Overall Teaching

Irreversible bodhisattvas do not doubt their status as irreversible, and approach the dharma without doubt. They are focused on the Dharma and their conduct is very pure. They will not be tempted to enter nirvāṇa or a heavenly realm, but remain in the desire realm working harmlessly for the benefit of beings. Moreover, whenever Māra attempts to dissuade them they will recognise Māra and his deeds.

Summary

1.     Various Tokens of Irreversibility

a.     One can know that one is a bodhisattva when they enter onto the “Level of Suchness,” plunging into it without doubt, viewing everything, including levels of awakening, as being non-dual. [323]

b.     Such a bodhisattva also no longer panders to followers of other religions and also does not honour their devas. They are no longer born in the lower realms or as a woman.

c.     He follows the ten ways of wholesome action, [324] even when dreaming, and encourages others to follow them.

d.     After mastering a Dharma text, he offers it to all beings without distinction. [325]

e.     Does not get confused when a deep Dharma text is taught and always remains mindful, has clean habits, and does not get worms in his body. [326]

f.      His purity of body, speech, and thought increase and transcend the level of the śrāvaka and pratyekabuddha yānas.

g.     They don’t attach weight to gain, fame, or material matters.

h.     Does not lose heart when hearing the Dharma, and unites all dharmas heard from others to the perfection of wisdom—sees all as yoked to Dharma. [327]

2.     Māra’s Deeds

a.     While Māra will conjure up a vision of the hells with bodhisattvas in them, asking them to forsake awakening, if the bodhisattva knows that being irreversible he cannot be born in the hells against his will, this is another token of irreversibility.

b.     If Māra in the guise of an ascetic accuses what the bodhisattva has heard as being poetry, and what he teaches instead as the word of the Buddha, [328] and the bodhisattva is not led astray due to having placed the nature of Dharma before his eyes, he is irreversible.

c.     If Māra suggests they enter nirvāṇa early [329] or suggests that in the meantime arhats entered nirvāṇa, while one still has not attained full awakening, and if one does not desist, then one is irreversible. [330]

d.     An irreversible bodhisattva also neither pieces together nor produce a perception of the aggregates.

e.     An irreversible bodhisattva also stands firm if Māra says one cannot fully know all-knowledge, which is non-existent. [331]

3.     More Tokens of Irreversibility

a.     An irreversible bodhisattva enters the four dhyānas but his rebirth is not determined by their influence, rather he remains in the desire realm.

b.     An irreversible bodhisattva is not attached to a name, pleasant things, [332] dear forms, has right livelihood, and injures no one. This is the spirit in which they live as householders.

c.     An irreversible bodhisattva is protected by the Yakṣa Vajrapāṇi, [333] and it is hard for him to be conquered, he does not need spells, herbs, or magical formulae. He is of good character and modest, and does not predict the sex of future children.

d.     An irreversible bodhisattva is not preoccupied with worldly matters, talk about politics and politicians, [334] places, people, food, ghosts, geography, shows, performers—talk which delights common people, but rather, is interested in talk on perfect wisdom, the dharma, etc.

e.     Planning to gain vision of the Tathāgatas they are reborn near them and may serve them and honour them. [335]

f.      Irreversible bodhisattvas terminate existence among gods in the middle region where the Dharma is likely to be encountered.

g.     Irreversible bodhisattvas have no doubt whether they are irreversible and see through any deeds of Māra. [336]

h.     Irreversible bodhisattvas do not have the thoughts that characterise śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas and do not have any aspiration to enter nirvāṇa in this life. [337]

i.      Irreversible bodhisattvas recognise the Māra and his deeds, and when he is trying to turn him back.

j.      Irreversible bodhisattvas tries to gain the Dharma even at the risk of their lives. [338] They also know they are predicted to full awakening.

k.     Irreversible bodhisattvas also do not hesitate or doubt when they hear the Dharma or about the unobstructed true nature of all dharmas. [339-40]