The Second Stage
Stages of the Mahayana Bodhisattva Path are similar to the Theravada idea of the Noble Eight-fold Path, although not the same in the order of the stages, as well as the aim of the various stages that comprise the total trajectory that the Bodhisattva has to traverse. The idea of the Bodhisattva path is linked to the idea of bodhicitta, the aspiration of becoming enlightened, and this aim is for the benefit of all sentient beings—when compared to the Arahant idea it is distinguished by the fact, that the Bodhisattva holds off on attaining final non-returning Nirvana until all sentient beings are brought along the journey of the Bodhisattva path towards enlightenment.
Various Mahayana texts discuss the stages of the path in varying detail and order. For this fourth article in the series, I’ve mainly followed the stages of the Path as explained in the Dasa Bhumika Sutra. Dasa bhumika in Sanskrit means ten stages. Prior to these ten stages, and similar to how the Theravada Eight-fold Path had the gotrabhu (becoming of the lineage), some texts define two preliminary stages that were explained in Part 1 of this series. I’ve also consulted the abhidharmsamuccaya text of Asanga that provides additional information for the stages, as well as the Sutralamkara text.
In this article, I’ll cover the second stage of the 10 Stages of the Mahayana Bodhisattva Path.
Stage 2. The Spotless Unstained stage (vimala bhumi)
The second stage is called Spotless and Unstained, because the Bodhisattva realizes that he has become free from unwholesome and bad actions. The Bodhisattva has perfected the Mahayana virtuous precepts (sila paramita) and attained the bases of the ten virtuous and skillful actions (kusala mula). Their thoughts are free from any taints or defilements. The Bodhisattva practices absorption meditation (dhyana) and mind concentration (samadhi).
The Sutralamkara clarifies the Sanskrit term vimala as becoming pure of mind, by freeing oneself from the stain of immorality (dauhsilya-mala) and the stain of attention paid to other vehicles (anyayana-manas-karamala). Vehicles in this sense refers to Non-Mahayana schools of thought.
A Bodhisattva, who practiced and attained the first stage, now aims for the second stage, where one develops the ten intentions of the mind: straight-forward, kind hearted, pliable, well tamed and self-controlled, even-minded, auspicious and helpful, undivided, indifferent, subliminal and greatness.
The mind intention of straight-forward relates to the concentration required to not deviate from the straight path and focus on the task at hand of the perfection of virtue:
When these mind intentions are well developed and come to fruition, the Bodhisattva establishes oneself in the second stage.
Along with the development of the positive intentions of the mind, the Bodhisattva no longer has any negative actions, such as:
This attainment has an effect on how the Bodhisattva sees other sentient beings who are still suffering in cyclical round of birth, aging, and death; because of this, the Bodhisattva commits to convincing others to avoid unwholesome actions, speech, and thoughts as well. This shows how what is attained is directly beneficial to others, in that the right conduct and right view is put into practice to help others immediately. In teaching others what one has attained oneself, the Bodhisattva has the ability to see how each person has a varying level of unwholesome demerit and wholesome merit, and knowns where to help each individual based on their immediate need in each person’s particular weaker areas.
In turn, those who are helped see the great compassion in the Bodhisattva, who now indiscriminately teaches and guides those who are in need, helping them to attain the same right conduct and right view. Out of the perfections (paramita) that are practices as part of the Bodhisattva Mahayana stages, the perfection of virtue (sila paramita) is accentuated in this stage and becomes well established. Virtue in oneself and towards others.
In the next article, I’ll be discussing The Third Stage of the Mahayana Bodhisattva Path in full detail.
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tipuvote! Thanks for sharing the knowledge :)
Thank you kindly @cardboard
the journey of a man to the sanctity of the soul in Sufi science there are stages. These stages are called maqaamat.
in general maqam:
and every maqam there are levels too, a lot of similarities between the holy with the teachings of budaha ,, I like your explanation @reddust
Thank you for bringing diversity to my Buddhist post. I love comparing our religions and finding common ground we can share together...There are fundamental differences between our religions but we all can agree wisdom, loving kindness, compassion and a pure heart are fundamental for finding what we seek, whether it is god and heaven or enlightenment and Nirvana (final release).
in the science of Sufi there is known as salik and al wasil, salik is a new person struggling to cleanse the heart of all forms of evil, all vengeance, all anger. so that his relationship with god is still tangled fantasy or stain.
al washers who have reached the stage of the sanctity of the soul, they are also in some degree, the most sacred level is called mortal, that is no longer look at anything in this nature other than all his mind is directed to god
Yes that is key, one must clean the mind and heart so one can see what one is aiming for...are we trying to see through our ignorance and mistake God for our delusions? Or do we really want to see God as God is, not as we wish God to be...In Buddhist context, we want to break through our conditioning and see reality as it is so we can turn around and see who is watching the display of our senses and conditioning...hahaha
If I stay alive after my exams I swear to Buddha and the God of Pancakes that I'll try all stages of the Mahayana path!
lolol, I know how you feel facing those exams, get your sleep and remember to eat...You will need a good teacher, Mahayana: Zen, Chan, Pureland, Vajrayana all have great teachers but there are a lot of head tripping gurus out there that just want your money!
I'll start with the youtube videos and try to comprehend on my own at the beginning.
And then we will see, sensei :)))
Check out different traditions and pick the one that moves you the most @sadpotato
Yes master Reds, I'll do as you say!
You see all the mind quality in Buddhism if applied to life of individuals will definitely bring about better people walking this earth. These I’ve learnt today and I look forward to learning more. Thanks for the daily enlightenment
I understand this stage better than the first stage...I really try to be good even though I like to curse and have a temper...hahaha
Smiles, well those are not constant you can change them but it takes more than words of mouth to achieve this, I talk like it’s Very easy. Definitely requires determination + dedication to achieve this
Shamatha and vipassana meditation help because you can feel the conditioning before it becomes thoughts and actions....I thank my first teacher every day when I practice meditation he introduced me to my meditation teacher!
Oh that’s cool, I thought I could meditate on my own . So I actually need a teacher ?
You can develop qualities of calmness learning shamatha or anapana breath meditation from youtube...but to fully develop breath meditation and insight (vipassana) you need to go to a meditation retreat. All sorts of stuff we have been hiding in our heads may come up and we can get lost in our mind and or think we are enlightened, achieved the bumis...that is where a teacher comes in handy, they are like a guide that pulls us out of our ignorance when we get stuck in the quicksands of bullshit that litter our subconscious/uncounsious, I can never remember which term is the correct one......hahaha
Wow. It’s quite deeper than I thought I could handle lol. But thanks for enlightening more. You’re much appreciated my friend
Buddhism religion showing me better path for find succeed way through your contents. This time you explained better part number two of Bodisattva path. There are lot of mind controlling system have and we need to sacrifice something for seek better way.
@kingsberry, this stage can be practiced by anyone just not at the level of a Bodhisattva that has realized the emptiness of all things holds no lasting happiness.
@reddust, I'm learn lot of things from you coz Mahayana Buddhism has some various things between Theravada Buddhism. But very near equality also indeed. Mahayana Bodhisattva Path and Noble Eight-fold Path very near meaningful indeed. No longer difference there.
Here's you mentioned six concepts. It very equality to our daily worship five steps Precepts (Pansil). I looked lot of equality both Mahayana & Theravada. However I want to tell, Buddhism wanna best religion for find Nirvana path.
Mahayana has more flowery discriptions and isn't as organized with it's sutras, many Mahayana schools follow only one sutra but yes the qualities that are developed are the same...although Mahayana puts a lot of stress on bodhicitta, (compassion+emptiness).
Yep..I agreed with your content. I'll studying it and in future I understand much better both equality.
I recommend if you follow and do the needful these steps of Bodhisatva path definitely might control your mind. Mind control is a biggest task around humans life. Meditation stages giving better help for do it better. Well description as you mentioned @reddust.
In the beginning one may need to control emotions but eventually the conditioning that triggers strong emotions and acting will fade away and a cool calm contentedness will take the place of the hot burning negative emotions and feelings. I have had some experience with the coolness of equanimity...it is awesome! No longer do my emotions lead me around by the nose, well most of the time anyway ;-) at least I don't throw my shoes at when I get angry at the family not putting their stuff away in its proper place....hahahaha
@reddust, actually I am not a Buddhist, but I believe it's a religion of wisdom and love for humanity, over here in my country it doesn't exist, but Atleast with some principles like the ones you have mentioned in your post, my life grows better daily. I would love to ask are you a Buddhist?
You could call me a Buddhist but I am finding labels are starting to fall off of me in my old age...hehehe
It must be my wrinkly saggy skin...the paramitis, the Four Immeasurable
http://www.bodhicitta.net/The%20Practice%20of%20the%20Four%20Immeasurables.htm
Okay keep it up
I've been following the series and enjoying your writing about enlightenment and everything else. Very cool! Thank you for taking your time to write all this and post it for us.
My husband is the editor and helps me research these articles so you are hearing some of his ideas as well. We are both Buddhist, however he has never learned to meditate, he is a scholar...sometimes we end up knocking heads over how to translate pali and sanskrit words, I come from a meditaters view and he comes from a book-learning view...we make a good team....
Sounds like you guys are a dream team! I admire that.
In life we face many stages where we deviate from our true focus and went to some other stuff which is not good for us. But in my opinion this stage is most difficult stage in all because, we can see many activities around us and sometimes it's difficult to focus on our goals and we attract towards other stuffs which happening around us. But it's really important to have the strong focus which cannot be influenced by anything. Thanks for sharing and wishing you an great day. Stay blessed. 🙂
That is where the discipline of meditation comes in handy. An untrained mind is like a wild horse...in meditation you mount the horse and let it run until it tires out. When the mind has finally settled that is when you can train it how to focus and obey commands...this is the basics in breath mediation like shamatha and anapanasati...once the mind obeys commands easily then one can beginning exploring the mind and understanding how to let go of old conditioning. There are many different techniques at this level and that depends on the students character, this is where a teacher comes in handy. A good teacher can see what their student needs to progress on the Path...most of us have trouble being honest with ourselves with what we need...teachers, good teachers can break through our bullshit with the proper techniques...hahaha <3
Wow, great to know your deep inputs and the meditation advice. Thank you so much for the extra insights. 🙂
very good post my friend.i love to read it .the Ten stages of the Mahayana
success always for you.and healthy always
thank you @pengenkaya
I think I have missed the previous stage, but this one will be better than any other as I thought
@harctor I have links at the bottom of this article, thank you.
I'm glad to reading your second stage of Mahayana Bodhisattva path article. Your introduction very clever to easily can get idea for who want to follow Mahayana Buddhism. Of course, Here's lot of advantages in to our life. If our mind clever & positively exactly our healthy condition 100% secured. Nice you decided to share these article @reddust.
Thank you @templeflower, our mind is terribly clever, it tricks us every day all day long that we are feeling and seeing reality as it is...hahaha
Thanks for sharing the information
You are welcome @midraruddin
i love Buddhism
Why do you love Buddhism @jahangirwifii? If you don't speak english very well you can use google translate.
I love Buddhism for its universal messages which everyone can apply and benefit. How much depend on one’s efforts and motivation. So that’s another thing I like, its doctrine is fair based on personal responsibility and free will.
It is a religion which is not rooted in dogma. It can move with the times since its essence is to understand and train ones mind . Hence its methods are timeless but the explanations, external forms etc can be updated to suit modernity. It is logical and goes very well with science.That makes it easy for modern people to accept Buddhism . Even if one is not a Buddhist, if one follows its wise instructions, one can still get the same result.
Thank you for your suggestion
You have touched my heart, this is how I understand Buddhism, the message is universal, we all suffer from ignorance regarding who we truly are....
This is why I love the Dharma teachings, I don't have to depend on anyone including the Gods, they are fickle and I never know if they are listening when I ask for guidance...hahaha
Since the teachings are universal it is timeless because it addresses the causes of suffering and we all are suffering from self delusions and negative conditioning no matter our social standing, gender or religious or political affiliations.
I found the teachings very scientific until one meets with what can't be measured, you know, our mind...hahaha <3
With most of the practices everyone can benefit from ethics and morality and training the mind, but many don't want to let go of what they hold dear, like their ideologies, their ideas of God, soul, and spirit, scientific training and superstitions so in the end the teachings will not bring lasting happiness unless one lets go of everything they hold dear...
i believe in god...And i love Buddhism but i am a muslim....Believe in Allah. 😊
Excellent post thanks for sharing!!!
Thank you @mokles
To achieve something in the spiritual world requires a lifetime of fierce self-discipline, channeled in one direction only.
If you want to get somewhere, you have to sit for many hours a day for many years, not thinking and thinking about a subject, this is to reflect, think even try and correct in life itself, not yourself, it means Meditating with the purpose of dominating the mind.
The spiritual life is intangible, the real life is material. I think that the best life is the balanced one, the one that seeks to benefit from the goodness of the spirit, escaping from the daily stress; and the one that seeks the fullness to enjoy the material in company of the beings that are that way, without harming, nor interfering in the role of life of the others.
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