Awakening of Faith

(Jpn.: Kishin-ron)

See: Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana, The

(See also: Awakening of Faith, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Land of Enlightened and Unenlightened Beings

(Jpn.: bonsho-dogo-do)

Also, Land of Sages and Common Mortals. Here ordinary people of the six paths live together with the sages of the four noble worlds.

See: Land of Sages and Common Mortals

(See also: Land of Enlightened and Unenlightened Beings, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Attainment of Buddhahood by women

(Jpn.: nyonin jobutsu)

See: attainment of Buddhahood

(See also: Attainment of Buddhahood by women, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Non-duality of delusion and enlightenment

(Jpn.: meigo-funi or meigo-ittai)

See: oneness of delusion and enlightenment

(See also: Non-duality of delusion and enlightenment, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Near-perfect enlightenment

(Jpn.: togaku)

The fifty-first of the fifty-two stages of bodhisattva practice. The stage nearly equal to the Buddha's perfect enlightenment, the last stage before a bodhisattva attains Buddhahood

(See also: Near-perfect enlightenment, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Perfect Enlightenment Sutra

(Jpn.: Engaku-kyo; Chin.: Yüan-chyeh-ching)

An abbreviation of the Complete and Final Teaching on Perfect Enlightenment Sutra. A sutra translated into Chinese in 693 by Buddhatara who had gone to China from Kashmir. In this sutra, Shakyamuni explains the mystic principle of perfect enlightenment and the practice for its attainment to an audience of twelve bodhisattvas including Manjushri, Universal Worthy, and Maitreya. Contemporary scholars view this sutra as a work produced in China, where this sutra was widely read and a number of commentaries written on it. It had considerable influence on the Flower Garland (Hua-yen) and Zen (Ch'an) schools, and was regarded highly by the Zen school in particular.

(See also: Perfect Enlightenment Sutra, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Fifty-two stages of bodhisattva practice

(Jpn.: gojuni-i)

Also, fifty-two stages of practice. The stages through which bodhisattvas advance from the time of their initial resolve until they finally attain Buddhahood. The fifty-two stages are enumerated in the Jeweled Necklace Sutra and consist of ten stages of faith, ten stages of security, ten stages of practice, ten stages of devotion, ten stages of development, the stage of near-perfect enlightenment, and the stage of perfect enlightenment. The Brahma Net Sutra divides bodhisattva practice into forty stages. The Benevolent Kings Sutra divides it into fifty-one stages, and there is an explanation elsewhere that sets forth forty-one stages.

(See also: Fifty-two stages of bodhisattva practice, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Oneness of delusion and enlightenment

(Jpn.: meigo-funi or meigo-ittai)

Also, non-duality of delusion and enlightenment. The principle that delusion and enlightenment are, though different in aspect, one and the same in their essential nature. A bad cause or influence gives rise to delusion, and a good cause or influence, to enlightenment. Delusion and enlightenment are two different workings, but both arise from the essential nature of life. This Mahayana concept contrasts with the Hinayana view that enlightenment and delusion, or enlightenment and earthly desires, are mutually exclusive and incompatible.

(See also: Oneness of delusion and enlightenment, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Precepts of perfect and immediate enlightenment

(Jpn.: endon-kai)

Also, perfect precepts. One of the three types of learning based on the teaching for perfect and immediate enlightenment, or the Lotus Sutra. The other two are perfect meditation and perfect wisdom.

Dengyo (767-822), the founder of the Japanese Tendai school, adopted the Mahayana precepts, specifically the ten major precepts and forty-eight minor precepts set forth in the Brahma Net Sutra, and interpreted them based on the Lotus Sutra, known in the T'ien-t'ai or Tendai doctrine as the teaching for perfect and immediate enlightenment, or perfect teaching. He thus laid the foundation for the establishment of an ordination platform for administering the precepts of perfect and immediate enlightenment.

(See also: Precepts of perfect and immediate enlightenment, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Prophecy of Enlightenment for Five Hundred Disciples chapter

(Jpn.: Gohyaku-deshi-juki-hon)

Abbreviated as the "Five Hundred Disciples" chapter. The eighth chapter of the Lotus Sutra. At the beginning of the chapter, Purna rejoices at having understood the teaching of the one vehicle by hearing Shakyamuni tell, in the "Parable of the Phantom City" (seventh) chapter, of their relationship in the remote past when Shakyamuni was the sixteenth son of the Buddha Great Universal Wisdom Excellence. In this (eighth) chapter, Shakyamuni predicts that Purna will attain enlightenment in a future existence as a Buddha named Law Bright. Subsequently he prophesies that the twelve hundred arhat disciples in the assembly, including Kaundinya, will also attain Buddhahood. He first bestows this prophecy on five hundred arhats, and then on the remaining seven hundred. All twelve hundred, he says, will become Buddhas with the name Universal Brightness. To show their understanding of the one vehicle teaching, these five hundred arhats then relate the parable of the jewel in the robe.

(See also: Prophecy of Enlightenment for Five Hundred Disciples chapter, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Inherent enlightenment

(Jpn.: hongaku)

Also, original enlightenment; or, depending on context, originally enlightened or eternally enlightened. Enlightenment, or Buddhahood, that is originally inherent in human life. Often used as an equivalent of the Buddha nature.

The concept of inherent or original enlightenment is contrasted with acquired enlightenment (shikaku), the view that enlightenment occurs as a result of carrying out Buddhist practice, dispelling illusions, and developing wisdom.

In the Tendai school of Japan, the doctrine of inherent or original enlightenment was taken to the extreme with the argument that ordinary people were already Buddhas even before engaging in Buddhist practice, and that the world as it is equals the world of enlightenment. Critics asserted that this view led to complacency in Buddhist practice.

(See also: Inherent enlightenment, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Aspiration for enlightenment

(Skt.: bodhi-chitta; Jpn.: bodaishin; Pali.: bodhi-chitta)

Also, desire for bodhi or aspiration for the way. "Aspiration for enlightenment" is the mind or spirit to seek bodhi, or enlightenment, or to pursue the Buddha wisdom. Bodhi of the Sanskrit word bodhi-chitta means enlightenment, and chitta means thought, intention, aim, wish, longing, or mind.

Bodhi-chitta is also called anuttara-samyak-sambodhi-chitta, which means the aspiration for supreme perfect enlightenment. In Mahayana Buddhism, to arouse aspiration for enlightenment is regarded as the basis and starting point of Buddhist practice.

Bodhisattvas arouse the aspiration for enlightenment and pronounce the four universal vows: to save all living beings, to eradicate all earthly desires, to master all the Buddhist teachings, and to attain the supreme enlightenment.

(See also: Aspiration for enlightenment, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Buddhahood

(Jpn.: bukkai)

The state of awakening that a Buddha has attained. The ultimate goal of Buddhist practice and the highest of the Ten Worlds. The word enlightenment is often used synonymously with Buddhahood. Buddhahood is regarded as a state of perfect freedom, in which one is awakened to the eternal and ultimate truth that is the reality of all things. This supreme state of life is characterized by boundless wisdom and infinite compassion. The Lotus Sutra reveals that Buddhahood is a potential in the lives of all beings.

See: attainment of Buddhahood

(See also: Buddhahood, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana, The

(Jpn.: Daijo-kishin-ron; Chin.: Ta-ch'eng-ch'i-hsin-lun)

Abbreviated as Awakening of Faith. A work traditionally attributed to Ashvaghosha, a Mahayana scholar who lived from the first through the second century, though opinions on this differ. There are two Chinese translations of this work, the first done in 550 by Paramartha, who had gone from India to China, and the second around 700 by Shikshananda, a monk from Khotan in Central Asia. Paramartha's version has been the more popular. Awakening of Faith sets forth the fundamental doctrines of Mahayana Buddhism and attempts to awaken people to faith in it. It specifically takes up the concept of tathata, literally thusness or suchness, meaning the true aspect of reality. It was widely studied in China and Japan, and in China several commentaries on it were written.

(See also: Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Land of Sages and Common Mortals

(Jpn.: bonsho-dogo-do)

Also, Land of Enlightened and Unenlightened Beings. Literally, "the land where common mortals and sages dwell together" and thus called "land of co-dwelling" for short. One of the four kinds of lands described in the doctrine of the T'ien-t'ai school. This is divided into two categories: impure lands of co-dwelling and pure lands of co-dwelling. The impure lands include this saha world, where common mortals of the six paths (the realms of hell, hungry spirits, animals, asuras, human beings, and heavenly beings) and sages of the four noble worlds (the realms of voice-hearers, cause-awakened ones, bodhisattvas, and Buddhas) dwell together. The pure lands include Amida Buddha's Pure Land of Perfect Bliss, where human beings and heavenly beings are said to live together with the people of the three vehicles (voice-hearers, cause-awakened ones, and bodhisattvas) and the Buddha.

(See also: Land of Sages and Common Mortals, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Teacher of the true effect

(Jpn.: honga-myo-no-kyoshu)

In Nichiren's teachings, Shakyamuni Buddha. In the "Life Span" (sixteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni reveals the true effect, the Buddhahood he attained numberless major world system dust particle kalpas ago. He alludes to the cause of that enlightenment only with the words "Originally I practiced the bodhisattva way," and does not clarify the teaching or Law that he practiced to attain Buddhahood.

Shakyamuni Buddha is called the teacher of the true effect because he revealed his original enlightenment as a result already achieved-as an effect-and did not specify its cause. Nichiren defined the true cause that enabled Shakyamuni and all other Buddhas to attain enlightenment as the Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo; he is therefore called the teacher of the true cause.

(See also: Teacher of the true effect, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Teacher of the true cause

(Jpn.: honnin-myo-no-kyoshu)

In Nichiren's teachings, the Buddha who expounds the fundamental Law, or the true cause, that enables all people to attain Buddhahood.

In the "Life Span" (sixteenth) chapter of the Lotus Sutra, Shakyamuni reveals the true effect, or the Buddhahood that he attained numberless major world system dust particle kalpas ago. He does not, however, fully clarify the true cause of, i.e., the practice that led to, his enlightenment. Hence, he is called the teacher of the true effect. In contrast, Nichiren taught that Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the Law implicit in the "Life Span" chapter and is the cause of enlightenment for all people. Because he clarified the true cause for attaining Buddhahood, he is called the teacher of the true cause, and his Buddhism, the Buddhism of the true cause, or the Buddhism of sowing that implants the seeds of enlightenment in the lives of those who practice it.

(See also: Teacher of the true cause, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Seed of Buddhahood

(Jpn.: busshu)

The cause for attaining Buddhahood. The Buddha nature inherent in ordinary people, or the innate potential to become a Buddha; also the Buddha's teaching, which clarifies and enables people to realize their Buddha nature.

Bodhisattva practice, the practice required of a bodhisattva, is also regarded as the seed of Buddhahood. One ensures the cause for realizing enlightenment by receiving the Buddha's teaching, the seed of Buddhahood. Based on the Lotus Sutra, T'ien-t'ai (538-597) interpreted the seed of Buddhahood as the doctrine of three thousand realms in a single moment of life, and Nichiren (1222-1282) defined it as the Law of Nam-myoho-renge-kyo.

See: Sowing maturing and harvesting

(See also: Seed of Buddhahood, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Treatise on the Treasure Vehicle of Buddhahood, The

(Skt.: Ratnagotravibhaga-mahayanottaratantra-shastra; Chin.: Chiu-ching-i-ch'eng-pao-hsing-lun; Jpn.: Kukyo-ichijo-hosho-ron)

A work by Saramati, a Mahayana scholar of India, translated into Chinese in the sixth century by Ratnamati. It asserts that all beings possess the "matrix of the Thus Come One" (Skt tathagata-garbha, also called the matrix of the Tathagata) or the Buddha nature, and that even icchantikas, persons of incorrigible disbelief, can attain Buddhahood eventually. This treatise is generally thought to have been written sometime around the end of the fourth or the beginning of the fifth century. Tibetan tradition attributes the verses of this work to Maitreya and commentaries on them to Asanga. Maitreya and Asanga were also Mahayana scholars.

(See also: Treatise on the Treasure Vehicle of Buddhahood, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Seven aids to enlightenment

(Jpn.: shichi-kakushi or shichi-bodaibun)

Seven practices conducive to enlightenment. They are memory, discrimination, exertion, joy, lightness and ease, meditation, and impartiality (also referred to as indifference).

Memory here means to recollect one's own past deeds and states, and keep them in mind. Discrimination means to discern the true from the false. Exertion means to be ever diligent in the practice of true teachings, and joy to delight in the practice of true teachings.

Lightness and ease means that one's body and mind are at peace and free from burden. Meditation means to keep the mind concentrated and unperturbed, and impartiality to abandon feelings of attachment and keep the mind detached and calm.

The "seven aids to enlightenment" constitutes the sixth of the seven categories within the thirty-seven aids to the way, or the thirty-seven practices leading to enlightenment. The Sanskrit for "aid to enlightenment" is bodhyanga.

(See also: Seven aids to enlightenment, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Treatise on the Discipline for Attaining Enlightenment, The

(Chin.: P'u-t'i-tzu-liang-lun; Jpn.: Bodai-shiryo-ron)

A Chinese translation by Dharmagupta (d. 619), a monk from southern India, of a treatise consisting of original verses attributed to Nagarjuna (c. 150-250) and a prose commentary added later. It sets forth the six paramitas and other practices for bodhisattvas that are conducive to enlightenment.

(See also: Treatise on the Discipline for Attaining Enlightenment, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)

Treatise on the Mind Aspiring for Enlightenment, The

(Jpn.: Bodai-shin-ron; Chin.: P'u-t'i-hsin-lun)

A work attributed to Nagarjuna (c. 150-250) and translated into Chinese in the eighth century by Pu-k'ung (Skt Amoghavajra). Another account attributes the work itself to Pu-k'ung. No Sanskrit version is extant. The Treatise on the Mind Aspiring for Enlightenment teaches the important Buddhist concept of aspiration for enlightenment and encourages the development of a mind that seeks Buddhahood. It defines three aspects of a mind that aspires for enlightenment, from the standpoint of Esoteric Buddhism: (1) great compassion to save all living beings, (2) great wisdom to know what sutra is supreme, and (3) meditation. The work also explains various kinds of contemplation put forth in Esoteric Buddhism. Kobo, the founder of the Japanese True Word (Shingon) school, valued this work, and it was widely studied in his school.

(See also: Treatise on the Mind Aspiring for Enlightenment, Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment, Buddhism Enlightenment Dictionary)