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The Buddhist path (''marga'') to liberation, also referred to as
awakening Awakening(s) may refer to: * Wakefulness, the state of being conscious Religion * Awakening (Finnish religious movement), a Lutheran movement in Finland * Enlightenment in Buddhism, from ''bodhi'' ("awakening") * Great Awakening, several period ...
, is described in a wide variety of ways. The classical one is the
Noble Eightfold Path The Noble Eightfold Path () or Eight Right Paths () is an early summary of the path of Buddhist practices leading to liberation from samsara, the painful cycle of rebirth, in the form of nirvana. The Eightfold Path consists of eight pra ...
, which is only one of several summaries presented in the
Sutta Pitaka Sutta may refer to: *The Pali version of the Sanskrit term Sutra **In Buddhism, a discourse of the Buddha: see Sutra ''Sutra'' ()Monier Williams, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Oxford University Press, Entry fo''sutra'' page 1241 in Indi ...
. A number of other paths to liberation exist within various
Buddhist Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...
traditions and
theology Theology is the study of religious belief from a Religion, religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an Discipline (academia), academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itse ...
.


Early Buddhism

There are various expositions of the path to liberation in the Early Buddhist texts, the following examples are drawn from the Pali Nikayas.


The Noble Eightfold Path

The Noble Eightfold Path is widely known as ''the'' description of the Buddhist path. In the Sutta Pitaka it is summed up as follows:


Alternate sequences in the Pali Nikayas

Alternate, and possibly older, sequences of the stages on the Buddhist path to liberation, can be found throughout the Pali Canon.


Tevijja Sutta

A standard sequence of developments can be found in the Nikayas, which may predate the more stylised four noble truths. For example the Tevijja Sutta verse 40–75 (Digha Nikaya 13):metta.lk, ''Tevijja Sutra''
* Verse 40: A Tathàgata is born into the world, who makes his knowledge known to others. * Verse 41: A householder listens to that truth, acquires faith, and goes forth from the household life into the homeless state. * Verse 42: He passes a life self-restrained, good in his conduct, guarding the door of his senses; mindful and self-possessed. * Verse 43–75: This results in: ** The confidence of heart that results from the sense of goodness. ** The way in which he guards the doors of his senses. ** The way in which he is mindful and self-possessed. ** His habit of being content with little, of adopting simplicity of life. ** His conquest of the
five hindrances In the Buddhist tradition, the five hindrances (; Pali: ') are identified as mental factors that hinder progress in meditation and in daily life. In the Theravada tradition, these factors are identified specifically as obstacles to the jhānas ...
, each with the explanatory simile. ** The joy and peace which, as a result of this conquest, fills his whole being.


Cula-Hatthipadopama-sutta

According to Rod Bucknell, another listing of path stages occurs in various places in the Majjhima Nikaya, and can be illustrated with the following list of stages from the ''Cula-Hatthipadopama-sutta'' (Lesser Discourse on the Simile of the Elephant's Footprints). # ''Dhamma /
saddha In Buddhism, faith (, ) refers to a serene commitment to the practice of Gautama Buddha, the Buddha's teaching, and to trust in enlightened or highly developed beings, such as Buddha (title), Buddhas or ''bodhisattvas'' (those aiming to b ...
/ pabbajja'': A layman hears a Buddha teach the
Dhamma Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold'' or ''to support' ...
, comes to have faith in him, and decides to take ordination as a monk. # '' Sila'': He adopts the moral precepts. # ''Indriyasamvara'' (element of right effort): He practises "guarding the six sense-doors." # '' Sati- sampajanna'': He practises
mindfulness Mindfulness is the cognitive skill, usually developed through exercises, of sustaining metacognitive awareness towards the contents of one's own mind and bodily sensations in the present moment. The term ''mindfulness'' derives from the Pali ...
and self-possession (actually described as mindfulness of the body, ''kayanussati''). #
Jhana In the oldest texts of Buddhism, ''dhyāna'' () or ''jhāna'' () is a component of the training of the mind (''bhavana''), commonly translated as meditation, to withdraw the mind from the automatic responses to sense-impressions and "burn up" ...
1: He finds an isolated spot in which to meditate, purifies his mind of the hindrances ( nivarana), and attains the first rupa-jhana. # Jhana 2: He attains the second jhana. # Jhana 3: He attains the third jhana. # Jhana 4: He attains the fourth jhana. # ''Pubbenivasanussati-ñana'': He recollects his many former existences in samsara. # ''Sattanam cutupapata-ñana'': He observes the death and rebirth of beings according to their karmas. # ''Asavakkhaya-ñana'': He brings about the destruction of the asavas (cankers), and attains a profound realization of (as opposed to mere knowledge about) the
Four Noble Truths In Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths (; ; "The Four Arya (Buddhism), arya satya") are "the truths of the noble one (the Buddha)," a statement of how things really are (Three marks of existence, the three marks of existence) when they are seen co ...
. # ''
Vimutti The English term ''enlightenment'' is the Western translation of various Buddhist terms, most notably ''bodhi'' and ''vimutti''. The abstract noun ''bodhi'' (; Sanskrit: बोधि; Pali: ''bodhi'') means the knowledge or wisdom, or awakene ...
'': He perceives that he is now liberated, that he has done what was to be done.


Maha-Assapura-sutta

According to Bucknell, in this sutta the Buddha gives the following list of "things that are to be done by recluses and brahmans": # ''hiri-
ottappa Apatrapya (Sanskrit, also ''apatrāpya''; Pali: ottappa; Tibetan Wylie: ''khrel yod pa'') is a Buddhist term translated as "decorum" or "shame". It is defined as shunning unwholesome actions so as to not be reproached by others of good character. ...
'': The recluse or brahman cultivates a sense of shame and fear of blame. # ''parisuddha kaya-samacara'' – He cultivates pure conduct of body. # ''parisuddha vaci-samacara'': He cultivates pure conduct of speech. # ''parisuddha mano-samacara'': He cultivates pure conduct of mind. # ''parisuddha ajiva'': He cultivates pure livelihood. # ''indriyasamvara'': He guards the six sense-doors. # ''bhojane mattaññuta'': He exercises restraint in eating. # ''jagariya'': He practises wakefulness. # '' Sati- sampajanna'': He is mindful and self-possessed. # First Jhana # Second Jhana # Third Jhana # Fourth Jhana # ''Pubbenivasanussati-ñana'': He recollects his former existences. # ''Sattanam cutupapata-ñana'': He observes the death and rebirth of beings. # ''Asavakkhaya-ñana – Vimutti'': He destroys the asavas, realizes the four noble truths, and perceives that he is liberated


Sekha-sutta

According to Bucknell, in the Sekha sutta the Buddha prompts Ananda to teach a "learner's course" to a group of disciples, which goes thus: # ''sila'' # ''indriyasamvara'' # ''bhojane mattaññuta,'' restraint in eating. # ''jagariya,'' wakefulness. # ''satta saddhamma'': He develops the seven "excellent qualities" (''saddha, hiri, ottappa, bahussuta, viriya, sati, pañña'' – faith, sense of shame, fear of blame, hearing much, energy, mindfulness, insight) # ''jhana'': He attains without difficulty the four jhanas. # ''Pubbenivasanussati-ñana'': He recollects his former existences. # ''Sattanam cutupapata-ñana'': He observes the death and rebirth of beings. # ''Asavakkhaya-ñana – Vimutti'': He destroys the asavas and perceives that he is liberated.


Various sequences in the Madhyama Agama

According to
Bhikkhu Sujato Sujato, known as Ajahn Sujato or Bhikkhu Sujato (born Anthony Best), is an Australian Buddhist monk ordained into the Thai forest lineage of Ajahn Chah. Life He is a former musician with the post punk alternative rock Australian band Martha' ...
, the Chinese Madhyama Agama of the Sarvastivada school includes some exposition of the gradual path not available in the Pali Nikayas of the Theravada school. He outlines three main such expositions of the path, from the following sutras, MA 44, MA 54, and MA 55:


MA 44


MA 54


MA 55


Bodhipakkhiyādhammā

The Noble Eightfold Path is one of the lists in the ''bodhipakkhiyā dhammā'', a term used in the Pali commentaries to refer to seven sets of qualities or aids to awakening regularly ascribed the
Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist legends, he was ...
throughout the
Pali Canon The Pāḷi Canon is the standard collection of scriptures in the Theravada Buddhism, Buddhist tradition, as preserved in the Pāli language. It is the most complete extant Early Buddhist texts, early Buddhist canon. It derives mainly from t ...
, each summarizing the Buddhist path. Within these seven sets of awakening qualities, there is a total of thirty-seven overlapping and repetitive factors or qualities. Four establishments of mindfulness (''cattāro satipaṭṭhānā'') # Mindfulness of the body (''kāyānupassanā'', S. ''kayānupasthāna'') # Mindfulness of feelings (''vedanānupassanā'', S. ''vedanānupasthāna'') # Mindfulness of mental states (''cittānupassanā'', S. ''cittanupasthāna'') # Mindfulness of mental qualities (''dhammānupassanā'', S. ''dharmanupasthāna'') Four right exertions/efforts (''cattāro sammappadhānā'') # Exertion for the preventing of unskillful states to arise # Exertion for the abandoning of the already arisen unskillful states # Exertion for the arising of skillful states # Exertion for the sustaining and increasing of arisen skillful states Four bases of magical/mental/supernatural power (''cattāro iddhipādā'') # Will ('' chanda'', S. ''chanda'') # Energy, effort ('' viriya'', S. ''
vīrya (Sanskrit; ) is a Buddhist term commonly translated as "energy", "diligence", "enthusiasm", "effort" or "heroism" "help". It can be defined as an attitude of gladly engaging in wholesome activities, and it functions to cause one to accompli ...
'') # Consciousness (''
citta ''Citta'' (Pali and Sanskrit: चित्त, or in Prakrit script 𑀘𑀺𑀢𑁆𑀢, pronounced ''chitta'' ͡ɕit̚.tɐ́sup>( key)) is one of three overlapping terms used in the Nikaya to refer to the mind, the others being '' mana ...
'', S. ''citta'') # Examination (''vīmaṁsa'' or ', S. ''mimāṃsā'') Five spiritual faculties (''pañca indriya'') # Conviction (''
saddhā In Buddhism, faith (, ) refers to a serene commitment to the practice of the Buddha's teaching, and to trust in enlightened or highly developed beings, such as Buddhas or ''bodhisattvas'' (those aiming to become a Buddha). Buddhists usual ...
'', S. ''śraddhā'') # Energy, effort (''viriya'', s. ''
vīrya (Sanskrit; ) is a Buddhist term commonly translated as "energy", "diligence", "enthusiasm", "effort" or "heroism" "help". It can be defined as an attitude of gladly engaging in wholesome activities, and it functions to cause one to accompli ...
'') # Mindfulness (''sati'', S. ''smṛti'') # Unification (''samādhi'', S. ''samādhi'') # Wisdom ('' paññā,'' S. ''prajñā'')
Five Strengths The Five Strengths (Sanskrit, Pali: ') in Buddhism are faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. They are one of the seven sets of Bodhipakkhiyadhamma ("qualities conducive to enlightenment"). They are paralleled in the five spir ...
(''pañca bala'') # Conviction (''
saddhā In Buddhism, faith (, ) refers to a serene commitment to the practice of the Buddha's teaching, and to trust in enlightened or highly developed beings, such as Buddhas or ''bodhisattvas'' (those aiming to become a Buddha). Buddhists usual ...
'', S. ''
śraddhā (, ) is a Sanskrit term often glossed in English as ''faith''. The term figures importantly in the literature, teachings, and discourse of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Sri Aurobindo describes as "the soul's belief in the Divine's existence ...
'') # Energy, effort (''viriya'', S. ''
vīrya (Sanskrit; ) is a Buddhist term commonly translated as "energy", "diligence", "enthusiasm", "effort" or "heroism" "help". It can be defined as an attitude of gladly engaging in wholesome activities, and it functions to cause one to accompli ...
'') # Mindfulness ('' sati'', S. ''smṛti'') # Unification (''samādhi'', S. ''samādhi'') # Wisdom ('' paññā,'' S. ''prajñā'')
Seven Factors of Awakening In Buddhism, the Seven Factors of Awakening (Pali: ''satta bojjhagā'' or ''satta sambojjhagā''; Skt.: ''sapta bodhyanga'') are: * Mindfulness ('' sati'', Sanskrit ''smṛti''). To maintain awareness of reality, in particular the teachings ( ...
(''bojjhanga'') # Mindfulness ('' sati'', S. ''smṛti'') # Investigation (''
dhamma vicaya In Buddhism, ''dhamma vicaya'' (Pali; ) has been variously translated as the "analysis of qualities," "discrimination of '' dhammas''," "discrimination of states," "investigation of doctrine," and "searching the Truth." The meaning is ambivalent ...
'', S. ''dharmapravicaya'') # Energy, effort (''viriya'', S. ''
vīrya (Sanskrit; ) is a Buddhist term commonly translated as "energy", "diligence", "enthusiasm", "effort" or "heroism" "help". It can be defined as an attitude of gladly engaging in wholesome activities, and it functions to cause one to accompli ...
'') # Joy (''
pīti ''Pīti'' in Pali (Sanskrit: ''Prīti'') is a Mental factors (Buddhism), mental factor (Pali:''cetasika'', Sanskrit: ''caitasika'') associated with the development of ''Dhyāna in Buddhism, jhāna'' (Sanskrit: ''dhyāna'') in Buddhist meditation ...
'', S. ''prīti'') # Tranquillity (''
passaddhi ''Passaddhi'' is a Pali noun (Sanskrit: prasrabhi, Tibetan: ཤིན་ཏུ་སྦྱང་བ་, Tibetan Wylie: shin tu sbyang ba) that has been translated as "calmness", "tranquillity", "repose" and "serenity." The associated verb is ''p ...
'', S. ''praśrabdhi'') # Unification (''
samādhi Statue of a meditating Rishikesh.html" ;"title="Shiva, Rishikesh">Shiva, Rishikesh ''Samādhi'' (Pali and ), in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, is a state of meditative consciousness. In many Indian religious traditions, the cultivati ...
'', S. ''samādhi'') # Equanimity ('' upekkhā'', S. ''upekṣā'')
Noble Eightfold Path The Noble Eightfold Path () or Eight Right Paths () is an early summary of the path of Buddhist practices leading to liberation from samsara, the painful cycle of rebirth, in the form of nirvana. The Eightfold Path consists of eight pra ...
# Right Understanding (''sammā diṭṭhi'', S. ''samyag-dṛṣṭi'') # Right Intention (''sammā saṅkappa'', S. ''samyak-saṃkalpa'') # Right Speech (''sammā vācā'', S. ''samyag-vāc'') # Right Action (''sammā kammanta'', S. ''samyak-karmānta'') # Right Livelihood (''sammā ājīva'', S. ''samyag-ājīva'') # Right Effort (''sammā vāyāma'', S. samyag-vyāyāma) # Right Mindfulness (''sammā sati'', S. ''samyak-smṛti'') # Right Unification (''sammā samādhi'', S. ''samyak-samādhi'')


Developing the seven factors of awakening

According to
Rupert Gethin Rupert Mark Lovell Gethin (born 1957, in Edinburgh) is Professor of Buddhist Studies in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies and codirector of the Centre for Buddhist Studies at the University of Bristol, and (since 2003) president of ...
, the Buddhist path to awakening is frequently summarized in the Pali Canon in a short formula as Various practices lead to the development of the '' bojjhaṅgā'', the seven factors of awakening, which are not only the means to, but also the constituents of awakening. According to Gethin, there is a "definite affinity" between the four '' jhanas'' and the ''bojjhaṅgā'', the development of which is aided by a variety of meditation practices. Together with ''
satipatthana ''Satipatthana'' (; ) is a central practice in the Buddha's teachings, meaning "the establishment of mindfulness" or "presence of mindfulness", or alternatively "foundations of mindfulness", aiding the development of a wholesome state of mind. I ...
'' (mindfulness) and ''
anapanasati (Pali; Sanskrit: '), meaning " mindfulness of breathing" ( means mindfulness; refers to inhalation and exhalation), is the act of paying attention to the breath. It is the quintessential form of Buddhist meditation, attributed to Gautama Bud ...
'' (breath-meditation), this results in a "heightened awareness," "overcoming distracting and disturbing emotions."


Alternate formulations

Other descriptions of Buddhist essentials can also be found.


Anupubbikathā

Another formula is ''anupubbikathā'', "graduated talk, in which the Buddha talks on generosity (''
dāna (Devanagari: , IAST: ) is a Sanskrit and Pali word that connotes the virtue of generosity, charity or giving of alms, in Indian religions and philosophies. In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, is the practice of cultivating generosi ...
''), virtue (''
sīla Buddhist ethics are traditionally based on the enlightened perspective of the Buddha. In Buddhism, ethics or morality are understood by the term ''śīla'' () or ''sīla'' (Pāli). ''Śīla'' is one of three sections of the Noble Eightfold Path ...
''), heaven ('' sagga''), danger of sensual pleasure ('' ādīnava'') and renunciation (''
nekkhamma ''Nekkhamma'' (; ) is a Pāli word generally translated as "renunciation" or "the pleasure of renunciation" while also conveying more specifically "giving up the world and leading a holy life" or "freedom from lust, craving and desires." In Bud ...
''). When the listener is prepared by these topics, the Buddha then delivers "the teaching special to the Buddhas,"Majjhima Nikaya 56, ''To Upali'', verse 18. Bhikkhu Nanamoli & Bhikku Bodhi. the
Four Noble Truths In Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths (; ; "The Four Arya (Buddhism), arya satya") are "the truths of the noble one (the Buddha)," a statement of how things really are (Three marks of existence, the three marks of existence) when they are seen co ...
(''cattāri ariya- saccāni''), by which arises "the spotless immaculate vision of the Dhamma." In the Tibetan Lamrim teachings, the Bodhisattva-path, with its training of the six perfections, is added to this formula.


Atthakavagga

The Atthakavagga, one of the oldest books of the
Sutta Pitaka Sutta may refer to: *The Pali version of the Sanskrit term Sutra **In Buddhism, a discourse of the Buddha: see Sutra ''Sutra'' ()Monier Williams, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Oxford University Press, Entry fo''sutra'' page 1241 in Indi ...
, contained in the
Sutta Nipata The ' () is a Buddhist scripture, a sutta collection in the Khuddaka Nikaya, part of the Sutta Pitaka of the Pali Canon of Theravada Buddhism. ''Sutta Nipata'' is a collection of discourses of Buddha. It is part of an early corpus of Buddh ...
, does not give a clear-cut goal such as
Nirvana Nirvana, in the Indian religions (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism), is the concept of an individual's passions being extinguished as the ultimate state of salvation, release, or liberation from suffering ('' duḥkha'') and from the ...
, but describes the ideal person. This ideal person is especially characterized by ''suddhi'' (purity) and ''santi'' (calmness). Commentaries on the Atthakavagga, namely the ''Mahaniddesa'' and the commentary by
Buddhaghosa Buddhaghosa was a 5th-century Sinhalese Theravādin Buddhist commentator, translator, and philosopher. He worked in the great monastery (''mahāvihāra'') at Anurādhapura, Sri Lanka and saw himself as being part of the Vibhajyavāda schoo ...
, show the development of Buddhist ideas over time. Both commentaries place the Atthakavagga in their frame of reference, giving an elaborated system of thought far more complicated than the Atthakavagga itself.


Theravada tradition - Path of purification

The classical outline of the Theravada path to liberation are the ''Seven Purifications'', as described by
Buddhaghosa Buddhaghosa was a 5th-century Sinhalese Theravādin Buddhist commentator, translator, and philosopher. He worked in the great monastery (''mahāvihāra'') at Anurādhapura, Sri Lanka and saw himself as being part of the Vibhajyavāda schoo ...
in the
Visuddhimagga The ''Visuddhimagga'' (Pali; English: ''The Path of Purification''; ), is the 'great treatise' on Buddhism, Buddhist practice and Theravāda Abhidhamma written by Buddhaghosa approximately in the 5th century in Sri Lanka. It is a manual condens ...
. These purifications are: # Purification of Conduct (''sīla-visuddhi'') # Purification of Mind (''citta-visuddhi'') # Purification of View (''ditthi-visuddhi'') # Purification by Overcoming Doubt (''kankha-vitarana-visuddhi'') # Purification by Knowledge and Vision of What Is Path and Not Path (''maggamagga-ñanadassana-visuddhi'') # Purification by Knowledge and Vision of the Course of Practice (''patipada-ñanadassana-visuddhi'') ## Knowledge of contemplation of rise and fall (''udayabbayanupassana-nana'') ## Knowledge of contemplation of dissolution (''bhanganupassana-nana'') ## Knowledge of appearance as terror (''bhayatupatthana-nana'') ## Knowledge of contemplation of danger (''adinavanupassana-nana'') ## Knowledge of contemplation of dispassion (''nibbidanupassana-nana'') ## Knowledge of desire for deliverance (''muncitukamyata-nana'') ## Knowledge of contemplation of reflection (''patisankhanupassana-nana'') ## Knowledge of equanimity about formations (''sankharupekka-nana'') ## Conformity knowledge (''anuloma-nana'') # Purification by Knowledge and Vision (''ñanadassana-visuddhi'') ## Change of lineage ## The first path and fruit ## The second path and fruit ## The third path and fruit ## The fourth path and fruit The "Purification by Knowledge and Vision" is the culmination of the practice, in four stages leading to
liberation Liberation or liberate may refer to: Film and television * ''Liberation'' (film series), a 1970–1971 series about the Great Patriotic War * "Liberation" (''The Flash''), a TV episode * "Liberation" (''K-9''), an episode Gaming * '' Liberati ...
. The emphasis in this system is on understanding the three marks of existence, dukkha, anatta, anicca. This emphasis is recognizable in the value that is given to vipassana over samatha, especially in the contemporary
vipassana movement The Vipassanā movement refers to a branch of modern Burmese Theravāda Buddhism that promotes "bare insight" (''sukha-Vipassana'') meditation practice to develop insight into the three marks of existence and attain stream entry. It gained ...
.


Sarvastivada tradition

The Sarvāstivāda Vaibhāṣika school developed an influential outline of the path to awakening, one which was later adapted and modified by the scholars of the Mahayana tradition. This was called the "five paths" (''pañcamārga),'' and can be seen in their Abhidharma texts as well as Vasubadhu's '' Abhidharmakośa'' (AKBh). The five paths are: # ''Mokṣa-bhāgīya'' (The state leading up to release) or ''Saṃbhāra-mārga'' (path of accumulation). According to Vasubandhu, this entails morality, learning the teaching and the practice of the four foundations of mindfulness. # ''Nirveda-bhāgīya'' (The state leading up to penetration) or ''Prayoga-mārga'' (The path of preparation). Vasubandhu's AKBh says that here one observes the
four noble truths In Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths (; ; "The Four Arya (Buddhism), arya satya") are "the truths of the noble one (the Buddha)," a statement of how things really are (Three marks of existence, the three marks of existence) when they are seen co ...
in terms of its sixteen aspects. # ''
Darśana In Indian religions, a ''darshan'' (Sanskrit: दर्शन, ; 'showing, appearance, view, sight') or ''darshanam'' is the auspicious sight of a deity or a holy person. The term also refers to any one of the six traditional schools of Hind ...
-mārga'' (The path of seeing or insight). According to the AKBh, in this path one continues to observe the four noble truths until one realizes it and abandons eighty eight afflictions ( kleshas). # '' Bhāvanā-mārga'', (The path of cultivation). According to the AKBh, in this stage, one continues to practice and abandons 10 further kleshas. # ''Aśaikṣā-mārga'' (The path of no more learning or consummation). One is fully freed of all obstructions and afflictions and are thus perfected or fulfilled (''niṣṭhā'').


Bodhisattva path

Mahāyāna Mahāyāna ( ; , , ; ) is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, Buddhist texts#Mahāyāna texts, texts, Buddhist philosophy, philosophies, and practices developed in ancient India ( onwards). It is considered one of the three main ex ...
Buddhism is based principally upon the path of a bodhisattva. Mahāyāna Buddhism encourages everyone to become bodhisattvas and to take the
bodhisattva vows file:Sumedha and Dīpankara, 2nd century, Swat Valley, Gandhāra.jpg, Gandharan relief depicting the ascetic Megha (The Buddha, Shakyamuni in a past life) prostrating before the past Buddha Dipankara, Dīpaṅkara, c. 2nd century CE (Gandhara, Swa ...
. With these vows, one makes the promise to work for the complete enlightenment of all
sentient beings Sentience is the ability to experience feelings and sensations. It may not necessarily imply higher cognitive functions such as awareness, reasoning, or complex thought processes. Some writers define sentience exclusively as the capacity for ''v ...
by following the bodhisattva path. The path can be described in terms of the six perfections or in terms of the five paths and ten bhumis.


Six paramitas

The six paramitas are the means by which Mahayana practitioners actualize their aspiration to attain complete enlightenment for the benefit of all. In
Mahāyāna Mahāyāna ( ; , , ; ) is a term for a broad group of Buddhist traditions, Buddhist texts#Mahāyāna texts, texts, Buddhist philosophy, philosophies, and practices developed in ancient India ( onwards). It is considered one of the three main ex ...
Buddhism, the Prajñapāramitā Sūtras, the ''
Lotus Sutra The ''Lotus Sūtra'' (Sanskrit: ''Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtram'', ''Sūtra on the White Lotus of the True Dharma'', zh, p=Fǎhuá jīng, l=Dharma Flower Sutra) is one of the most influential and venerated Buddhist Mahāyāna sūtras. ...
'' (''Skt., Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra''), and a large number of other texts, list the six perfections as follows: # ''
Dāna (Devanagari: , IAST: ) is a Sanskrit and Pali word that connotes the virtue of generosity, charity or giving of alms, in Indian religions and philosophies. In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism, is the practice of cultivating generosi ...
pāramitā'': generosity, the attitude of giving # ''
Śīla Buddhist ethics are traditionally based on the Enlightenment in Buddhism, enlightened perspective of the Buddha. In Buddhism, ethics or morality are understood by the term ''śīla'' () or ''sīla'' (Pāli). ''Śīla'' is one of three sections o ...
pāramitā'' : virtue, morality, discipline, proper conduct # '' (kshanti) pāramitā'' : patience, tolerance, forbearance, acceptance, endurance # ''
Vīrya (Sanskrit; ) is a Buddhist term commonly translated as "energy", "diligence", "enthusiasm", "effort" or "heroism" "help". It can be defined as an attitude of gladly engaging in wholesome activities, and it functions to cause one to accompli ...
pāramitā'' : energy, diligence, vigor, effort # '' Dhyāna pāramitā'' : one-pointed concentration, contemplation # '' Prajñā pāramitā'' : wisdom, insight


Five paths and ten bhumis


Five paths

The Mahayana commentary the '' Abhisamayalamkara'' presents a progressive formula of
five paths 5 (five) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number, and cardinal number, following 4 and preceding 6, and is a prime number. Humans, and many other animals, have 5 digits on their limbs. Mathematics 5 is a Fermat pri ...
(''pañcamārga'', Wylie Tibetan ''lam lnga'') adopted from the Sarvastivada tradition's Abhidharma exposition. The Five Paths as taught in the Mahayana are: #The path of accumulation (''saṃbhāra-mārga'', Wylie Tibetan: ''tshogs lam''). Persons on this Path: ## Possess a strong desire to overcome suffering, either their own or others; ## Renunciate the worldly life. #The path of preparation or application (''prayoga-mārga'', Wylie Tibetan: ''sbyor lam''). Persons on this Path: ## Start practicing
meditation Meditation is a practice in which an individual uses a technique to train attention and awareness and detach from reflexive, "discursive thinking", achieving a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state, while not judging the meditat ...
; ## Have analytical knowledge of
emptiness Emptiness as a human condition is a sense of generalized boredom, social alienation, nihilism, and apathy. Feelings of emptiness often accompany dysthymia, depression (mood), depression, loneliness, anhedonia, wiktionary:despair, despair, or o ...
. #The path of seeing (''
darśana In Indian religions, a ''darshan'' (Sanskrit: दर्शन, ; 'showing, appearance, view, sight') or ''darshanam'' is the auspicious sight of a deity or a holy person. The term also refers to any one of the six traditional schools of Hind ...
-mārga'', Wylie Tibetan: ''mthong lam'') (Bhūmi 1). Persons on this Path: ## Practice profound concentration meditation on the nature of reality; ## Realize the emptiness of reality. ## Corresponds to "stream-entry" and the first Bodhisattva Bhumi.Robert E. Buswell Jr., Donald S. Lopez Jr.; The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism: ''pañcamarga'' #The path of meditation ('' bhāvanā-mārga'', Wylie Tibetan: ''sgom lam'') (Bhūmi 2–7). Persons on this path purify themselves and accumulate
wisdom Wisdom, also known as sapience, is the ability to apply knowledge, experience, and good judgment to navigate life’s complexities. It is often associated with insight, discernment, and ethics in decision-making. Throughout history, wisdom ha ...
. #The path of no more learning or consummation (''aśaikṣā-mārga'', Wylie Tibetan: ''mi slob pa'I lam'' or ''thar phyin pa'i lam'') (Bhūmi 8–10). Persons on this Path have completely purified themselves.


Ten Bhumis

The "bodhisattva bhūmis" ("enlightenment-being grounds/levels") are subcategories of the Five Paths. The Sanskrit term ''
bhūmi Bhumi (Sanskrit: भूमि, romanized: Bhūmi), also known as Bhudevi, Dharani, and Vasundhara, is a significant goddess in Hinduism, personifying the Earth. Her earliest form is reflected in the Vedic goddess Prithvi, though their roles and de ...
'' 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. The '' Avatamsaka Sutra'' refers to the following ten bhūmis: # The Very Joyous (Skt. ''Paramudita''), in which one rejoices at realizing a partial aspect of the truth; # The Stainless (Skt. ''Vimala''), in which one is free from all defilement; # The Luminous (Skt. ''Prabhakari''), in which one radiates the light of wisdom; # The Radiant (Skt. ''Archishmati''), in which the radiant flame of wisdom burns away earthly desires; # The Difficult to Cultivate (Skt. ''Sudurjaya''), in which one surmounts the illusions of darkness, or ignorance as the
Middle Way The Middle Way (; ) as well as "teaching the Dharma by the middle" (''majjhena dhammaṃ deseti'') are common Buddhist terms used to refer to two major aspects of the Dharma, that is, the teaching of the Buddha. The first phrasing, the Middle ...
; # The Manifest (Skt. ''Abhimukhi'') in which supreme wisdom begins to manifest; # The Gone Afar (Skt. ''Duramgama''), in which one rises above the states of the Two vehicles; # The Immovable (Skt. ''Achala''), in which one dwells firmly in the truth of the
Middle Way The Middle Way (; ) as well as "teaching the Dharma by the middle" (''majjhena dhammaṃ deseti'') are common Buddhist terms used to refer to two major aspects of the Dharma, that is, the teaching of the Buddha. The first phrasing, the Middle ...
and cannot be perturbed by anything; # The Good Intelligence (Skt. ''Sadhumati''), in which one preaches the Law freely and without restriction; # The Cloud of Doctrine (Skt. ''Dharmamegha''), in which one benefits all
sentient beings Sentience is the ability to experience feelings and sensations. It may not necessarily imply higher cognitive functions such as awareness, reasoning, or complex thought processes. Some writers define sentience exclusively as the capacity for ''v ...
with the Law (
Dharma Dharma (; , ) is a key concept in various Indian religions. The term ''dharma'' does not have a single, clear Untranslatability, translation and conveys a multifaceted idea. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit ''dhr-'', meaning ''to hold ...
), just as a cloud sends down rain impartially on all things.


Tibetan Buddhism


Lam Rim

Lam Rim describes the stages of the path. Tsong Khapa mentions three essential elements: * The aspiration for awakening *
Bodhicitta In Mahayana Buddhism, bodhicitta ("aspiration to enlightenment" or "the thought of awakening") is the mind ( citta) that is aimed at awakening (bodhi) through wisdom and compassion for the benefit of all sentient beings.Dayal, Har (1970). ''T ...
, the aspiration to attain this for all living beings * Insight into
emptiness Emptiness as a human condition is a sense of generalized boredom, social alienation, nihilism, and apathy. Feelings of emptiness often accompany dysthymia, depression (mood), depression, loneliness, anhedonia, wiktionary:despair, despair, or o ...


Annuttara-yoga tantras

In the highest class of tantra, two stages of practice are distinguished, namely generation and completion. In some Buddhist tantras, both stages can be practiced simultaneously, whereas in others, one first actualizes the generation stage before continuing with the completion stage practices.


Generation stage

In the first stage of generation, one engages in deity yoga. One practices oneself in the identification with the meditational Buddha or deity (''
yidam A ''yidam'' or ''iṣṭadevatā'' is a meditational deity that serves as a focus for meditation and spiritual practice, said to be manifestations of Buddhahood or enlightened mind. Yidams are an integral part of Vajrayana, including Tibeta ...
'') by visualisations, until one can meditate single-pointedly on ''being'' the deity.


Four purities

In the ''generation stage'' of Deity Yoga, the practitioner visualizes the "Four Purities" (Tibetan: ''yongs su dag pa bzhi''; ''yongs dag bzhi'') which define the principal Tantric methodology of Deity Yoga that distinguishes it from the rest of Buddhism: # Seeing one's body as the body of the deity # Seeing one's environment as the
pure land Pure Land is a Mahayana, Mahayana Buddhist concept referring to a transcendent realm emanated by a buddhahood, buddha or bodhisattva which has been purified by their activity and Other power, sustaining power. Pure lands are said to be places ...
or
mandala A mandala (, ) is a geometric configuration of symbols. In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space and as an aid ...
of the deity # Perceiving one's enjoyments as bliss of the deity, free from attachment # Performing one's actions only for the benefit of others (bodhichitta motivation, altruism)Kalachakranet (2006), ''Tantric Practice''
(Source: January 3, 2008)


Completion stage

In the next stage of completion, the practitioner can use either the ''path of method (thabs lam)'' or the ''path of liberation ('grol lam)''. At the path of method the practitioner engages in Kundalini yoga practices. These involve the subtle energy system of the body of the
chakra A chakra (; ; ) is one of the various focal points used in a variety of ancient meditation practices, collectively denominated as Tantra, part of the inner traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism. The concept of the chakra arose in Hinduism. B ...
s and the energy channels. The "wind energy" is directed and dissolved into the heart chakra, where-after the
Mahamudra Mahāmudrā (Sanskrit: महामुद्रा, , contraction of ) literally means "great seal" or "great imprint" and refers to the fact that "all phenomena inevitably are stamped by the fact of wisdom and emptiness inseparable". Mahāmud ...
remains, and the practitioner is physically and mentally transformed. At the path of liberation the practitioner applies
mindfulness Mindfulness is the cognitive skill, usually developed through exercises, of sustaining metacognitive awareness towards the contents of one's own mind and bodily sensations in the present moment. The term ''mindfulness'' derives from the Pali ...
, a preparatory practice for
Mahamudra Mahāmudrā (Sanskrit: महामुद्रा, , contraction of ) literally means "great seal" or "great imprint" and refers to the fact that "all phenomena inevitably are stamped by the fact of wisdom and emptiness inseparable". Mahāmud ...
or
Dzogchen Dzogchen ( 'Great Completion' or 'Great Perfection'), also known as ''atiyoga'' ( utmost yoga), is a tradition of teachings in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and Bön aimed at discovering and continuing in the ultimate ground of existence. The goal ...
, to realize the inherent
emptiness Emptiness as a human condition is a sense of generalized boredom, social alienation, nihilism, and apathy. Feelings of emptiness often accompany dysthymia, depression (mood), depression, loneliness, anhedonia, wiktionary:despair, despair, or o ...
of every-'thing' that exists.


Four yogas of mahāmudrā

Mahāmudrā' literally means "great seal" or "great symbol". The name refers to the way one who has realized mahāmudrā. "Mudra" refers to the fact that each phenomenon appears vividly, and "maha" refers to the fact that it is beyond concept, imagination, and projection. Mahāmudrā is sometimes divided into four distinct phases known as the four yogas of mahāmudrā. They are as follows: # One-pointedness; # Simplicity, "free from complexity" or "not elaborate"; # One taste; # Non-meditation, the state of not holding to either an object of meditation nor to a meditator. Nothing further needs to be 'meditated upon' or 'cultivated at this stage. These stages parallel the four yogas of dzogchen semde. The four yogas of Mahāmudrā have also been correlated with the Mahāyāna five Bhumi paths.


Zen

Although the Rinzai Zen-tradition emphasises
sudden awakening Sudden awakening or Sudden enlightenment (), also known as subitism, is a Buddhist idea which holds that practitioners can achieve an instantaneous insight into ultimate reality (Buddha-nature, or the nature of mind). This awakening is describe ...
over the study of scripture, in practice several stages can be distinguished. A well-known example are the Ten Ox-Herding Pictures which detail the steps on the Path.


''Two Entrances and Four Practices''

The ''
Long Scroll of the Treatise on the Two Entrances and Four Practices Long may refer to: Measurement * Long, characteristic of something of great duration * Long, characteristic of something of great length * Longitude (abbreviation: long.), a geographic coordinate * Longa (music), note value in early music mens ...
'', attributed to
Bodhidharma Bodhidharma was a semi-legendary Bhikkhu, Buddhist monk who lived during the 5th or 6th century CE. He is traditionally credited as the transmitter of Chan Buddhism to China, and is regarded as its first Chinese Lineage (Buddhism), patriarch. ...
, refers the entrance of principle (理入 lǐrù) and the entrance of practice (行入 xíngrù). * "Entrance of principle" refers to seeing through the obscurations of our daily mind and manifesting our true nature, that is,
Buddha nature In Buddhist philosophy and Buddhist paths to liberation, soteriology, Buddha-nature (Chinese language, Chinese: , Japanese language, Japanese: , , Sanskrit: ) is the innate potential for all Sentient beings (Buddhism), sentient beings to bec ...
; it is referred to in one short passage: * "Entrance of practice" deals with practicing a "detached perspective on the varying circumstances of one's own life," through different daily practices. In the section on the latter, the four practices are listed as being at the core of Bodhidharma's teaching. These are: ** Practice of the retribution of enmity: to accept all suffering as the fruition of past transgressions, without enmity or complaint. **Practice of the acceptance of circumstances: to remain unmoved even by good fortune, recognizing it as evanescent. **Practice of the absence of craving: to be without craving, which is the source of all suffering. **Practice of accordance with the Dharma: to eradicate wrong thoughts and practice the
six perfections 6 (six) is the natural number following 5 and preceding 7. It is a composite number and the smallest perfect number. In mathematics A six-sided polygon is a hexagon, one of the three regular polygons capable of tiling the plane. A hexagon a ...
, without having any "practice" According to John R. McRae, "the "entrance of principle" refers to interior cultivation, mental practice undertaken deep within the individual's psyche, and the "entrance of practice" refers to practice undertaken actively and in interaction with the world." Yet, McRae also notes that it's not clear what exactly the "entrance of principle" entailed. The phrase "wall contemplation," ''biguan'', is not explicated. Later tradition graphically depicted it as practicing ''
dhyana Dhyana may refer to: Meditative practices in Indian religions * Dhyana in Buddhism (Pāli: ''jhāna'') * Dhyana in Hinduism * Jain Dhyāna, see Jain meditation Other *''Dhyana'', a work by British composer John Tavener Sir John Kenneth ...
'' while facing a wall, but it may be a metaphor, referring to the four walls of a room which prevent the winds from entering the room.


Sudden and gradual

In the 8th century the distinction became part of a struggle for influence at the Chinese court by
Shenhui Heze Shenhui (Chinese:菏澤神會/菏泽神会; Wade–Giles: Shen-hui; Japanese: Kataku Jinne, 684–758) was a Chinese Buddhist monk of the so-called "Southern School" of Zen, who "claimed to have studied under Huineng." Shenhui is notable f ...
, a student of
Huineng Dajian Huineng or Hui-nengThe Sutra of Hui-neng, Grand Master of Zen, with Hui-neng's Commentary on the Diamond Sutra, translated by Thomas Cleary, Shambhala Publications, 1998 (; February 27, 638 – August 28, 713), also commonly known as the ...
. Hereafter "sudden enlightenment" became one of the hallmarks of Chan Buddhism, though the sharp distinction was softened by subsequent generations of practitioners. Once the dichotomy between sudden and gradual was in place, it defined its own logic and rhetorics, which are also recognizable in the distinction between Caodong (Soto) and Lin-ji (Rinzai) chán. But it also led to a "sometimes bitter and always prolix sectarian controversy between later Chán and Hua-yen exegetes". In the Huayan classification of teachings, the sudden approach was regarded inferior to the Perfect Teaching of Hua-yen.
Guifeng Zongmi Guifeng Zongmi () (780–1 February 841) was a Tang dynasty Chinese Buddhist monk and scholar who is considered a patriarch of both the Huayan school and Chan Buddhism. Zongmi wrote a number of works on several Mahayana Sutras, Chan and Huaya ...
, fifth patriarch of Hua-yen ànd Chán-master, devised his own classification to counter this subordination. Guifeng Zongmi also softened the edge between sudden and gradual. In his analysis, sudden awakening points to seeing into one's true nature, but is to be followed by a gradual cultivation to attain
Buddhahood In Buddhism, Buddha (, which in classic Indo-Aryan languages, Indic languages means "awakened one") is a title for those who are Enlightenment in Buddhism, spiritually awake or enlightened, and have thus attained the Buddhist paths to liberat ...
.
Chinul Jinul Puril Bojo Daesa (, "Bojo Jinul"; 1158–1210), often called Jinul or Chinul for short, was a Korean monk of the Goryeo period, who is considered to be the most influential figure in the formation of Korean Seon (Zen) Buddhism. He is credi ...
, a 12th-century Korean Seon master, followed Zongmi, and also emphasized that insight into our true nature is sudden, but is to be followed by practice to ripen the insight and attain full Buddhahood. To establish the superiority of the Chán-teachings, Chinul explained the sudden approach as not pointing to mere emptiness, but to ''suchness'' or the
dharmadhatu Dharmadhatu (; ; ) is the 'dimension', 'realm' or 'sphere' (dhātu) of the Dharma or Absolute Reality. Entire Dharmadhatu was filled with an infinite number of buddha-lands (Sanskrit: buddhakṣetra) with ineffable number of Buddhas. This rea ...
. This is also the standpoint of the contemporary
Sanbo Kyodan is a lay Zen school derived from both the Soto ( Caodong) and the Rinzai ( Linji) traditions. It was renamed Sanbo-Zen International in 2014. The term ''Sanbo Kyodan'' has often been used to refer to the Harada-Yasutani zen lineage. However, ...
, according to whom kensho is at the start of the path to full enlightenment. This gradual cultivation is described by Chan Master Sheng Yen as follows:


Rinzai-Zen

In Rinzai, insight into true nature is to be followed by gradual cultivation. This is described in teachings such as The Three mysterious Gates of Linji, and the Four Ways of Knowing of
Hakuin was one of the most influential figures in Japanese Zen Buddhism, who regarded bodhicitta, working for the benefit of others, as the ultimate concern of Zen-training. While never having received formal dharma transmission, he is regarded as t ...
.


Sōtō-Zen

Although Sōtō emphasizes shikan-taza, just-sitting, this tradition too had description of development within the practice. This is described by Tozan, who described the Five ranks of enlightenment.


See also

*
Four Noble Truths In Buddhism, the Four Noble Truths (; ; "The Four Arya (Buddhism), arya satya") are "the truths of the noble one (the Buddha)," a statement of how things really are (Three marks of existence, the three marks of existence) when they are seen co ...
*
Index of Buddhism-related articles 0–9 * 22 Vows of Ambedkar A * Abhayagiri Buddhist Monastery * Abhayamudra * Abhibhavayatana * Abhidhajamahāraṭṭhaguru * Abhidhamma * Abhidhamma Pitaka * Abhidharmakośa-bhāsya * Abhijatabhivamsa * Abhijna * Acala * Acariya * Acc ...
*
Mushi-dokugo Wisdom without a teacher (Chinese: 無師智, pinyin: wúshīzhì; Japanese: 無師独悟, mushi-dokugo, Skt. svayaṃbhūjñāna anācāryaka), sometimes also called "self-enlightened and self-certified," or in Japanese, is a term used in Zen ...
*
Noble Eightfold Path The Noble Eightfold Path () or Eight Right Paths () is an early summary of the path of Buddhist practices leading to liberation from samsara, the painful cycle of rebirth, in the form of nirvana. The Eightfold Path consists of eight pra ...
* Samatha & Vipassanā *
Secular Buddhism Secular Buddhism, also called agnostic Buddhism and naturalistic Buddhism, is a modern, western movement within Buddhism that leans toward an "exclusive humanism" that rejects "superhuman agencies and supernatural processes" and religious ...


Notes


References


Sources


Printed sources

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


Web-sources


External links


Buddhist path to liberation
by Alawwe Anōmadassi Thero Seven Stages of Purification

* ttp://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/bm7insight.pdf Ve. Matara Sri Nanarama, ''The Seven Stages of Purification & The Insight Knowledges'' Lam Rim
Karin Valham, ''Lam.Rim Outlines''
Creation and Completion

* ttp://www.dharmadownload.net/pages/english/Natsok/0010_Teaching_English/Teaching_English_0058.htm Jamgon Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye, ''The Essential Points of Creation & Completion, Part 2'' Mahamudra
Mahamudra Meditation Guide
{{Buddhism topics, state=collapsed Comparative Buddhism