133 =soothill

The six stages of Bodhisattva developments as defined in the Tiant 'ai [lang id =1028]圓教, i. e. Perfect, or Final Teaching, in contrast with the previous, or ordinary six developments of [lang id =1028]十信, [lang id =1028]十住, [lang id =1028]十行, etc., as found in the [lang id =1028]別教 Differentiated or Separate school. The Tiantai six are:

(1) [lang id =1028]理卽 realization that all beings are of Buddha-nature;

(2) [lang id =1028]名字卽 the apprehension of terms, that those who only hear and believe are in the Buddha. law and potentially Buddha;

(3) [lang id =1028]觀行卽 advance beyond terminology to meditation, or study and accordant action; it is known as [lang id =1028]五品觀行 or [lang id =1028]五品弟子位;

(4) [lang id =1028]相似卽 semblance stage, or approximation to perfection in purity, the [lang id =1028]六根清淨位, i. e. the [lang id =1028]十信位;

(5) [lang id =1028]分證卽 discrimination of truth and its progressive experiential proof, i. e. the [lang id =1028]十住, [lang id =1028]十行, [lang id =1028]十廻向, [lang id =1028]十地, and [lang id =1028]等覺位 of the [lang id =1028]別教 known also as the [lang id =1028]聖因 cause or root of holiness.

(6) [lang id =1028]究竟卽 perfect enlightenment, i. e. the [lang id =1028]妙覺位 or [lang id =1028]聖果 fruition of holiness.

(1) and

(2) are known as [lang id =1028]外凡 external for, or common to, all.

(1) is theoretical;

(2) is the first step in practical advance, followed by

(3) and

(4) styled [lang id =1028]內凡 internal for all, and

(3),

(4),

(5), and

(6) are known as the [lang id =1028]八位 the eight grades.