Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words
This page describes “distribution of the auxiliaries in the stages” as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. “the treatise on the great virtue of wisdom”) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.
E.8. Distribution of the Auxiliaries in the Stages
1. The thirty-seven auxiliaries of enlightenment (bodhipakṣikadharma) are all present in the stage of the first dhyāna (prathamadhyāna).
2. In the stage of the ānāgamya [preliminary absorption of the first dhyāna], there are thirty-six auxiliaries, excluding the member of enlightenment called joy (prītisaṃbodhyaṅga).
3. In the second dhyāna (dvvitīyadhyāna), there are also thirty-six auxiliaries, excluding [the member of the path] called right thinking (samyaksaṃkalpamārgaṅga).
4. In the intermediate dhyāna (dhyānāntara) [subdivision of the first dhyāna], in the third dhyāna (tṛtīyadhyāna) and in the fourth dhyāna (caturthadhyāna), there are thirty-five auxiliaries, excluding the member of enlightenment called joy (prītisaṃbodhyaṅga) and excluding the [member of the path called] right thinking (samyaksaṃkalpamārgāṅga).
5. In the [first] three formless absorptions (ārūpyasamāpatti), there are thirty-two auxiliaries, excluding the member of enlightenment called joy (prītisaṃbodhyaṅga) and [the members of the path (margāṅga) called] right thinking (samyaksaṃkalpa), right speech (samyagvāc), right action (samyakkarmānta) and right livelihood (samyagājīva).
6. In the summit of existence (bhavāgra) [or fourth formless absorption], there are twenty-two auxiliaries, excluding the seven members of enlightenment (saṃbodhyaṅga) and the eight members of the noble path (āryamārgaṅga).
7. In the desire realm (kāmadhātu), there are also twenty-eight auxiliaries [excluding the sambodhyaṅgas and the eight mārgāṅgas].