Perfect Enlightenment 18: Question: Levels of Realization
In the previous column, bodhisattva Maitreya asked Buddha the way to sever the root of samsara (cyclical existence). Here, bodhisattva Pure Wisdom will continue the line of inquiry, inquiring into the different levels of realization, and the stages of practice.
Click here for the table of contents to revisit the dialogue between Buddha and previous bodhisattvas.
Show scripture (Chinese). 於是清淨慧菩薩在大眾中即從座起，頂禮佛足右繞三匝，長跪叉手而白佛言：「大悲世尊！為我等輩廣說如是不思議事，本所不見本所不聞，我等今者蒙佛善誘，身心泰然得大饒益，願為一切諸來法眾重宣法王圓滿覺性，一切眾生及諸菩薩、如來世尊所證所得云何差別？令末世眾生聞此聖教，隨順開悟漸次能入。」作是語已五體投地，如是三請終而復始。 Show scripture (English). Then the bodhisattva Pure Wisdom rose from his seat in the great assembly. He bowed his head to the Buddha’s feet, and circumambulated him three times to the right. He then knelt down with his hands clasped and addressed the Buddha saying: “Greatly Compassionate World Honoured One; you have magnanimously explained for all of our group this inconceivable matter which was originally not seen and originally not heard. We who are presently here and have received your superb instruction have gained composure of body and mind, and received great benefit. I would like to request this: would you re-explain the nature of the Perfect Fulfilling Enlightenment of the King of the Dharma for those who have come for your teaching? What differences are there between that which is grasped and actualized by sentient beings, bodhisattvas and World Honored Tathāgatas? Please let sentient beings of the degenerate age hear this sagely teaching that they may conform to it, awaken through it and gradually become capable of entering.” Having said this, he prostrated fully to the ground. He asked in this way three times in succession. The six bodhisattva is Pure Wisdom, the fifth one inquiring into the practice. Previously, to answer Maitreya, Buddha said, while sentient beings are of Five Natures (see here), there is only one expedient device to their awakening. This in turn led to Pure Wisdom’s question. Along the path from having the ordinary state-of-mind to enlightenment, what are the differences in the realization? If beings are of different natures, would their attainment not differ correspondingly? Otherwise, there should not be the distinctions between bodhisattvas, the two vehicles, and ordinary beings. Stay tuned for the next two columns for Buddha’s answer.Chinese:
English:
Commentary:
Vajrayana Buddhism Association (VBA) was founded by Nyingma master Tam Shek-Wing (Dorje Jigdral, b. 1935), with branches in Toronto, Vancouver, Hong Kong and Hawaii. Tam became a disciple of H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche in 1972 and was ordained Vajra Archarya by His Holiness in 1984, shouldering the responsibility to present Buddhism to the Western audience.
