The Great Calm-Observation, Volume 5, Part 3, Page 4

 

B. The Specific Understanding

We will now tie the ten aspects together into four parts:

a. The Three Roads of Evil

  1. The appearance is the expression of suffering.
  2. The nature is the gathering of concentrated evil.
  3. The embodiment is the shattering of mind and matter.
  4. The power is the sword above that enters into the cauldron.
  5. The influence is the arousing of the ten bad things1.
  6. The cause is the affliction of evil karma.
  7. The conditioning is craving and attachment.
  8. The effect is the learning of evil habits.
  9. The retribution is the three evil destinies2.
  10. The consistency is being completely deluded from beginning to end.

b. The Three Good Paths

  1. The appearance is the expression of contentment.
  2. The nature is the gathering of concentrated good.
  3. The embodiment is the elevating of mind and matter
  4. The power is the feeling of bliss.
  5. The influence is the arousi of the five precepts and ten good acts3.
  6. The cause is clear karma
  7. The conditioning is the desire to hold onto that which is good.
  8. The effect is the learning of good habits.
  9. The retribution is the realms of personality and heaven.
  10. The consistency is in responding to these temporarily named aspects from beginning to end.

c. The Two Vehicles

  1. The appearance is the expression of Nirvana.
  2. The nature is liberation.
  3. The embodiment is the five parts of the spiritual body4.
  4. The power is non-attachment.
  5. The influence is the thirty-seven facets of spiritual awakening5.
  6. The cause is the unafflicted practice of insight.
  7. The conditioning is practice of the different practices6.
  8. The effect is the four fruits7.
  9. There is no retribution as one is already without birth in the field of existence.

d. The Bodhisattvas and the Buddhas

  1. The appearance is the circumstantial cause of emlightenment
  2. The nature is the revealing cause of enlightenment
  3. The embodiment is the main cause of enlightenment8.
  4. The power is the four broad vows9.
  5. The influence is the myriad practices of the six perfections10.
  6. The cause is the adornment of wisdom and insight.
  7. The conditioning is the blessings of virtue
  8. The effect is Sambodhi
  9. The retribution is the Great Nirvana

 

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 Footnotes:

1. The Ten Bad Things: The violation of the precepts of morality; #1 Killing #2 Stealing #3 Sexual Immorality #4 Lying #5 Hateful Speech #6 A Double Tongue #7 Dissembling Speech #7 Jealousy #8 Hatred #10 False Views

2. The Three Evil Destinies: Hell, Brutality & Hunger

3. The Five Precepts & The Ten Good Acts: See the precepts of morality

4. The Five Parts of the Spiritual Body: The embodiment of the spiritual life for those of the Two Vehicles - #1 Morality #2 Mental Concentration #3 Spiritual Insight #4 Emancipation #5 Liberated Knowledge and Vision

5. The Thirty-Seven Facets of Spiritual Awakening: The Buddha Sakyamuni's original prescription for spiritual practice. The training of those of the Two Vehicles

6. The Practice of Insight is the spiritual understanding that guides and informs The Practice of the Different Practices: The meditation, the chanting, the prayers, etc. The day to day practice of the different practices that helps to open up the spiritual insight (prajna)

7. The Four Fruits: The spiritual realizations of those of the Two Vehicles
A. One who has entered the stream (Srotapanna) to oppose the four currents (asravas) of ignorance, sensory desire, craving for (self) existence & attachment to views
B. One who must return once more to oppose the stream (Sakradagami)
C. One who will never again need to return to the stream (Anagami)
D. A worthy (Arhat), who has reached the other shore  

8. The Three Causes of Spiritual Enlightenment:
A. The Circumstantial Cause: The meritorious and virtuous practices that support enlightenment
B. The Revealing Cause: The wisdom and insight that reveals enlightenment
C. The Main Cause: The will or purpose of enlightenment

9. The Four Broad Vows reflect the Bodhisattva's resolve in terms of The Four Truths:
The two vows of compassion:
A. Living beings are boundless, I vow to spiritually deliver them (Overcoming Suffering)
B. Emotional troubles are countless, I vow to eliminate them (Overcoming Origination)
The two vows of mercy:
C. The doors to the Dharma are limitless, I vow to understand them (The Path)
D. The path of enlightenment is supreme, I vow to attain it (Extinction) 

10. The Six Perfections: The practices of The Bodhisattva: 1. Giving of Oneself 2. Morality 3. Endurance 4. Diligence 5. Mental Concentration 6. Spiritual Insight

 

 

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