The Ten Stages of the Bodhisattva Path - First Bhumi (1/10)

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva

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.

Manjusri Bodhisattva

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 overcoming final illusions, in which one surmounts the illusions of darkness or ignorance of the Middle Way.
6. The stage of the sign of supreme wisdom, in which the supreme wisdom begins to appear.
7. The stage of progression in which one rises above the paths of the two vehicles.
8. The stage of immobility, in which one dwells firmly in the truth of the Middle Way and cannot be perturbed by anything.
9. The stage of all-penetrating wisdom, in which one preaches the Law freely and without restriction.
10. The stage of the Dharma cloud, in which one benefits all sentient beings with the Dharma or Law, just as a cloud sends down rain impartially upon all things. 

Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva

The First Bhumi: The Stage of Joy

The First Bhumi, called "Very Joyous", is attained with the first direct perception of emptiness (Sunyata) and is simultaneous with entry into the third of the five paths to awakening, the path of seeing. 

It is called "very joyous" because the Bodhisattva works at the perfections of generosity and develops the ability to give away everything without regret and with no thought of praise or reward (for themselves). 

All phenomena are viewed as empty and subject to decay, suffering, and death, and so Bodhisattvas lose all attachment to them. The first level Bodhisattvas directly understand that people do not exist by way of their own nature. 

Due to this, they overcome the false idea that the five aggregates constitute a truly existing person. They also eliminate predispositions towards corrupted ethics so completely that they will not arise again.

Despite having directly and correctly perceived emptiness, bodhisattvas on the first level are primarily motivated by faith. They train in ethics in order to cleanse their minds of negativity, and so they prepare themselves for the cultivation of mundane meditative absorption that comes on the second level.

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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

May we liberate migratory from the ocean of existence.

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

 

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