Overall Teaching

Bodhisattvas enter this stage through the acceptance of the non-origination of all things, and have a no striving or manifestation of action of body, speech and mind. They are instructed by the Buddhas to continue to attain all qualities of buddhahood so they don’t enter nirvāṇa. Their progress from here is effortless like a boat on the ocean. They know the extent, lifespan, duration, qualities, powers, and so forth of all elements, the universe, and beings. They have great powers for teaching. They have constant vision of the Buddhas, see them and have samādhis etc. in the million billions, generally are reborn as Brahmas, and are predominant in the Perfection of Vowing.

Summary

1.     Request for the Eighth Stage [764iv]

a.     When the assembly grew silent, Vimukticandra inquired about the Eighth Stage.

2.     Requisites for Entry onto the Eighth Stage [764v–765i]

a.     Vajragarbha explains that in various ways bodhisattvas who are thoroughly imbued with acceptance of the non-origination of things enter into the eighth stage.

3.     The Abode of Bodhisattvas in the Eighth Stage [765ii–iv]

a.     As soon as they enter, they have complete immovability of mind: with no striving of body, speech, and mind.

b.     Just as someone dreaming they are in a torrent would exert effort and then wake up, and thereafter be free from all effort and striving, thus it is in this stage.

c.     On this stage, they manifest no actions of mind based on views, passions, intentions.

4.     Their Instruction from Buddhas [766i–767ii]

a.     On this stage, Buddhas will inform them that:

                                               i.     They have accepted ultimate truth in accord with the teachings of buddhas.

                                             ii.     But they don’t have the ten powers, expertise, and qualities of buddhahood.

                                            iii.     Therefore, they must work vigorously in quest of the full qualities of b.h.

                                            iv.     They should, however, continue to aid beings.

                                             v.     Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas also achieve the same level of illumination, but they must observe the infinity of buddhahood and its qualities and strive to achieve it through the infinite ways of producing & gaining knowledge.

b.     If Buddhas do not intercede with the bodhisattvas in this way, they would enter parinirvāṇa.

c.     The deeds effected in a single instant on this stage are greater than any other produced on the previous seven stages because previously they undertook action based on a body, whereas now they begin working on acting through infinite bodies, manifestations, voices, knowledges, lands, powers, etc.

                                               i.     This is like a boat going to the ocean—it takes great effort to drag it to the ocean [on land] but once it is in the ocean it is effortlessly propelled by wind.

5.     Contemplations of Bodhisattvas on this Stage [767iii–770ii]

a.     They know the extent, lifespan, & differentiation of the universe, elements & beings.

b.     They know the formation and dissolution, etc., of the three realms and their beings.

c.     They permeate a billion worlds and manifest according to the inclinations of beings.

d.     They know to appear in various buddha-lands, while not moving from one to another. They appear as the type of being as those in whose company they exist.

e.     They know all bodies of beings, achievements, worlds, elements, and so forth, and can manifest as any of them: they also allow other beings to manifest in these ways.

f.      They know the bodies of buddhas and their way of manifesting, e.g. three bodies, and more, and through that knowledge, they gain power and control over:

                                               i.     lifespan,

                                             ii.     mind,

                                            iii.     implements,

                                            iv.     actions,

                                             v.     births,

                                            vi.     inclinations,

                                          vii.     vows,

                                         viii.     powers,

                                            ix.     the Dharma and how to teach it along with

                                             x.     knowledge and how to show it.

g.     In this way, with impeccable body, speech, and mind, they use all faculties in a concerted manner for the development of all aspects of Buddhahood.

6.     Powers of Bodhisattvas on this Stage [770iii–771i]

a.     On this stage bodhisattvas are impeccable and undefiled in all acts through:

                                               i.     Being established in willpower through freedom from afflictions

                                             ii.     Power of determination

                                            iii.     Power of great compassion

                                            iv.     Power of great kindness

                                             v.     Power of mnemonic control

                                            vi.     Power of elocution

                                          vii.     Power of mystic knowledge

                                         viii.     Power of vows

                                            ix.     Power of the transcendent ways

                                             x.     Power of the support of buddhas

7.     Names of this Stage [771ii]

a.     This stage has the following names:

                                               i.     Immovable, not being deflected from the course

                                             ii.     Non-regression, not regressing in knowledge

                                            iii.     Difficult to reach

                                            iv.     Youth, because of innocence

                                             v.     Birth, effecting whatever is wished

                                            vi.     Stage of perfection, nothing further to do

                                          vii.     Stage of completion, thoroughly accomplishing ascertainment

                                         viii.     Stage of nirvāṇa, thoroughly accomplishing vows

                                            ix.     Stage of empowerment, being invulnerable to others

                                             x.     Stage of effortlessness, being effected by what went before

8.     Further Qualities of Bodhisattvas on this Stage [771iii–

a.     Through their knowledge bodhisattvas here enter the family of buddhas and are in the company of buddhas and devas, and are always open to manifest according to beings’ needs.

b.     They apply their manifestations, knowledge, and powers within the sphere of the Mahāyāna without regression in application.

c.     They are never without the constant vision of endless buddhas, and always serve them and receive back from them provisions of illumination through their teaching, acquiring their treasury of teachings and being invincible in answering questions in the world.

d.     Their roots of goodness developed over aeons cannot be own-shone by any śrāvakas, pratyekabuddhas, or bodhisattvas up to the seventh stage, just as the well-refined gold on an emperor’s crown or neck ornament.

e.     Beings on this stage progressively extinguish the fires of beings’ afflictions and cool them off, just as the light of a great Brahma deva illumines a thousand world with light.

f.      Among them, the predominant perfection is the Perfection of Vowing.

g.     Most beings in this stage become great Brahmas.

h.     Through their great energy, they have samādhis, visions of buddhas, and manifestations, etc., in the million billions.

9.     Verse Summary [773ii–776ii]

10.  Praise of the Devas [778iii–777i]

a.     The devas, elated, praise the foregoing teaching, especially emphasising how they show different practices according to the level of the student.

b.     The assembly then became silent.

Nāgārjuna’s Comments from Ratnāvalī

455. The eighth is the Immovable, the youthful ground.

Through non-conceptuality they are immovable,

And the spheres of activity

Of their body, speech, and mind are inconceivable.

456. Through the maturation of those [good qualities]

They become a Brahma, master of a thousand worlds. [vows]

[Arhats], [Pratyekabuddhas], and so forth

Cannot surpass them in positing the meaning [of the Dharma].