DESCRIPTION
The initial ground of the Ten Bhūmis is called Pramuditā, ‘Extreme Joy’ (歡喜). It is characterized by calmness, happiness, ebullience, exaltation, delight, vigor, geniality, and freedom from anger. The practitioners of this stage become extremely joyful thinking of the Tathāgatas and their teachings, of those working for enlightenment and their practices, of the pāramitās, and of the ability to help people. They become free from all fear by transcending the very idea of self, so they cannot be coerced by fear of ill repute, fear of death, fear of misery, or intimidation by crowds. Practitioners in this stage also make a preparatory study of the indications of all the stages, becoming versed in the problems and solutions of the stages, the attainments and cultivation of the stages, and the step-by-step progression through the stages. No longer interested in mundane satisfactions, practitioners attain a special power that fosters in them the elements that purify the stages: faith, compassion, kindness, relinquishment, indefatigability, knowledge of the teachings, knowledge of the world and humanity, modesty and con-science, stability, and association with the enlightened.
Entry Into The First Stage
‘Bringing forth the resolve to gain anuttarā-saṃyak-saṃbodhi for the sake of all-knowledge, which takes great compassion as foremost.”
Abiding in The First Stage
One transcends the common world as a bodhisattva, born into the family of Buddhas. Endowed with abundant joy, joyful thoughts from having turned away and transcending the worldly, and joy for leaving behind all fear and terror.
Five Kinds of Fearlessness
Leaving far behind:
- Fear of failing to survive, for not coveting even the body much less what it uses
- Fear of a bad reputation, for not cherishing any hope for receiving anything
- Fear of death, for having no perception of the existence of a self
- Fear of bad rebirths, for knowing there are buddhas everywhere
- Fear of timidity before large groups, for knowing one’s resolve has no equal
Practices Associated with the First Ground
Practices of pure thought, conviction, etc., which take great compassion as foremost
Ten Great Vows of The First Ground
- To make gifts to all Buddhas everywhere
- To uphold the [scriptural] Dharma
- To make offerings to Buddhas when they are born
- To teach the practices of bodhisattvas
- To teach all beings
- To know the differentiated aspects of all worlds
- To bring about the purification of all buddha lands
- To join together with bodhisattvas in the same studies
- To turn the irreversible Dharma Wheel
- To gain anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi
Contemplation on Dharma and Beings
That beings and worlds and dharmas cannot end
That the Correct Dharma is Empty, Characteristicless, Desireless, etc.
And the accumulation of such a mass of suffering is from the 12-link Chain of Causation
Association with the Ten Paramitas
Associated with giving
Use of the Four Means of Unification
The bodhisattva employs giving and kind speech, but not so much volunteerism or cooperation
Analogy of Gold
Like a goldsmith who employs fire to smelt and soften gold to make it more radiant.
Acquiring knowledge of the further Stages, like a Caravan Leader
The importance of knowing the road ahead before setting off on a long journey.
Therefore the bodhisattva becomes knowledgeable of the Ten Grounds
Becoming a World Leader
Bodhisattvas dwelling on the first ground often become monarchs of Jambudvipa.
Aspiration to Serve all Beings
“For all beings, I should serve as a leader, etc.”
Acquisition of Samadhis, vision of buddhas, etc.
Acquiring hundreds of samadhis and seeing hundreds of buddhas, etc.