his beginnings of the immovable family, or whether he has
402 obtained this family through the perfecting of his faculties.
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The two Buddhas,--the Pratyekabuddha and the Buddha,--are varieties of Immovable Ones.
These make nine persons whose faculties are respectively
403 weak-weak, etc.
***
In general, the Aryans are seven in number: 1. the Sraddhanu- sarin, 2. the Dharmanusarin, 3. the Sraddhadhimukta, 4. the Drstiprapta, 5. the Kayasaksin, 6. the Prajnavimukta, and 7. the
404 Ubhayatobhagavimukta.
63a-c. Seven pudgalas, by reason of their cultivation, their 405
faculties, absorption, deliverance, of two.
1. By reason of their cultivation (prayoga), there exists the Sraddhanusarin and the Dharmanusarin (vi. 29a-b). In the beginning, in the state of Prthagjana, it is by reason of faith {fraddhd) that the first, under the impulse of another [that is, learning the foundations of mindfulness, etc. , from another]
406
applied himself (prayoga) to things, that is, he devoted himself
to reflection and meditation. The second applied himself in the same way, but by following (anusara) the dharmas, that is, the twelvefold Scriptures, and by pursuing (anusarati) the dharmas, that is, the parts of Bodhi (bodhipaksikas) by himself.
2. By reason of their faculties, there exists the Sraddhadhi- mukta and the Drstiprapta (vi. 31c-d). Their faculties are respec- tively weak and sharp by reason of the predominance, among the first, of intention proceeding from faith (fraddaya adhimoksah), and, among the second, of wisdom (prajnd).
3. By reason of absorption (samapatti), there exists the Kayasaksin (vi. 43c-d), because he has realized the Absorption of Extinction (vi. 43c, viii. 33a).
? 4. By reason of deliverance, there exists the Prajnavimukta (vi. 64a-b).
5. By reason of absorption and deliverance, there exists the Ubhayatobhagavimukta (vi. 64a-b).
Thus, from the point of view of their enumeration, there are seven.
63c. They are six.
These seven, from the point of view of substantial entities, are six.
63d. Two exist in each of the three paths.
In the Path of Seeing, there exists two pudgalas or persons, the Sraddhanusarin and the Dharmanusarin; who, in the Path of Meditation, become a Sraddhadhimukta and a Drstiprapta, and, in the Path of the Arhat (=the Asaiksamarga), a Samayavimukta and an Asamayavimukta.
The Sraddhanusarin, (1) from the point of view of his faculties, is of three types: his faculties are weak by definition; but they can be either weak-weak, weak-medium, or weak-strong; (2) from the point of view of his family, of five types: of the family of the Parihanadharman, etc. (vi. 56); (3) from the point of view of the Path, of fifteen types: accordingly as he is in one of the eight Patiences or in one of the seven Knowledges (vi. 26-27); (4) from the point of view of detachment, of seventy-three types: 1. bound by all of the bonds of Kamadhatu, 2-10. detached from one . . . from nine categories of bonds of Kamadhatu; 11-19. detached from one . . . from nine categories of bonds of the First Dhyana, and so on up to and including Akincanyayatana. Eight times nine--det- achment from Kamadhatu, from the Four Dhyanas, and from three Arupyas,--make seventy-two, plus all the bonds of Kamadhatu,
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seventy-three; (5) from the point of view of the physical person (d/raya), of nine types: born in one of the three Dvlpas. [with the exception of Uttarakuru], born in one of the six heavens of Kamadhatu. Higher, the Path of Seeing is absent.
By taking into account all of these differences, there are some 147,825 types of Sraddhanusarin. The calculation relative to other saints is established according to the same elements, with the
407 differences of title.
***
Who is the saint that is called an Ubhayatobhagavimukta, ("one who is doubly delivered")? Who is the saint that is called a Prajnavimukta ("one who is delivered through prajna')?
64a-b. He who possesses extinction is doubly delivered; the
40 other is delivered through prajna. *
One who has entered the Absorption of Extinction (vi. 43c-d), that is to say, one who is endowed with extinction, is called "doubly delivered", because, by the power of prajna and absorption, he is delivered from the hindrance of the defilements and from the
409 hindrance that opposes the arising of the eight liberations.
The other is "one who is delivered through prajfia," because, by the power of prajna, he is delivered from the hindrance of the defilements.
***
The Blessed One said, "One who has abandoned the five
defilements here below and who is not subject to falling away is a
410
complete Saiksa. " How is a Saiksa completed?
? 64c-d. It is from the point of view of absorption, of
411 faculties, and of result that a Saiksa is said to be complete.
The complete Saiksa is of three types, complete by his result, his faculties, and his absorption. The Anagamin of the Sraddhad- himukta class (vi. 31c) who is not a Kayasaksin (vi. 43) is complete from the point of view of only his result.
The saint of the Drstiprapta class (vi. 32) who is not detached from Kamadhatu is complete from the point of view of only his faculties.
The Anagamin of the Drstiprapta class who is not a Kayasak- sin is complete from the point of view of his result and his faculties.
The Anagamin of the Sraddhadhimukta class who is a Kayasaksin is complete from the point of view of his result and his absorption.
The Anagamin of the Drstiprapta class who is a Kayasaksin is complete from the point of view of his result, his faculties, and his absorption.
A Saiksa cannot be complete from the point of view of only his absorption, for the Absorption of Extinction supposes the state of Anagamin, and consequently fullness or perfection from the point of view of result. In the same way a Saiksa cannot be complete only from the point of view of his faculties and his absorption.
65a. The Asaiksa is complete from two points of view.
From the point of view of his faculties and his absorption. There is no Asaiksa in fact who is not complete from the point of view of his state: consequently perfection from the point of view of state is counted as a perfection.
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The Prajfiavimukta (vi. 64) who is an Asamayavimukta (vi. 56) is complete from the point of view of his faculties.
The Ubhayatobhagavimukta who is a Samayavimukta is complete from the point of view of his absorption. The Ubhaya- tobhagavimukta who is an Asamayavimukta is complete from the point of view of his faculties and his absorption.
***
Numerous types of paths have been named: the worldly path and the transworldly path; the Paths of Seeing, Meditation and of the ASaiksa; the Preparatory Path, the Irresistible Path, the Path of Deliverance, and the Path of Excellence. In short, how many types of paths are there?
65b-d. In short, the path is of four types, Prepararory, Irresistible, Deliverance, and Excellence.
Prayogamdrga, the Path of Application or of Preparatory Cultivation, is the path by which and following upon which there
412 arises the Irresistible Path.
Anantaryamdrga, the Irresistible Path (vi. 28b), is the path by
413
Vimuktimdrga, the Path of Deliverance, is the first path which arises free from the obstacle abandoned by means of the Irresisti-
414 ble Path.
Visesamdrga, the Path of Excellence, is the path differing from 415
***
4 What is the meaning of the word mdrga, path?
which an obstacle is abandoned (vi. 64a-b, 77).
the preceding paths.
? The path is the path to Nirvana because it goes from here; or
417 rather, because it is through it that Nirvana is searched out.
But how are the Path of Deliverance and the Path of Excellence paths? In fact, it is on the Preparatory Path and the Irresistible Path that the acquisition of Nirvana depends.
Because the Path of Deliverance and the Path of Excellence are parallel to the paths of abandoning (Prahanamarga = the Irresistible Path par excellence) from the point of view of their object (the Truths), their aspects (sixteen aspects, impermanence, etc. ), and their purity; they are distinguished by being superior, for they have for their causes all the causes of the paths of abandoning plus the paths of abandoning themselves. And moreover because, by means of these two paths, one obtains higher and higher paths: (the Path of Deliverance is necessary for the acquisition of a new Irresistible Path). Or rather because, by these two paths, one enters
418 into nirupadhiiesa Nirvana, Nirvana without remnant.
#*#
The path is also called pratipad, route, because, by it, one 419
There are four routes: routes difficult for slow and quick
420 intelligences, and routes easy for slow and quick intelligences.
66a. The path belonging to the Dhyanas is the easy route.
The path (the Preparatory Path, etc. ), cultivated in the
Dhyanas, that is to say, while one is in Dhyana, is the easy route.
For the Dhyanas are endowed with parts (viii. 1,10) and present a
perfect balance of calm {samatha) and insight (vipasyana): it
results from this that, in the Dhyanas, the route flows on
421 effortlessly.
arrives at Nirvana.
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66b. The difficult routes belong to other spheres.
The path in anagamya, dhydndntara, and the Arupyas, is the difficult route, for these absorptions are not endowed with parts, and calm and insight are not in balance. In anagamya and dhydndntara, the power of insight, which is great, outweighs calm, which is small. But the opposite holds true in the Arupyas.
***
These two routes,
66c-d. When intelligence is weak, a route for slow intelli- gence; in the contrary case, a route for a quick intelligence.
Whether the route is easy or difficult, when the faculties are weak, the route is for slow intelligences {dhandhdbhijna)\ when the faculties are sharp, the route is for quick intelligences.
The route is termed for slow intelligences when intelligence {abhijnd) is slow {dhandha) in it. Abhijnd is the equivalent of prajna, and dhandha the equivalent of manda. So too, the route is for quick intelligences when abhijnd is rapid in it, that is to say, when prajfld is sharp in it. Or rather one can explain: the abhijnd
of a person of weak mind, is slow . . . ; the abhijnd of a person with a sharp mind, is quick.
***
The Path receives the name of bodhipdksika, "containing the 422
adjutants of Bodhi. " There are thirty-seven adjutants of Bodhi,
namely the four foundations of mindfulness, the four right
423
exertions, the four supernormal powers {rddhipddas)9 the five
? faculties, the five powers, the seven parts of Bodhi {bodhyangas)y 424
67a-b. The Knowledge of Destruction with the Knowledge
425 of Non-Arising is Bodhi.
The Knowledge of Destruction and the Knowledge of Non-Ar- ising are Bodhi which, by reason of the differences of the saints who obtain it, is threefold: Sravaka Bodhi, Pratyekabuddha Bodhi, and Unsurpassed, Perfect Bodhi. In fact, by these two Knowledges,
426
one completely abandons ignorance; by the first, one knows in
all truth that the task is accomplished; and by the second, that
427 there is nothing more to be accomplished in the task.
67b-c. Because they are favorable to it, thirty-seven dharmas are its adjutants.
and the Noble Eightfold Path.
Because they are favorable (anuloma) to Bodhi, thirty-seven 428
dharmas are adjutants of Bodhi (bodhipaksya).
67d. Thirty-seven from the point of view of name, but ten
429 substantial entities.
What are these ten entities?
68a-c. Faith, energy, mindfulness, prajnd, absorption, joy, 430
indifference, resolution, morality, and aptitude.
How is that?
68d-69b. Foundation of mindfulness is prajnd; energy receives the name of right exertion; the supernormal
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powers are samddhis.
The foundations of mindfulness, the right exertions (samyak- pradhanas), and the supernormal powers are, by their nature, prajna, energy, and samddhi.
i. We have therefore at first five items, faith, energy, mindfulness, samddhi, and prajna, which, under their own names, make up five faculties and five powers.
Among these five items, prajna is made up of: a. the four 431
foundations of mindfulness, b. one of the parts of Bodhi, the investigation into the dharmas (dharmapravicaya), and c. one of the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Views.
Energy is made up of: a. the four right exertions; b. one of the parts of Bodhi, energy; and c. one of the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Effort.
Samddhi is made up of: a. the four supernormal powers; b. one of the parts of Bodhi, samddhi; and c. one of the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Concentration.
Mindfulness is made up of: a. one of the parts of Bodhi, mindfulness; b. one of the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Mindfulness.
ii. What do we have in addition that are not these first five items? Among the parts of Bodhi, joy, resolution (ii. 25, English translation, p. 192), indifference; among the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Thoughts and the three parts of morality- Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood--which are counted as being one item, morality,
We have five plus five items; therefore the adjutants of Bodhi are made up of ten items.
According to the Vaibha? ikas, there are eleven items; Right Speech and Right Actions together form one item, and Right
? Livelihood is another item (see iv. 85c-d). Therefore morality {slid) 432
counts for two items added to the nine preceding items.
***
We have said that the foundations of mindfulness, the right exertions, and the supernormal powers are by their nature prajnd, energy, and samddhi.
69c-d. A definition according to their essentials; they are also all the qualities that arise from cultivation.
The preceding definitions refer to the principal elements of the
foundations of mindfulness, etc. ; but all these adjutants of Bodhi
are also a collection of qualities, pure or impure, which have arisen
from preparatory cultivation (prdyogika, iiJlb), from hearing, 433
***
Why is energy termed rignt exertion?
Because the body, speech, and mind are, through energy, correctly placed into action.
4H Why is samddhi termed a supernormal power (rddhipdda)?
Because samddhi is the foundation (pdda = pratisthd) of rddhi, that is to say, of the "success" of all spiritual qualities.
But certain masters, [the Vaibhasikas], maintain that super- normal power is samddhi, and that the four,--desire, mind, energy, and examination,--are the "feet", padas, of this supernormal power: they should therefore say that the adjutants of Bodhi are thirteen in number by adding desire and mind to their list of
reflection, or meditation.
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eleven. Furthermore, to affirm that supernormal power is samddhi is to contradict the Sutra which defines supernormal power, "What is supernormal power? The ascetic accomplishes different works
435
of miraculous power; being one, he becomes many,"
436 on.
and so
Why are faith, energy, etc. , termed faculties and powers? Accordingly as they are weak or strong, for the faculties and the
437
powers cannot be broken or crushed. 726bl6).
(Vibhdsd, TD 27, p.
How is the order of the faculties explained?
In order to obtain the result in which one believes (sraddhd), one makes an effort (yiryam arabhate). When one forces onself, there is a setting up of mindfulness {smrtyupasthiti). When mindfulness is set up, one fixes the mind {samddhi) in order to avoid distraction. When the mind is fixed, there arises a conscious- ness which conforms to the object (prajnd).
***
In which stages are the different adjutants of Bodhi placed? In which are they the important factors?
The Vaibhasikas say,
70. They form seven groups which are distributed, in order,
between the beginning stage, the nirvedhabhdgiyas, 438
In the beginning stage, there are the foundations of mindful-
439 ness, because, in this stage, one examines the body, etc.
In the Heats (Usmagata), there are the right exertions (samyakpradhdna), for, in this stage one increases his energy, an increase which is the principle of progress.
Meditation, and Seeing.
? In the Summits (Murdhan), there are the supernormal powers,
for, due to them, one obtains the condition in which the roots of
440 good cannot be lost.
The faculties are in the Patiences, for faith, energy, etc. , become predominant {ddhipatyaprdpta, see ii. 2a-b) in this stage from the fact that, in the Patiences, one is no longer capable of falling away (vi. 23b).
The powers are in the Supreme Worldly Dharmas, for, in this stage, faith, energy, etc. , can no longer be crushed either by the defilements--for these are not activated--nor by any other worldly dharmas.
The parts of Bodhi are in the Path of Meditation, for this Path is close to Bodhi, that is to say, to the Knowledge of Destruction and the Knowledge of Non-Arising in which the Path of Seeing is separated by the Path of Meditation.
The parts of the Noble Eightfold Path are in the Path of
Seeing, for this Path is characterized by progress: for one goes
441 quickly.
[But, one would say, the Path of Seeing proceeds from out of the Path of Meditation. Why not respect this order? ] The Sutra lists the parts of Bodhi (=the Path of Meditation) first, and the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path (=the Path of Seeing) second, with an end to having an order corresponding to the number of parts, at first seven, and then eight. Investigation into the dharmas (dharmapravicaya) is at one and the same time Bodhi and a part of Bodhi, and Right Views is both the Path and a part of the Noble Eightfold Path. (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 726c4. )
Such is the doctrine of the Vaibhasikas. ***
Other masters justify the order of the adjutants of Bodhi without disturbing the regular succession, by placing, as it suits
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them, the Path of Seeing first, and then the Path of Meditation.
There is first 1. the foundations of mindfulness, which exist
with a view to curbing thoughts (buddhi) which disperse
themselves naturally, distracted as they are by the variety of
objects. The four foundations of mindfulness bind the mind, for it
is said in the Sutra, ". . . with a view to expelling the idea of
2. Energy (vtrya) increases through the power of the founda- tions of mindfulness, through the control and the exertion (pradhana) of the mind through the accomplishment of the fourfold tasks: abandoning the bad dharmas which have been produced, the non-production of bad dharmas which have not been produced . . . : these are the four right exertions.
3. Then, by reason of the purification of absorption (samddhi), the supernormal powers arise and are cultivated.
4. Supported by absorption, there arise faith, energy, etc. , which are predominant among the transworldly dharmas (lokotta- ra-dharmas) since they lead to them: they are the faculties, indriyas.
5. The same faith, energy, etc. , when they triumph over the growth of their opponents, are the powers, balas.
6. The parts of Bodhi arise in the Path of Seeing, because, for the first time, the ascetic understands the true nature of the dharmas. [Bodhi signifies pure prajnd. ]
7. The parts of Bodhi arise in the Path of Seeing and in the Path of Meditation. In fact, it is said, "The Noble Eightfold Path goes thus to fullness through meditation, the four foundations of mindfulness go to their fullness through meditation . . . the seven
444
parts of Bodhi go to their fullness through meditation/' [Therefore the Noble Eightfold Path also exists in the Path of Meditation, for this Path, in the Path of Seeing, does not obtain its fullness through meditation. ]
442
1, p. 758b5).
desire
which have their support in thirst. . . " (Madhyama, TD 443
? It is further said, "Oh Bhiksus, to say 'words conforming to the truth' is an expression that says the Four Truths; Oh Bhiksus, to say 'to advance by the Path* is an expression that speaks of the Noble Eightfold Path. "
Therefore, since the Noble Eightfold Patn exists both in the Path of Seeing and in the Path of Meditation, the order which places the parts of Bodhi first, and the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path second, is justified.
***
Among the adjutants of Bodhi, how many are impure, and how many are pure?
71a-b. The parts of Bodhi and the parts of the Path are pure.
They are only pure, for they are placed in the Path of Seeing and the Path of Meditation. Without doubt, there are worldly right
71b. The others are of two types.
The other adjutants of Bodhi are either impure or pure.
***
How many exist in the different spheres? (Vibhasa, TD 27, p. 497b26. )
445 Eightfold Path.
368
very moment of his death, and Nirvana. Therefore he did not
fall away from the quality of Arhat.
5. The Dasottara teaches, "There is a dharma which one should
produce, namely occasional, cherished deliverance. There is a
dharma that one should actualize, namely the immovable deliver- 369
If occasional and cherished deliverance were the quality of an Arhat, and so if the quality of Arhat were of two types, why does the Dasottara, alone among the Sutras, speak twice, under two distinct names, of the quality of Arhat? Moreover, no part of the Scripture employs the expression "to produce the quality of Arhat"; it always says that one should actualize this quality.
Would you say that the quality of Arhat, to the extent that it is
370
associated with weak faculties, is to be produced? What do you
mean by that? That it can be "produced"? But then the quality of Arhat associated with sharp faculties, itself, can be produced. That it merits being produced? All the more reason the second quality of Arhat merits being produced.
Therefore occasional deliverance is not a quality of Arhat.
6. But, if this is the case, why does the Scripture speak of the "occasionally delivered" Arhat?
Such is an Arhat who, because of the weakness of his faculties depends on certain circumstances in order to actualize the absorption. An Arhat who is opposed to this is one who is "not occasionally delivered. "
371
7. According to the Abhidharma,
causes that sensual desire arises: 1. the latent defilement (anufaya) of sensual desire has not been completely known, has not been
ance of the mind. "
it is by reason of three
? abandoned; 2. some dharmas present themselves as favorable to the increase of sensual desire; and 3. there is erroneous judgment. [Now the totality of these three causes is impossible in the case of the Arhat. ]
Would one say that the Abhidharma speaks of sensual desire
which is produced by the totality of its causes, [but that sensual
desire can arise having incomplete causes, by the sole force of the
external object, the visaya]? But what dfoarma can arise without its 372
ii. Let us pass on to arguments from reason.
In the Arhat there are arisen dharmas which are opposed to the defilements and which are of such a nature that the defile- ments are reduced to the condition of absolutely not being able to arise, anutpattidharman. How then could the Arhat fall away?
Would you say that such dharmas are not arisen in the Arhat,
that the defilements exist within him in the state of a seed, that
which constitutes the seed of the defilements not having been
373
uprooted? In this hypothesis, how can one say of the Arhat that
he is ksindsrava, a person whose vices (dsrava) are cut off (ksina)? And if he is not a ksindsrava, how can one say that he is an
374 Arhat?
iii. But [answer the Vaibhasikas], the theory of the non-falling
75 away of the Arhat is contradicted by the Angdrakarsupama. *
376
This Sutra says, "A wise Aryan Sravaka who follows this rule
of life, who passes his time in this way (evam carata evam
causes being complete?
377 378 viharatas), '--it happens sometimes,
through weakness of mindfulness, that he produced bad thoughts. " Now this Aryan
Sravaka is not a Saiksa, but an Arhat, for the Sutra says later, "For a long period of time his mind is inclined towards distant separation from the defilements . . . his mind is turned towards Nirvana/'
379
And we know further
inclined towards separation," etc. , are some of the powers of the Arhat, which power is yet determined by the words, "his mind is cold, purged with respect to all the dharmas in which the vices
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that these qualities, "having the mind
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have their abode/'
We would answer: Yes, such are the texts.
karsupama refers to a Saiksa and not to an Arhat. In fact it is only of a Saiksa that one can say that "as long as the actions of a Bhiksu are not 'well understood,' even when he thus cultivates these
381 actions, the defilements will sometimes arise within him. "
***
The Vaibhasikas maintain that one can also fall away from the quality of Arhat.
***
Are the Arhats the only ones who are divided into six families (gotra)? Is this also the case for others?
58c. The Saiksas and the non-Aryans are also of six
382 families.
Saiksas and Prthagjanas are also of six families: the families of the Arhats have their antecedents in these families.
58d. In the Path of Seeing, there is no perfecting.
One can perfect his faculties outside of the Path of Seeing the Truths, but not while one traverses this Path, for, in view of its rapidity [in all fifteen moments, vi. 28], one cannot accomplish the
383 preparatory practices required for perfecting.
Some perfect their faculties as Prthagjanas;
385 Sraddhadhimuktas.
384
some, as
380
But the Angara-
? The Sutra quoted above (p. 1006) says, "I declare that one can fall away from any one of the four blisses of absorption which one has acquired; but, with respect to the immovable deliverance of mind which is physically actualized, I declare that one absolutely cannot fall away from it. "
How can it be that an Immovable Arhat can fall away from the blisses?
59a-b. There are three types of falling away: from that
which is acquired, from that which has not yet been
386 acquired, and from fruition.
Whoever falls away from the possession of a spiritual quality, falls away from what has been acquired.
Whoever does not acquire a spiritual quality that is to be acquired, falls away from that which has not yet been acquired.
Whoever does not actualize a spiritual quality that he possesses, falls away from his fruition (upabhoga).
*##
59c-d. The last, with respect to the Master; the second also,
with respect to an Immovable One; all three, with respect
387 to others.
1. The Buddha falls away only from fruition: [occupied with the good of his followers, he ceases his enjoyment of the blisses]. 2.
Among these falling aways,
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The Immovable One (the Akopyadharman) falls away from both
his fruition and from what has not yet been acquired: for he has
not necessarily acquired the dharmas proper to very distinguished
Consequently the fact that an Immovable One falls away from his fruition is not in contradiction with the above Sutra.
The masters who deny any falling away {aparihdnivddin) say,
"The pure deliverance of any Arhat is immovable: but an
Immovable One is to be defined as we have said; consequently one
cannot object: how does an Immovable One fall away from the
389 blisses? "
***
Does the saint who falls away from the state of Arhat take up a new existence?
390 60a. He does not die having fallen away from his result.
He never dies in the state of having fallen away from his result. In fact the Sutra says, "Oh Bhiksus, it happens that the wise Aryan Sravaka experiences weakness of mindfulness, that his mindful- ness becomes slow. But he quickly rejects, he makes disappear,
391 destroys, annihilates [this weakness of mindfulness]. "
If it were otherwise, if a person, having become an Arhat, falls
388
from what they have acquired.
persons.
3, The Arhats who are not immovable also fall away
away from the state of Arhat, and could continue to transmigrate, 392
the religious life {brahmacarya) would not inspire confidence.
A person fallen away from a state does not do that which a
person who resides in this state cannot do:
60b. He does not do what should not be doneJ
? Even though fallen, he does not do that which is in contradic- tion with his state (for example, abrahmacarya). In the same way a hero can be moved, but he does not fall.
***
How many Irresistible Paths and Paths of Deliverance are included in the transformation or perfecting of the faculties?
60c-d. For the Immovable One, there are nine paths of two
394 types.
The Prativedhanadharman who perfects his faculties and penetrates the family of the Immovable Ones, should produce nine Irresistible Paths, nine Paths of Deliverance, exactly like the Saiksa, in order to obtain the quality of Arhat [in detaching himself from Bhavagra].
Why is this?
395 60d. By reason of his intense cultivation.
The Prativedhanadharman has intensely cultivated the family of weak faculties; consequently this family cannot be transformed without a great effort: it has, in fact, been made firm both by the Path of the Saiksa and by the Path of the Asaiksa.
61a. For the Drstiprapta, one of each type.
For the transformation of the faculties by which a Sraddhad- himukta [=a Saiksa of weak faculties] becomes a Drstiprapta [=a Saiksa of sharp faculties], there must be an Irresistible Path and a
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Path of Deliverance.
In the two cases (60c-d and 61a), there is a preparatory path
(prayogamdrga).
***
These Irresistible Paths and Paths of Deliverance are
61b. Pure paths
For the faculties of Aryans cannot be transformed by impure paths.
##*
Where can the faculties be transformed?
61b. There is transformation among humans.
Only humans can transform their faculties; there is no
transformation elsewhere, for elsewhere falling away is impossi-
35 ble. *
***
In what sphere do the ASaiksas and the Saiksas exist in order to transform their faculties?
397 61c. The Asaiksas in nine spheres.
Namely in andgamya, dhydndntara, the Four Dhyanas and
? three Arupyas, [for the same state of Arhat can be obtained in these spheres].
6ld. The Saiksa, in six.
With the exception of the three Arupyas. Why is this?
61d-62b. Because the Saiksa who increases his faculties by
398 abandoning his state and his progress, obtains the state.
When the Saiksa perfects his faculties, he loses a state (=Sakrdagamiphala), a state that he had acquired by the path of weak faculties; he loses his visesa, that is, the progress that he had made--preparatory paths, Irresistible Path, Path of Deliverance, and Path of Excellence,--in the detachment of the Dhyanas, a
399
progress realized with his weak faculties. He obtains only a state
belonging to the family of sharp faculties, a state forming part of
the detachment of Kamadhatu, not the state of Anagamin which is
400 of Arupyadhatu.
*#*
The Arhats, by reason of their difference of faculties, are nine in number.
62c-d. Two Buddhas and seven Sravakas, the Arhats have
401 nine classes of faculties.
The Sravakas are seven in number, the five the first of which is the Parihanadharman, plus the Immovable One (=the Akopyad- harman) which is divided into two, depending on whether he was from his beginnings of the immovable family, or whether he has
402 obtained this family through the perfecting of his faculties.
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The two Buddhas,--the Pratyekabuddha and the Buddha,--are varieties of Immovable Ones.
These make nine persons whose faculties are respectively
403 weak-weak, etc.
***
In general, the Aryans are seven in number: 1. the Sraddhanu- sarin, 2. the Dharmanusarin, 3. the Sraddhadhimukta, 4. the Drstiprapta, 5. the Kayasaksin, 6. the Prajnavimukta, and 7. the
404 Ubhayatobhagavimukta.
63a-c. Seven pudgalas, by reason of their cultivation, their 405
faculties, absorption, deliverance, of two.
1. By reason of their cultivation (prayoga), there exists the Sraddhanusarin and the Dharmanusarin (vi. 29a-b). In the beginning, in the state of Prthagjana, it is by reason of faith {fraddhd) that the first, under the impulse of another [that is, learning the foundations of mindfulness, etc. , from another]
406
applied himself (prayoga) to things, that is, he devoted himself
to reflection and meditation. The second applied himself in the same way, but by following (anusara) the dharmas, that is, the twelvefold Scriptures, and by pursuing (anusarati) the dharmas, that is, the parts of Bodhi (bodhipaksikas) by himself.
2. By reason of their faculties, there exists the Sraddhadhi- mukta and the Drstiprapta (vi. 31c-d). Their faculties are respec- tively weak and sharp by reason of the predominance, among the first, of intention proceeding from faith (fraddaya adhimoksah), and, among the second, of wisdom (prajnd).
3. By reason of absorption (samapatti), there exists the Kayasaksin (vi. 43c-d), because he has realized the Absorption of Extinction (vi. 43c, viii. 33a).
? 4. By reason of deliverance, there exists the Prajnavimukta (vi. 64a-b).
5. By reason of absorption and deliverance, there exists the Ubhayatobhagavimukta (vi. 64a-b).
Thus, from the point of view of their enumeration, there are seven.
63c. They are six.
These seven, from the point of view of substantial entities, are six.
63d. Two exist in each of the three paths.
In the Path of Seeing, there exists two pudgalas or persons, the Sraddhanusarin and the Dharmanusarin; who, in the Path of Meditation, become a Sraddhadhimukta and a Drstiprapta, and, in the Path of the Arhat (=the Asaiksamarga), a Samayavimukta and an Asamayavimukta.
The Sraddhanusarin, (1) from the point of view of his faculties, is of three types: his faculties are weak by definition; but they can be either weak-weak, weak-medium, or weak-strong; (2) from the point of view of his family, of five types: of the family of the Parihanadharman, etc. (vi. 56); (3) from the point of view of the Path, of fifteen types: accordingly as he is in one of the eight Patiences or in one of the seven Knowledges (vi. 26-27); (4) from the point of view of detachment, of seventy-three types: 1. bound by all of the bonds of Kamadhatu, 2-10. detached from one . . . from nine categories of bonds of Kamadhatu; 11-19. detached from one . . . from nine categories of bonds of the First Dhyana, and so on up to and including Akincanyayatana. Eight times nine--det- achment from Kamadhatu, from the Four Dhyanas, and from three Arupyas,--make seventy-two, plus all the bonds of Kamadhatu,
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seventy-three; (5) from the point of view of the physical person (d/raya), of nine types: born in one of the three Dvlpas. [with the exception of Uttarakuru], born in one of the six heavens of Kamadhatu. Higher, the Path of Seeing is absent.
By taking into account all of these differences, there are some 147,825 types of Sraddhanusarin. The calculation relative to other saints is established according to the same elements, with the
407 differences of title.
***
Who is the saint that is called an Ubhayatobhagavimukta, ("one who is doubly delivered")? Who is the saint that is called a Prajnavimukta ("one who is delivered through prajna')?
64a-b. He who possesses extinction is doubly delivered; the
40 other is delivered through prajna. *
One who has entered the Absorption of Extinction (vi. 43c-d), that is to say, one who is endowed with extinction, is called "doubly delivered", because, by the power of prajna and absorption, he is delivered from the hindrance of the defilements and from the
409 hindrance that opposes the arising of the eight liberations.
The other is "one who is delivered through prajfia," because, by the power of prajna, he is delivered from the hindrance of the defilements.
***
The Blessed One said, "One who has abandoned the five
defilements here below and who is not subject to falling away is a
410
complete Saiksa. " How is a Saiksa completed?
? 64c-d. It is from the point of view of absorption, of
411 faculties, and of result that a Saiksa is said to be complete.
The complete Saiksa is of three types, complete by his result, his faculties, and his absorption. The Anagamin of the Sraddhad- himukta class (vi. 31c) who is not a Kayasaksin (vi. 43) is complete from the point of view of only his result.
The saint of the Drstiprapta class (vi. 32) who is not detached from Kamadhatu is complete from the point of view of only his faculties.
The Anagamin of the Drstiprapta class who is not a Kayasak- sin is complete from the point of view of his result and his faculties.
The Anagamin of the Sraddhadhimukta class who is a Kayasaksin is complete from the point of view of his result and his absorption.
The Anagamin of the Drstiprapta class who is a Kayasaksin is complete from the point of view of his result, his faculties, and his absorption.
A Saiksa cannot be complete from the point of view of only his absorption, for the Absorption of Extinction supposes the state of Anagamin, and consequently fullness or perfection from the point of view of result. In the same way a Saiksa cannot be complete only from the point of view of his faculties and his absorption.
65a. The Asaiksa is complete from two points of view.
From the point of view of his faculties and his absorption. There is no Asaiksa in fact who is not complete from the point of view of his state: consequently perfection from the point of view of state is counted as a perfection.
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The Prajfiavimukta (vi. 64) who is an Asamayavimukta (vi. 56) is complete from the point of view of his faculties.
The Ubhayatobhagavimukta who is a Samayavimukta is complete from the point of view of his absorption. The Ubhaya- tobhagavimukta who is an Asamayavimukta is complete from the point of view of his faculties and his absorption.
***
Numerous types of paths have been named: the worldly path and the transworldly path; the Paths of Seeing, Meditation and of the ASaiksa; the Preparatory Path, the Irresistible Path, the Path of Deliverance, and the Path of Excellence. In short, how many types of paths are there?
65b-d. In short, the path is of four types, Prepararory, Irresistible, Deliverance, and Excellence.
Prayogamdrga, the Path of Application or of Preparatory Cultivation, is the path by which and following upon which there
412 arises the Irresistible Path.
Anantaryamdrga, the Irresistible Path (vi. 28b), is the path by
413
Vimuktimdrga, the Path of Deliverance, is the first path which arises free from the obstacle abandoned by means of the Irresisti-
414 ble Path.
Visesamdrga, the Path of Excellence, is the path differing from 415
***
4 What is the meaning of the word mdrga, path?
which an obstacle is abandoned (vi. 64a-b, 77).
the preceding paths.
? The path is the path to Nirvana because it goes from here; or
417 rather, because it is through it that Nirvana is searched out.
But how are the Path of Deliverance and the Path of Excellence paths? In fact, it is on the Preparatory Path and the Irresistible Path that the acquisition of Nirvana depends.
Because the Path of Deliverance and the Path of Excellence are parallel to the paths of abandoning (Prahanamarga = the Irresistible Path par excellence) from the point of view of their object (the Truths), their aspects (sixteen aspects, impermanence, etc. ), and their purity; they are distinguished by being superior, for they have for their causes all the causes of the paths of abandoning plus the paths of abandoning themselves. And moreover because, by means of these two paths, one obtains higher and higher paths: (the Path of Deliverance is necessary for the acquisition of a new Irresistible Path). Or rather because, by these two paths, one enters
418 into nirupadhiiesa Nirvana, Nirvana without remnant.
#*#
The path is also called pratipad, route, because, by it, one 419
There are four routes: routes difficult for slow and quick
420 intelligences, and routes easy for slow and quick intelligences.
66a. The path belonging to the Dhyanas is the easy route.
The path (the Preparatory Path, etc. ), cultivated in the
Dhyanas, that is to say, while one is in Dhyana, is the easy route.
For the Dhyanas are endowed with parts (viii. 1,10) and present a
perfect balance of calm {samatha) and insight (vipasyana): it
results from this that, in the Dhyanas, the route flows on
421 effortlessly.
arrives at Nirvana.
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66b. The difficult routes belong to other spheres.
The path in anagamya, dhydndntara, and the Arupyas, is the difficult route, for these absorptions are not endowed with parts, and calm and insight are not in balance. In anagamya and dhydndntara, the power of insight, which is great, outweighs calm, which is small. But the opposite holds true in the Arupyas.
***
These two routes,
66c-d. When intelligence is weak, a route for slow intelli- gence; in the contrary case, a route for a quick intelligence.
Whether the route is easy or difficult, when the faculties are weak, the route is for slow intelligences {dhandhdbhijna)\ when the faculties are sharp, the route is for quick intelligences.
The route is termed for slow intelligences when intelligence {abhijnd) is slow {dhandha) in it. Abhijnd is the equivalent of prajna, and dhandha the equivalent of manda. So too, the route is for quick intelligences when abhijnd is rapid in it, that is to say, when prajfld is sharp in it. Or rather one can explain: the abhijnd
of a person of weak mind, is slow . . . ; the abhijnd of a person with a sharp mind, is quick.
***
The Path receives the name of bodhipdksika, "containing the 422
adjutants of Bodhi. " There are thirty-seven adjutants of Bodhi,
namely the four foundations of mindfulness, the four right
423
exertions, the four supernormal powers {rddhipddas)9 the five
? faculties, the five powers, the seven parts of Bodhi {bodhyangas)y 424
67a-b. The Knowledge of Destruction with the Knowledge
425 of Non-Arising is Bodhi.
The Knowledge of Destruction and the Knowledge of Non-Ar- ising are Bodhi which, by reason of the differences of the saints who obtain it, is threefold: Sravaka Bodhi, Pratyekabuddha Bodhi, and Unsurpassed, Perfect Bodhi. In fact, by these two Knowledges,
426
one completely abandons ignorance; by the first, one knows in
all truth that the task is accomplished; and by the second, that
427 there is nothing more to be accomplished in the task.
67b-c. Because they are favorable to it, thirty-seven dharmas are its adjutants.
and the Noble Eightfold Path.
Because they are favorable (anuloma) to Bodhi, thirty-seven 428
dharmas are adjutants of Bodhi (bodhipaksya).
67d. Thirty-seven from the point of view of name, but ten
429 substantial entities.
What are these ten entities?
68a-c. Faith, energy, mindfulness, prajnd, absorption, joy, 430
indifference, resolution, morality, and aptitude.
How is that?
68d-69b. Foundation of mindfulness is prajnd; energy receives the name of right exertion; the supernormal
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powers are samddhis.
The foundations of mindfulness, the right exertions (samyak- pradhanas), and the supernormal powers are, by their nature, prajna, energy, and samddhi.
i. We have therefore at first five items, faith, energy, mindfulness, samddhi, and prajna, which, under their own names, make up five faculties and five powers.
Among these five items, prajna is made up of: a. the four 431
foundations of mindfulness, b. one of the parts of Bodhi, the investigation into the dharmas (dharmapravicaya), and c. one of the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Views.
Energy is made up of: a. the four right exertions; b. one of the parts of Bodhi, energy; and c. one of the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Effort.
Samddhi is made up of: a. the four supernormal powers; b. one of the parts of Bodhi, samddhi; and c. one of the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Concentration.
Mindfulness is made up of: a. one of the parts of Bodhi, mindfulness; b. one of the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Mindfulness.
ii. What do we have in addition that are not these first five items? Among the parts of Bodhi, joy, resolution (ii. 25, English translation, p. 192), indifference; among the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path, Right Thoughts and the three parts of morality- Right Speech, Right Action, and Right Livelihood--which are counted as being one item, morality,
We have five plus five items; therefore the adjutants of Bodhi are made up of ten items.
According to the Vaibha? ikas, there are eleven items; Right Speech and Right Actions together form one item, and Right
? Livelihood is another item (see iv. 85c-d). Therefore morality {slid) 432
counts for two items added to the nine preceding items.
***
We have said that the foundations of mindfulness, the right exertions, and the supernormal powers are by their nature prajnd, energy, and samddhi.
69c-d. A definition according to their essentials; they are also all the qualities that arise from cultivation.
The preceding definitions refer to the principal elements of the
foundations of mindfulness, etc. ; but all these adjutants of Bodhi
are also a collection of qualities, pure or impure, which have arisen
from preparatory cultivation (prdyogika, iiJlb), from hearing, 433
***
Why is energy termed rignt exertion?
Because the body, speech, and mind are, through energy, correctly placed into action.
4H Why is samddhi termed a supernormal power (rddhipdda)?
Because samddhi is the foundation (pdda = pratisthd) of rddhi, that is to say, of the "success" of all spiritual qualities.
But certain masters, [the Vaibhasikas], maintain that super- normal power is samddhi, and that the four,--desire, mind, energy, and examination,--are the "feet", padas, of this supernormal power: they should therefore say that the adjutants of Bodhi are thirteen in number by adding desire and mind to their list of
reflection, or meditation.
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eleven. Furthermore, to affirm that supernormal power is samddhi is to contradict the Sutra which defines supernormal power, "What is supernormal power? The ascetic accomplishes different works
435
of miraculous power; being one, he becomes many,"
436 on.
and so
Why are faith, energy, etc. , termed faculties and powers? Accordingly as they are weak or strong, for the faculties and the
437
powers cannot be broken or crushed. 726bl6).
(Vibhdsd, TD 27, p.
How is the order of the faculties explained?
In order to obtain the result in which one believes (sraddhd), one makes an effort (yiryam arabhate). When one forces onself, there is a setting up of mindfulness {smrtyupasthiti). When mindfulness is set up, one fixes the mind {samddhi) in order to avoid distraction. When the mind is fixed, there arises a conscious- ness which conforms to the object (prajnd).
***
In which stages are the different adjutants of Bodhi placed? In which are they the important factors?
The Vaibhasikas say,
70. They form seven groups which are distributed, in order,
between the beginning stage, the nirvedhabhdgiyas, 438
In the beginning stage, there are the foundations of mindful-
439 ness, because, in this stage, one examines the body, etc.
In the Heats (Usmagata), there are the right exertions (samyakpradhdna), for, in this stage one increases his energy, an increase which is the principle of progress.
Meditation, and Seeing.
? In the Summits (Murdhan), there are the supernormal powers,
for, due to them, one obtains the condition in which the roots of
440 good cannot be lost.
The faculties are in the Patiences, for faith, energy, etc. , become predominant {ddhipatyaprdpta, see ii. 2a-b) in this stage from the fact that, in the Patiences, one is no longer capable of falling away (vi. 23b).
The powers are in the Supreme Worldly Dharmas, for, in this stage, faith, energy, etc. , can no longer be crushed either by the defilements--for these are not activated--nor by any other worldly dharmas.
The parts of Bodhi are in the Path of Meditation, for this Path is close to Bodhi, that is to say, to the Knowledge of Destruction and the Knowledge of Non-Arising in which the Path of Seeing is separated by the Path of Meditation.
The parts of the Noble Eightfold Path are in the Path of
Seeing, for this Path is characterized by progress: for one goes
441 quickly.
[But, one would say, the Path of Seeing proceeds from out of the Path of Meditation. Why not respect this order? ] The Sutra lists the parts of Bodhi (=the Path of Meditation) first, and the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path (=the Path of Seeing) second, with an end to having an order corresponding to the number of parts, at first seven, and then eight. Investigation into the dharmas (dharmapravicaya) is at one and the same time Bodhi and a part of Bodhi, and Right Views is both the Path and a part of the Noble Eightfold Path. (Vibhdsd, TD 27, p. 726c4. )
Such is the doctrine of the Vaibhasikas. ***
Other masters justify the order of the adjutants of Bodhi without disturbing the regular succession, by placing, as it suits
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them, the Path of Seeing first, and then the Path of Meditation.
There is first 1. the foundations of mindfulness, which exist
with a view to curbing thoughts (buddhi) which disperse
themselves naturally, distracted as they are by the variety of
objects. The four foundations of mindfulness bind the mind, for it
is said in the Sutra, ". . . with a view to expelling the idea of
2. Energy (vtrya) increases through the power of the founda- tions of mindfulness, through the control and the exertion (pradhana) of the mind through the accomplishment of the fourfold tasks: abandoning the bad dharmas which have been produced, the non-production of bad dharmas which have not been produced . . . : these are the four right exertions.
3. Then, by reason of the purification of absorption (samddhi), the supernormal powers arise and are cultivated.
4. Supported by absorption, there arise faith, energy, etc. , which are predominant among the transworldly dharmas (lokotta- ra-dharmas) since they lead to them: they are the faculties, indriyas.
5. The same faith, energy, etc. , when they triumph over the growth of their opponents, are the powers, balas.
6. The parts of Bodhi arise in the Path of Seeing, because, for the first time, the ascetic understands the true nature of the dharmas. [Bodhi signifies pure prajnd. ]
7. The parts of Bodhi arise in the Path of Seeing and in the Path of Meditation. In fact, it is said, "The Noble Eightfold Path goes thus to fullness through meditation, the four foundations of mindfulness go to their fullness through meditation . . . the seven
444
parts of Bodhi go to their fullness through meditation/' [Therefore the Noble Eightfold Path also exists in the Path of Meditation, for this Path, in the Path of Seeing, does not obtain its fullness through meditation. ]
442
1, p. 758b5).
desire
which have their support in thirst. . . " (Madhyama, TD 443
? It is further said, "Oh Bhiksus, to say 'words conforming to the truth' is an expression that says the Four Truths; Oh Bhiksus, to say 'to advance by the Path* is an expression that speaks of the Noble Eightfold Path. "
Therefore, since the Noble Eightfold Patn exists both in the Path of Seeing and in the Path of Meditation, the order which places the parts of Bodhi first, and the parts of the Noble Eightfold Path second, is justified.
***
Among the adjutants of Bodhi, how many are impure, and how many are pure?
71a-b. The parts of Bodhi and the parts of the Path are pure.
They are only pure, for they are placed in the Path of Seeing and the Path of Meditation. Without doubt, there are worldly right
71b. The others are of two types.
The other adjutants of Bodhi are either impure or pure.
***
How many exist in the different spheres? (Vibhasa, TD 27, p. 497b26. )
445 Eightfold Path.
