Sierra Acai Company
Sierra Acai Company
Open 7 Days a Week
MonaVie Independent Distributor
Distributor Training
Shop Online
Enroll Now
Buy Wholesale and maintain an Active status for 2 months and we will refund your $39 Distributor Fee
Friends
Buy Wholesale and maintain an Active status for 2 months and we will refund your $39 Distributor Fee
14-September-2008 12:50:23 - Bhumi Buddhism Part of a series on Buddhism Portal of Buddhism History Timeline - Buddhist councils Major Figures Gautama Buddha Disciples · Later Buddhists Concepts Four Noble Truths Noble Eightfold Path Karma - Nirvana Three marks of existence Skandha · Cosmology Samsara · Rebirth · Dharma Dependent Origination Practices and Attainment Buddhahood · Bodhisattva Four Stages of Enlightenment PÄ?ramitÄ?s · Mation · Laity Precepts · Three Jewels Countries and Regions Bhutan · Cambodia · China India · Indonesia · Japan Korea · Laos · Malaysia Mongolia · Burma · Nepal Russia · Singapore · Sri Lanka Thailand · Tibet · Vietnam Western countries Schools TheravÄ?da · MahÄ?yÄ?na VajrayÄ?na Early and Pre-sectarian Texts Pali Canon · Tibetan Canon Chinese Canon Related topics Comparative Studies Cultural elements This box: view talk The bodhisattva's path to awakening in the Mahayana tradition progresses through ten hierarchically arranged stages, referred to as the Bodhisattva Bhumis byang chub sems dpa'i sa, Tibetan. Bodhisattva Grounds/Levels, English.. The Sanskrit term Bhumi literally means ground or foundation, since each stage represents a level of attainment and serves as a basis for the next one. Each level marks a definite advancement in one's training that is accompanied by progressively greater power and wisdom. Contents 1 Margas Bhumis 2 Ten Bhumis 2.1 The First Bhumi, the Very Joyous 2.2 The Second Bhumi, the Stainless 2.3 The Third Bhumi, the Luminous 2.4 The Fourth Bhumi, the Radiant 2.5 The Fifth Bhumi, Difficult to Cultivate 2.6 The Sixth Bhumi, the Manifest 2.7 The Seventh Bhumi, the Gone Afar 2.8 The Eighth Bhumi, the Immovable 2.9 The Ninth Bhumi, the Good Intelligence 2.10 The Tenth Bhumi, the Cloud of Doctrine 3 Additional Bhumis 4 References 5 Related links Margas Bhumis The Bhumis are often correlated with Margas Paths, five pañcamarga, in Wylie Tibetan: lam lnga in all: The path of accumulation sambhara-marga, Wylie Tibetan: tshogs lam; sambhara-marga, The path of preparation or application prayoga-marga, Wylie Tibetan: sbyor lam The path of seeing darÅ›ana-marga, Wylie Tibetan: mthon lam The path of mation bhavana-marga, Wylie Tibetan: sgom lam The path of no more learning or consummation aÅ›aiká¹£Ä?-marga, Wylie Tibetan: mi slob pa'I lam or thar phyin pa'i lam They correlate as follows: Before a bodhisattva arrives at the first ground, he or she first must travel the first two of the five paths: The path of accumulation The path of preparation The ten grounds of the bodhisattva then can be grouped into the next three paths Bhumi 1: The path of seeing Bhumi 2-7: The path of mation Bhumi 8-10: The path of no more learning Ten Bhumis The Avatamsaka Sutra refers the following ten Bhumi 1: The First Bhumi, the Very Joyous. Skt. Paramudita, in which one rejoices at realizing a partial aspect of the truth; The Second Bhumi, the Stainless. Skt. Vimala, in which one is free from all defilement; The Third Bhumi, the Luminous. Skt. Prabhakari, in which one radiates the light of wisdom; The Fourth Bhumi, the Radiant. Skt. Archishmati, in which the radiant flame of wisdom burns away earthly desires; The Fifth Bhumi, the Difficult to Cultivate. Skt. Sudurjaya, in which one surmounts the illusions of darkness, or ignorance as the Middle Way; The Sixth Bhumi, the Manifest. Skt. Abhimukhi in which supreme wisdom begins to manifest; The Seventh Level, the Gone Afar. Skt. Duramgama, in which one rises above the states of the Two vehicles; The Eighth Level, the Immovable. Skt. Achala, in which one dwells firmly in the truth of the Middle Way and cannot be perturbed by anything; The Ninth Level, the Good Intelligence. Skt. Sadhumati, in which one preaches the Law freely and without restriction; The Tenth Level, the Cloud of Doctrine. Skt. Dharmamegha, in which one benefits all sentient beings with the Law Dharma, just as a cloud sends down rain impartially on all things. The First Bhumi, the Very Joyous The First Bhumi, called the Very Joyous, is attained with the first direct perception of emptiness and is simultaneous with entry into the third of the five paths to awakening, the path of seeing.23 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. All phenomena are viewed as empty and as subject to decay, suffering, and death, and so bodhisattvas lose all attachment to them. According to Tsong Khapa, first level bodhisattvas directly understand that persons do not exist by way of their own nature. Due to this, they overcome the false idea that the five aggregates constitute a truly existent person. They also eliminate predispositions toward corrupted ethics so completely that they will not arise again.4 Despite having directly Perceived emptiness, however, bodhisattvas on the first level are primarily motivated by faith. They train in ethics in order to clense their minds of negativities and, so they prepare themselves for the cultivation of mundane mative absorbtions that comes on the second level. The Second Bhumi, the Stainless Bodhisattvas on the second level, the Stainless, perfect ethics and overcome all tendencies towards engagement in negative actions. Their control becomes so complete that even in dreams they have no immoral thoughts. According to Tsong Khapa for such a bodhisattva, on all occasions of waking and dreaming his movements or activities of body, speech and mind are pure of even subtle infractions...he fulfills the three paths of virtuous actions-abandoning killing, stealing, and sexual misconduct-with his body; the middle four-abandons lying, divisive talk, harsh speech, and senseless chatter-with his speech; and the last three-abandoning covetousness, harmful intent, and wrong views-with his mind. Not only does he refrain from what is prohibited but he also fulfills all the positive achievements related to proper ethics.5 And according to Nargajuna, The second is called the Stainless Because all ten virtuous actions Of body, speech, and mind are stainless And they naturally abide in those deeds of ethics. Through the maturation of those good qualities The perfection of ethics becomes supreme. They become Universal Monarchs helping beings, Masters of the glorious four continents and of the seven precious objects. Because of this, the bodhisattva's mind becomes purified and equanimous, which is a prerequisite for training in the four dhyÄ?nas mative absorbtions and the four arupya-samapattis formless absorptions. The Third Bhumi, the Luminous Tsong Khapa states that the third bhumi is called the Luminous because when it is attained the fire of wisdom burning all the fuel of objects of knowledge arises along with a light which by nature is able to extinguish all elaborations of duality during mative equipoise.6 Bodhisattvas on this level cultivate the perfection of patience. Their equanimity becomes so profound that even if someone...cuts from the body of this bodhisattva not just flesh but also bone, not in large sections but bit by bit, not continually but pausing in between, and not finishing in a short time but cutting over a long period, the bodhisattva would not get angry at the mutilator.7 The Bodhisattva realizes that his tormenter is motivated by afflicted thoughts and is sowing seeds of his own future suffering. As a result, the bodhisattva feels not anger, but a deep sadness and compassion for this cruel person, who is unaware of the operations of karma. Trainees on the third level overcome all tendencies toward anger, and never react with hatred or even annoyance to any harmful acts or words. Rather, their equanimity remains constant, and all sentient beings are viewed with love and compassion: All anger and resentment rebound on the person who generates them, and they do nothing to eliminate harms that one has already experienced. They are counterproductive in that they destroy one's peace of mind and lead to unfavorable future situations. There is nothing to be gained through anger and resentment, revenge does nothing to change the past, and so the bodhisattva avoids them. Moreover, one's present suffering is only a result of one's own past misdeeds; so one's enemy is only an agent of the inevitable fruition of karma. Bodhisattvas on this level also train in the four dhyÄ?nas mative absorptions; the four arupya-samapattisformless absorptions of limitless space, limitless consciousness, nothingness and the peak of cyclic existence; the four immeasurables of love, compassion, joy, and equanimity; and the five clairvoyances gained in the fourth dhyÄ?na magical creations, the divine ear, knowing others' minds, remembering former lives, and the divine eye. The Fourth Bhumi, the Radiant On the fourth level, the Radiant, bodhisattvas cultivate the perfection of effort and eliminate afflictions. According to Wonch'uk, this level is so named because fourth bhumi bodhisattvas constantly emit the radiance of exalted wisdom. He also cites the Ornament for the Mahayana Sutras, which explains that bodhisattvas on this level burn up the afflictive obstructions and the obstructions to omniscience with the radiance of their wisdom.8 They enter into progressively deeper mative absorptions and attain a powerful mental pliancy as a result. This eliminates laziness and increases their ability to practice mation for extended periods of time. They destroy deeply rooted afflictions and cultivate the thirty-seven harmonies with awakening. Through training in these thirty-seven practices, bodhisattvas develop great skill in mative absorptions and cultivate wisdom, while weakening the artificial and innate conceptions of true existence. The Fifth Bhumi, Difficult to Cultivate The fifth level is called the Difficult to Cultivate because it involves practices that are so arduous and require a great deal of effort to perfect. It is also called the Difficult to Overcome because when one has completed the training of this level one has profound wisdom and insight that are difficult to surpass or undermine. According to Nagarjuna, The fifth is called the Extremely Difficult to Overcome Since all evil ones find it extremely hard to conquer him; He becomes skilled in knowing the subtle Meanings of the noble truths and so forth.9 Bodhisattvas on this level cultivate the perfection of samadhi. They develop strong powers of mative stabilization and overcome tendencies toward distraction. They achieve mental one-pointedness and they perfect calm abiding. They also fully penetrate the meanings of the four noble truths and the two truths conventional truths and ultimate truths and perceive all phenomena as empty, transient and prone to suffering. The Sixth Bhumi, the Manifest The sixth level is called the Manifest because the bodhisattva clearly perceives the workings of dependent arising and directly understands signlessness Mtshan ma med pa, Tibetan. Animitta, Sanskrit. Signlessness refers to the fact that phenomena seem to possess their apparent qualities by way of their own nature, but when one examines this appearance one realizes that all qualities are merely mentally imputed and not a part of the nature of the objects they appear to characterize. As a result of these understandings bodhisattvas manifest mative wisdom and avoid attachment to either cyclic existence or nirvana.10 Having overcome all attachments, bodhisattvas on this level can attain nirvana, but because of the force of the mind of awakening they decide to remain in the world in order to benefit other sentient beings. They cultivate the perfection of wisdom, through which they perceive all phenomena as lacking inherent existence, as being like dreams, illusions, reflections, or magically created objects. All notions of I and other are transcended, along with conceptions of existence and nonexistence. These sixth-level bodhisattvas abide in contemplation of suchness, with minds that are undisturbed by false ideas. The Seventh Bhumi, the Gone Afar Bodhisattvas on the seventh level develop the ability to contemplate singleness uninterruptedly and enter into advanced mative absorptions for extended periods of time, thus passing beyond both the mundane and supramundane paths of sravakas and pratyeka buddhas Hearers and solitary realizers. For this reason, this level is called the Gone Afar.11 According to Nagarjuna, The seventh is the Gone Afar because The number of his qualities has increased, Moment by moment he can enter The equipoise of cessation,12 On this level bodhisattvas perfect their skill in means of mation and practice Thabs la mkhas pa, Tibetan; Upaya-Kausalya, Sanskrit, which is their ability to cleverly adapt their teaching tactics to the individual proclivities and needs of their audiences. They also develop the ability to know the thoughts of others, and in every moment are able to practice all the perfections. All thoughts and actions are free from afflictions, and they constantly act spontaneously and effectively for the benefit of others. The Eighth Bhumi, the Immovable The Eighth level is called the Immovable because bodhisattvas overcome all afflictions regarding signs and their minds are always completely absorbed in the dharma. According to Nargarjuna, The eighth is the Immovable, the youthful stage, Through nonconceptuality he is immovable; And the spheres of his body, speech and mind's Activities are inconceivable.13 Because they are fully acquainted with signlessness, their minds are not moved by ideas of signs. Eighth Bhumi bodhisattvas are said to be irreversible, because there is no longer any possibility that they might waver on the path or backslide. They are destined for full buddhahood, and there are no longer any inclinations to seek a personal nirvana. They cultivate the perfection of aspiration, which means that they undertake to fulfill various vows, due to which they accumulate the causes of further virtues14. Although they resolve to work for the benefit of others and they pervade the universe with feelings of friendliness toward all sentient beings, these bodhisattvas have transcended any tendency to imagine that there are truly existent beings. Their understanding of suchness is so complete that it overturns afflicted views, and reality appears in a completely new light. They enter into mation on emptiness with little effort. Bodhisattvas on this level are compared to people who have awakened from dreams, and all their perceptions are influenced by this new awareness. They attain the mative state called forbearance regarding nonarisen phenomena, due to which they no longer think in terms of causes or causelessness. They also develop the ability to manifest in various forms in order to instruct others. Compassion and skill in means are automatic and spontaneous. There is no need to plan or contemplate how best to benefit others, since these bodhisattvas skillfully adapt themselves to every situation. The Ninth Bhumi, the Good Intelligence From this point on, bodhisattvas move quickly toward awakening. Before this stage, progress was comparatively slow, like that of a boat being towed through a harbour. On the eighth through tenth bhumi, however, bodhisattvas make huge strides toward buddhahood, like a ship that reaches the ocean and unfurls its sails. On the ninth level, they fully understand the three vehicles - hearers, solitary realizers, and bodhisattvas - and perfect the ability to teach the doctrine. According to the Sutra Explaining the Thought, Because of attaining faultlessness and very extensive intelligence in terms of mastery of teaching the doctrine in all aspects, the ninth level is called the Good Intelligence.15 Ninth bhumi bodhisattvas also acquire the four analytical knowledges-of doctrines, meanings, grammar, and exposition. Due to this, they develop wondrous eloquence and skill in presenting doctrinal teachings. Their intelligence surpasses that of all humans and gods, and they comprehend all names, words, meanings, and languages. They can understand any question from any being. They also have the ability to answer them with a single sound, which is understood by each being according to its capacities. On this level they also cultivate the perfection of power, which means that because of the strength of their mastery of the four analytical knowledges and their mation they are able to develop the the six perfections energetically and to practice them continually without becoming fatigued.16 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 doctrine in all directions, and each sentient being absorbs what it needs in order to grow spiritually. Thus Nargarjuna states that The tenth is the Cloud of Doctrine because The rain of excellent doctrine falls, The Bodhisattva is consecrated With light by the Buddhas. 17 At this stage bodhisattvas enter into progressively deeper mative absorptions and develop limitless powers with respect to magical formulas. They cultivate the perfection of exalted wisdom, which, according to Asanga, 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.18 They acquire perfect bodies, and their minds are cleansed of the subtlest traces of the 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 in removing the remaining obstructions to omniscience and gives them added confidence and strength. At the final moment of this stage they enter into a mative state called the vajralike mative stabilization, in which the subtlest remaining obstacles to buddhahood are overcome. They arise from this concentration as Buddhas. Additional Bhumis With the 10 bhumis, various Vajrayana schools recognize 3-10 additional bhumis19, mostly 6 more bhumis with variant descriptions.20 References ^ 1998, The Seeker's Glossary of Buddhism, Sutra Translation Committee of the United States and Canada, 2nd ed..1 ^ This explanation is given by the Korean scholar Wonch'uk in his Commentary on the Sutra Explaining the Thought Arya-gambhira-samdhinirmocana-sutra-tika; 'Phags pa dgongs pa zab mo nges par 'grel pa'i mdo'i rgya cher 'grel pa; Delhi: Delhi Karmapae Choedhey, Gyalwae Sungrab Partun Khang, 1985, mdo 'grel, vol. thi 119, p. 523.3 ^ See also Nargajuna's Precious GarlandRatnavali; tr. Jeffrey Hopkins: The Precious Garland and the Song of the Four Mindfulnesses; London: George Allen Unwin, 1974, verse 441. ^ See Compassion in Tibetan Buddhism, pp. 140-142. ^ Ibid., pp. 193-194. ^ Ibid., p.204. ^ Ibid., p.206. ^ Wongch'uk, vol. thi 119, p. 527.5. ^ The Precious Garland, p.85 ^ This explanation is given by Wonch'uk vol. thi 119, p. 531.1, whose source is the Sutra on the Ten Bhumis ^ This explanation is given by Wonch'uk vol. thi 119, p. 532.6, on a basis of a commentary on the Sutra on the Ten Bhumis, but he does not provide that exact title. ^ The Precious Garland, p. 86. ^ Ibid., P. 86. ^ This explanation is found in the Compendium of Mahayana, p. 208. ^ Sutra Explaining the Thought, p. 116.3. ^ See La Somme du Grand Vehicule d'Asanga, P. 208 ^ The Precious Garland, P. 87. ^ La Somme du Grand Vehicule d'Asanga, pp. 208-299. ^ 大圆满隆钦å®?æ??æ´¾å‰?行念诵文 编一é??智妙é?“注释 ^ 大圆è—?密è¦?诀ã€?大圆满心性休æ?¯é¢‚ Related links Bodhisattva Mahayana v d e Buddhism topics History Timeline · Gautama Buddha · Buddhist councils · History of Buddhism in India · Decline of Buddhism in India · Ashoka the Great · Greco-Buddhism · Silk Road transmission of Buddhism Foundations Three Jewels Buddha, Dharma, Sangha · Four Noble Truths · Noble Eightfold Path · Nirvana · Middle Way Key Concepts Three Marks of Existence: Impermanence, Suffering, Not-self · Dependent Origination · Five Aggregates · Karma · Vipaka · Rebirth · Samsara · Defilements · Five Hindrances · Ten Fetters · Enlightenment Qualities · Perfections · JhÄ?na · Sense Bases · Four Great Elements · Renunciation · Bodhi · Parinirvana · Two truths doctrine · Emptiness · Bodhicitta · Bodhisattva · Buddha-nature · Bhumi · Trikaya Cosmology Ten spiritual realms · Six Realms Hell, Animal realm, Hungry Ghost realm, Asura realm, Human realm, Heaven · Three Spheres Practices Threefold Training: Morality, Concentration, Wisdom · Buddhist devotion · Taking refuge · Four Divine Abidings: Loving-kindness, Compassion, Sympathetic joy, Equanimity · Mindfulness · Merit · Puja: Offerings, Prostration, Chanting · Paritta · Generosity · Morality: Five Precepts, Eight Precepts, Ten Precepts, Bodhisattva vows, Patimokkha · Bhavana · Mation: Kammaá¹á¹hÄ?na, Recollection, Mindfulness of Breathing, Serenity mation, Insight mation, Shikantaza, Zazen, KÅ?an, Mandala, Tonglen, Tantra Attainment Types of Buddha · Bodhisattva · Four stages of enlightenment: Stream-enterer, Once-returner, Non-returner, Arahant Monasticism Monk · Nun · Novice monk · Novice nun · Anagarika · Ajahn · Sayadaw · Zen master · Roshi · Lama · Rinpoche · Geshe · Tulku · Householder · Lay follower · Disciple · Ngagpa Texts Tipitaka Vinaya Pitaka, Sutta Pitaka, Abhidhamma Pitaka, Commentaries · Mahayana sutras · Chinese Buddhist canon Tripitaka Koreana · Tibetan Buddhist canon Major Figures Gautama Buddha · SÄ?riputta · MahamoggallÄ?na · Ananda · Maha Kassapa · Buddhaghosa · Nagasena · Bodhidharma · Nagarjuna · Asanga · Padmasambhava · Dalai Lama Branches Theravada · Mahayana: Chan/Zen, Pure Land, Tendai, Nichiren, Madhyamaka, Yogacara · Vajrayana: Tibetan Buddhism, Shingon · Early Buddhist schools · Pre-sectarian Buddhism · Basic points unifying Theravada and Mahayana Countries Bhutan · Burma · Cambodia · China · India · Indonesia · Japan · Korea · Laos · Malaysia · Mongolia · Nepal · Russia · Singapore · Sri Lanka · Thailand · Tibet · Vietnam · Western countries Comparative Buddhism Science · Psychology · Hinduism · Jainism · East Asian religions · Christianity · Theosophy · Gnosticism Lists Buddhists · Buddhas · Twenty-eight Buddhas · Bodhisattvas · Temples · Books · Buddhism-related topics · Terms and concepts Miscellaneous topics TathÄ?gata · Maitreya · AvalokiteÅ›vara Guan Yin · AmitÄ?bha · BrahmÄ? · MÄ?ra · Dhammapada · Visuddhimagga · Vinaya · Sutra · Abhidharma · Buddhist philosophy · Eschatology · Reality in Buddhism · God in Buddhism · Liturgical languages: Pali, Sanskrit · Dharma talk · Buddhist calendar · Kalpa · Buddhism and evolution · Buddhism and homosexuality · Fourteen unanswerable questions · Ethics · Culture · Monastic robe · Cuisine · Vegetarianism · Art · Greco-Buddhist art · Buddha statue · Budai · Symbolism Dharmacakra · Flag · Bhavacakra · Mantra Om mani padme hum · Prayer wheel · Mala · Mudra · Holidays · Vesak · Uposatha · Vassa · Architecture: Vihara, Wat, Stupa, Pagoda · Pilgrimage: Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, Kushinagar · Bodhi tree · Mahabodhi Temple · Higher Knowledge · Supernormal Powers · Miracles of the Buddha · Physical characteristics of the Buddha · Family of the Buddha Category · Portal Retrieved from http://en..org/wiki/Bhumi_Buddhism Categories: Buddhist philosophical concepts | Buddhist terms Views Article Discussion this page History Personal tools Log in / create account Navigation Main page Contents Featured content Current events Random article Search Go Search Interaction Community portal Recent changes Contact Donate to Help Toolbox What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Printable version Permanent link Cite this page Languages Italiano This page was last modified on 3 September 2008, at 10:23
39 Reasons to Drink Acai Juice Every Day
What is MonaVie - Watch the 8-minute video
Discovering MonaVie Video
The Power of You Video
Effects of MonaVie Active on Antioxidant Capacity in Humans
Log into your Wholesale MonaVie Account
So many of us do not eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep, have too much stress, or are impacted with toxins and pollutants. Drinking 2 ounces of MonaVie twice a day will help your body detoxify as well as build your immune system. Its the smartest thing you can do for yourself, so start today. Buying MonaVie through our company guarantees you support 7 days a week and, if you would like to share MonaVie with your family and friends we will guide you from start to finish.
1. Click on Enroll Now (30 - 55% off retail price)
2. Pay $39 for your Wholesale ID number.
3. NO minimum order required.
4. MonaVie is delivered to your door in 3 to 5 days.