The Foundations of Buddhism

(Sean Pound) #1
The Buddhist Path

TABLE 7· The scheme of the five paths and the ten bodhisattva stages


WHOLESOME ROOT
CONNECTED WITH
PENETRATIVE INSIGHT

PATH BODHISATTVA
STAGE

of the adept Buddhahood

of cultivation

of seeing
highe~t ordinary state l
summit o f app 1.. rcatron
acceptance
initial glimmering
of equipment

ro. cloud of
Dharma
9· excellent


  1. unshaking
    7· far-reaching

  2. face-to-face
    5· invincible
    4· resplendent
    3· radiant

  3. stainless
    r.joyful


PERFECTION

IO. knowledge

9· strength


  1. determination
    7· skill in means

  2. wisdom
    s.dhyana
    4· vigour
    3· patient acceptance

  3. good conduct
    r. generosity


then to watching feeling as pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral, then


to watching one's general mental state; and finally, at the fourth
stage, to integrating the previous three stages so that finally one
watches the totality of physical and mental processes. This final
stage is equivalent to watching the five aggregates: the world is


seen as consisting simply in the interplay of five groups of phys-


ical and mental events.
Vasubandhu presents this set of contemplations as involving
a gradual movement from the gross to the subtle. His presenta-


tion corresponds closely to Buddhaghosa's presentation of the


insight practice involved at the stage of the 'purification of view'.


As the meditator contemplates the world of dharmas his mind


eventually settles in a state of concentration which involves
an initial direct seeing of the four truths. This attainment is
described as the 'heat' or 'glow' (~magata) of wisdom and it marks
the first stage of the path of application. The attainment of 'the

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