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The Three Main Aspects of the Bodhisattva Path
| Aspect Name |
Meaning |
| renunciation |
the wish to be free from cyclic rebirth |
| altruistic mind of enlightenment (bodhicitta) |
aspiration to become a buddha for the sake of all living
beings |
| correct view |
the mind that knows emptiness |
Summary of Stages on Path to Buddhahood
(read left to right, then next line)
| 1. Cultivate renunciation |
2. Begin cultivating bodhicitta |
3. To get bodhicitta, need correct view, so |
| 4. Meditate on and realize emptiness |
5. Attain bodhicitta
(now a bodhisattva on path of accumulation) |
6. Alternate stabilizing meditation
(concentration) and analytical meditation |
| 7. Stabilize mind on emptiness, attain path
of preparation. |
8. refine and deepen realization of
emptiness; sense of subj/obj. split weakens |
9. realize emptiness directly and
non-dualistically, attaing path of seeing (= first ground) |
| 10. continuing on path of meditation,
overcoming subtler types of afflictions on grounds 2-7 |
11. Escape cyclic existence, continue on path
of meditation grounds 8-10 |
12. refine and deepen realization, getting
rid of subtle obstructions to omniscience |
| 13. become a buddha: from within meditation
on emptiness, all other things also appear; path of no-more-learning |
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How Long Does this Take?
In the systems based on Mahayana sutras, not using
tantric techniques, it is said to take one countless eon to cover the paths of
accumulation and preparation; one countless eon to cover the path of seeing and
the path of meditation up through the seventh ground; and one countless eon to
proceed from there to perfect buddhahood.
How Does This Relate to the Six Perfections?
On all paths, the bodhisattva practices the six perfections:
giving, ethics, patience, effort, concentration, and wisdom. There are
activities of giving, etc., which are altruistically motivated and associated
with an understanding that the gift, giver, recipient, and act of giving are all
empty of intrinsic existence.
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