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not go beyond. The person who attains prajñāpāramitā, realizes the noble truths and destroys the bondage. He is known as Arhat. An Arhat need not be an omniscient. His efforts are confined to the salvation of his own self. He does not care for others. Bodhisattva is the compassion--incarnate. He strives for happiness and salvation of others more than his own. Upto the sixth stage his journey is common with others. But, after that he acquires some powers which are helpful in preaching and converting others to his faith.
In the seventh stage, known as Dürangama, a bodhisattva acquires great wisdom in the choice of expedients for helping others. He understands that all the Buddhas are identical in their spiritual cosmic hody. He participates in the infinite attributes of Buddhas, and sees their multifarious physical bodies. He discerns the thoughts and feelings of others. He has conquerred all the passions and sins and is free from them. His thoughts, words and deeds are pure, and he is in possession of all the factors of Enlightenment. He works without effort or ulte. rior motive. Ble transcends the lower wisdom of the Hinayāna. He attains the liberation, but does not come to realize personal nirvānı He enters the great ocean of Buddha-knowledge. He is free from the four viparyāsas.
The eighth stage is called Acala. A bodhisattva now acquires the ksanti called apautpattika-dharma ksanti. He is not contaminated by any actions. The Buddhas initiate him into infinite knowledge, otherwise be would enter into nirvāṇa, instead of persevering in his efforts to gain bodbi for the good of all. He understands the process of the evolution and involution of the universe. He knows the exact number of atoms in the different elements, of which the universe is composed. He assumes different bodies and shows them to the people as he thinks fit. He acquires the ten powers (vasitas). In this bhūmi a bodhisattva pervades the whole world with the feeling of friendliness.
The ninth stage is Sadhumatl. A bodhisattva now, knows all phenomena and principles truly and certainly, whether they
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