The Ten Stages of the Bodhisattva Path - Tenth Bhumi (10/10)

 

Maitreya-natha Bodhisattva / 彌勒菩薩

In Buddhism, Bhumi, or stage. Every stage represents a level of attainment in that case and serves as the basis for the next one. Each level marks a definite advancement in one's training that is accompanied by progressively greater power and wisdom.

Stages, or Bhumi, is a Sanskrit word for "land" or "ground," and the list of ten Bhumis are ten "lands" a Bodhisattva must pass through on the way to Buddhahood. The Bhumis were important to early Mahayana Buddhism. A list of ten Bhumis appears in several Mahayana texts, although they are not always identical. The Bhumis are also associated with the perfections, or Paramitas.

The ten Bhumis literally mean the "grounds" or levels of Bodhisattvas in which the qualities of their training unfold. With the attainment of the tenth Bhumi, one arrives at and eventually reaches perfection at complete enlightenment. 

Many schools of Buddhism describe some kind of path of development. Often, these are extensions of the Eightfold Path. Since this is a description of the progress of a Bodhisattva, much of the list below promotes the turning from concern for oneself to concern for others. 

In Mahayana Buddhism, the Bodhisattva is the ideal of practise. This is an enlightened being who vows to remain in the world until all other beings realise enlightenment.

Here is a standard list taken from the Dashabhumika-sutra, which is taken from the larger Avatamsaka, or Flower Garland Sutra.

In the Ten Bhumis of the Dasabhumika Sutra. It refers to the following ten Bhumis:

1. The stage of joy, in which one rejoices at realising a partial aspect of the truth. 
2. The stage of freedom from defilement, in which one is free from all defilement.
3. The stage of the emission of light, in which one radiates the light of wisdom.
4. The stage of glowing wisdom, in which the flame of wisdom burns away earthly desires. 
5. The stage of the Difficult to Master. (Sanskrit: sudurjaya), in which one surmounts the illusions of darkness, or ignorance as the Middle Way. 
6. The stage of the sixth Bhumi, the manifest (Sanskrit: Abhimukhī) in which supreme wisdom begins to manifest.   
7. The stage of  the seventh Bhumi, the Gone Afar (Sanskrit: Duramgama), in which one rises above the states of the two vehicles. 
8. The eighth bhumi, the immovable (Sanskrit: acala), in which one dwells firmly in the truth of the Middle Way and cannot be perturbed by anything. 
9. The ninth Bhumi, the Good Intelligence (Sanskrit: sādhumatī), in which one preaches the Law freely and without restriction. 
10. The tenth Bhumi, the Cloud of Doctrine (Sanskrit: Dharmamegha), in which one benefits all sentient beings with the Law (Dharma), just as a cloud sends down rain impartially on all things. 

Maitreya-natha Bodhisattva / 彌勒菩薩

The tenth Bhumi, the Cloud of Doctrine

On the tenth Bhumi, Bodhisattvas overcome the subtlest traces of the afflictions. Like a cloud that pours rain on the earth, these Bodhisattvas spread the dharma in all directions, and each sentient being absorbs what it needs in order to grow spiritually. Thus, Nagarjuna Bodhisattva states that:

The tenth is the cloud of Dharma because
The rain of excellent doctrine falls.
The Bodhisattva is consecrated.
With light from the Buddhas.

At this stage, Bodhisattvas enter into progressively deeper meditative absorptions and develop limitless powers with regard to magical formulas. They cultivate the perfection of exalted wisdom, which, according to Asaṅga, enables them to increase their exalted wisdom. This, in turn, strengthens the other perfections. As a result, they become established in the joy of the doctrine.

They acquire perfect bodies, and their minds are cleansed of the subtlest traces of their afflictions. They manifest in limitless forms for the benefit of others and transcend the ordinary laws of time and space. They are able to place entire world systems in a single pore without diminishing them or increasing the size of the pore. When they do this, the beings inhabiting the worlds feel no discomfort, and only those who are advanced Bodhisattvas even notice.

Bodhisattvas on this level receive a form of empowerment from innumerable Buddhas. This is called "great rays of light", because the radiance of these bodhisattvas shines in all directions. This empowerment helps them remove the remaining obstructions to omniscience and gives them added confidence and strength. At the final moment of this stage, they enter into a meditative state called vajralike meditative stabilisation,, in which the subtlest remaining obstacles to Buddhahood are overcome. They arise from this concentration as Buddhas.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva / 地蔵菩薩

As part of the Bodhisattva path

Passage through the grounds and paths begins with Bodhicitta, the wish to liberate all sentient beings. Aspiring Bodhicitta becomes engaged Bodhicitta upon actual commitment to the Bodhisattva vows. With these steps, the practitioner becomes a Bodhisattva and enters the paths.

Before attaining the ten grounds, the bodhisattva traverses the first two of the five Mahayana paths:

1. The path of accumulation
2. The path of preparation

The ten grounds of the bodhisattva are grouped within the three subsequent paths:

1. Bhumi 1: The Path of Seeing
2. Bhumi 2-7: The Path of Meditation
3. Bhumi 8-10: The path of no more learning 
   
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   Aspiration For Bodhichitta

   For those in whom the precious Bodhichitta has not arisen

   May it arise and not decrease.

   But increase further and further.

    

   Dedication of Merit

   By this merit, may we then obtain omniscience then.

   Having defeated the enemies wrongdoings

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   With its stormy waves of birth, old age, sickness, and death.

    

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