DESCRIPTION
The Fourth Ground is called Arciṣmatī, ‘Radiant Intellect / Flaming Wisdom’ 焰慧. Practitioners attain this stage by entering into the radiance of the Teaching through ten ways of contemplation. Practitioners at this stage examine inner and outer phenomena with precise awareness, getting rid of worldly desire and dejection; they strive for the development, enhancement, and preservation of good states and for the lessening, elimination, and prevention of bad states. They also develop the bases of spiritual powers, the elements of the path to liberation, and the various branches of enlightenment.
Entry Into The Fourth Stage
Bodhisattvas should avail themselves of Ten Gateways to the Light of Dharma through contemplation of ten realms (dhātu):
- The Realms of Sentient Beings (sattva-dhātu)
- The Realm of Dharma (Dharmadhātu)
- The Realm of Worlds (loka-dhātu)
- The Realm of Space (ākāśa-dhātu)
- The Realm of Consciousness (vijñāna-dhātu)
- The Realm of Desire (Kāmadhātu)
- The Realm of Form (Rūpadhātu)
- The Realm of Formlessness (Arūpadhātu)
- The Realm of Liberation by Faith
- The Realm of the Magnanimous Mind
Practices associated with the Fourth Stage
The 37 aids to Awakening (bodhipakṣa dharma)
- The Four Foundations of Mindfulness
- Body (kāya)
- Sensations (vedanā)
- States of Mind (citta)
- Principles (dharma)
- The Four Right Efforts
- Put an end to existing evil (akuśala)
- Prevent evil from arising
- Bring good (kuśala) into existence
- Develop existing good
- The Four Bases of Psychic Power
- Desire (chanda) - intensive longing, or concentration
- Effort (vīrya) - intensified effort
- States of Mind (citta) - intense use of memory
- Investigation (mīmāṃsa) - or surveying states of dhyāna.
- The Five Root Faculties
- Faith (śraddhā)
- Effort (vīrya)
- Mindfulness (smṛti)
- Concentration (samādhi)
- Wisdom (prajñā)
- The Five Powers
- Faith (śraddhā)
- Effort (vīrya)
- Mindfulness (smṛti)
- Concentration (samādhi)
- Wisdom (prajñā)
- The Seven Factors of Enlightenment
- Mindfulness (smṛti)
- Investigation (dharmapravicaya)
- Effort (vīrya)
- Joy (prīti)
- Tranquillity (praśrabdhi)
- Concentration (samādhi)
- Equanimity (upekṣā)
- The Eightfold Path
- Right View (dṛṣṭi)
- Right Intention (saṃkalpa)
- Right Speech (vāc)
- Right Action (karmānta)
- Right Livelihood (ājīva)
- Right Effort (vyāyāma)
- Right Mindfulness (smṛti)
- Right Concentration (samyak-samādhi)
Abiding in the Fourth Stage
“The bodhisattva dwelling on the Fourth Ground confronts all of the attachments related to the view imputing the existence of a true self in association with the body. These include attachment to the existence of self, being, person[hood], lifespan, a knower, a perceiver in association with clinging to the five aggregates, twelve bases, or eighteen realms. They observe that whatever arises in this connection, including whatsoever is contracted or extended, is withdrawn or set forth, or is caused to emerge or sink away is all carried forth by discursive thought’s perception of something deemed to be a refuge or an individual territory worthy of affectionate attachment or something worthy of being valued as precious. Consequently, they sever all of these attachments.”
The bodhisattva then redoubles their vīrya (’determination’) and cultivates a mind even more gentle, harmonious, etc., thus being cognizant of kindness received, congenial, etc., and thereby becoming possessed of non-retreating vīrya that is never forsaken, indestructible, etc. etc.
Analogy to Gold
Like using the best, real refined gold in the making of adornments that outshine all other adornments made of lesser gold.
Becoming a World Leader
Bodhisattvas dwelling on the first ground often become a monarch of the Suyama Heaven.
Use of the Four Means of Unification
The bodhisattva employs all four Means of Unification, ever mindful of the Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, Bodhisattvas, etc.
Association with the Ten Paramitas
Associated with Vigor