ས་བཅུ། | Glossary of Terms

There are two sets of ten levels mentioned in the Prajñā­pāramitā literature. One is the same as in many other scriptures such as the Ten Levels of the Buddhāvataṃsaka. These are (1) Joyful (pramuditā), (2) Stainless (vimalā), (3) Illuminator (prabhākarī), (4) Radiant Intellect (arciṣmatī), (5) Difficult to Master (sudurjayā), (6) Manifest (abhimukhī) (7) Far-Reaching (dūraṅgamā), (8) Immovable (acalā), (9) Good Intelligence (sādhumatī), and (10) Cloud of Dharma (dharmameghā). They are not mentioned by name in this version of the sūtra but are the levels described in detail in chapter 10. The other set of ten levels, as found in several passages in this version of the sūtra, comprise (1) the level of bright insight, (2) the level of the spiritual family, (3) the eighth-lowest level, (4) the level of insight, (5) the level of attenuated refinement, (6) the level of no attachment, (7) the level of spiritual achievement, (8) the level of the pratyekabuddhas, (9) the level of the bodhisattvas, and (10) the actual level of the buddhas. (See also UT22084-026-001-1761).

In this text, two sets of ten levels are mentioned. One set refers to the standard list of ten levels most commonly found in the general Mahāyāna literature; for a detailed explanation of this set, see ten bodhisattva levels. The other set, common to Prajñāpāramitā literature, charts the progress of an individual practitioner who, starting from the level of an ordinary person, sequentially follows the path of a śrāvaka, pratyekabuddha, and then a bodhisattva on their way to complete buddhahood.

The first three levels pertain to an ordinary person preparing themselves for the path; the next four (4-7) chart the path of a śrāvaka; level eight aligns with the practices of a pratyekabuddha; level nine refers to the path of bodhisattvas; and finally, level ten is the attainment of buddhahood. These ten levels comprise (1) the level of Śuklavipaśyanā, (2) the level of Gotra, (3) the level of Aṣṭamaka, (4) the level of Darśana, (5) the level of Tanū, (6) the level of Vītarāga, (7) the level of Kṛtāvin, (8) the Pratyekabuddha level, (9) the Bodhisattva level, and (10) the Buddha level of perfect awakening.

The ten levels, as found in UT22084-031-002-1281, comprise (1) the level of bright insight, (2) the level of buddha nature, (3) the level of eighth-lowest stage, (4) the level of insight, (5) the level of attenuated refinement, (6) the level of dispassion, (7) the level of [an arhat’s] spiritual achievement, (8) the level of the pratyekabuddhas, (9) the level of the bodhisattvas, and (10) the actual level of the genuinely perfect buddhas.

(See also UT22084-031-002-1282).

The ten levels of a bodhisattva’s development into a fully enlightened buddha.

The ten levels of a bodhisattva’s development into a fully enlightened buddha.

The ten levels of a bodhisattva’s development into a fully awakened buddha.

In this text, two sets of ten levels are mentioned. One set refers to the standard list of ten levels most commonly found in the general Mahāyāna literature; for a detailed explanation of this set, see ten bodhisattva levels. The other set, common to Prajñāpāramitā literature, charts the progress of an individual practitioner who, starting from the level of an ordinary person, sequentially follows the path of a śrāvaka, pratyekabuddha, and then a bodhisattva on their way to complete buddhahood.

The first three levels pertain to an ordinary person preparing themselves for the path; the next four (4-7) chart the path of a śrāvaka; level eight aligns with the practices of a pratyekabuddha; level nine refers to the path of bodhisattvas; and finally, level ten is the attainment of buddhahood. These ten levels comprise (1) the level of Śuklavipaśyanā, (2) the level of Gotra, (3) the level of Aṣṭamaka, (4) the level of Darśana, (5) the level of Tanū, (6) the level of Vītarāga, (7) the level of Kṛtāvin, (8) the Pratyekabuddha level, (9) the Bodhisattva level, and (10) the Buddha level of perfect awakening.

The tenfold division of the progressive levels of realization attained and obscurations removed as a bodhisattva travels the path toward buddhahood. Also called the ten grounds or levels.

According to the general Mahāyāna, the bodhisattva’s development into a fully enlightened buddha is divided into ten stages.

The ten stages of a bodhisattva’s progress to buddhahood: (1) Joyous (Pramuditā), (2) Stainless (Vimalā), (3) Luminous (Prabhākarī), (4) Radiant (Arciṣmatī), (5) Hard to Overcome (Sudurjayā), (6) Manifest (Abhimukhī), (7) Far-Reaching (Dūraṅgamā), (8) Immovable (Acalā), (9) Good Intellect (Sādhumatī), and 10) Dharma Cloud (Dharmameghā).

The ten levels of a bodhisattva’s development into a fully enlightened buddha.

The ten levels of a bodhisattva’s development into a fully awakened buddha.

Different versions of these exist in the Buddhist doctrines of different periods. In the context of the bodhisattva path, a standard list is (1) Joyful (pramuditā), in which one rejoices at realizing a partial aspect of the truth; (2) Stainless (vimalā), in which one is free from all defilement; (3) Illuminator (prabhākarī), in which one radiates the light of wisdom; (4) Radiant Intellect (arciṣmatī), in which the radiant flame of wisdom burns away earthly desires; (5) Difficult to Master (sudurjayā), in which one surmounts the illusions of darkness, or ignorance, as the Middle Way; (6) Manifest (abhimukhī) in which supreme wisdom begins to manifest; (7) Far-Reaching (dūraṅgamā), in which one rises above the states of the lower vehicles of hearers and solitary buddhas; (8) Immovable (acalā), in which one dwells firmly in the truth of the Middle Way and cannot be perturbed by anything; (9) Good Intelligence (sādhumatī), in which one preaches the Dharma unimpededly; and (10) Cloud of Dharma (dharmameghā), in which one benefits all sentient beings with Dharma, just as a cloud releases rain impartially on all things.