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The“Daśabhūmika vibhāṣā Śāstra” was written by Bodhisattva Nāgārjuna and translated by Kumārajīva during the Yao Qin period. It consists of seventeen volumes and thirty-five sections, and is included in the 26th volume of the Taishō Tripiṭaka. Currently, the only existing version of this treatise is in Chinese, with no Sanskrit or Tibetan translations. Consequently, it has not been given sufficient attention in the study of Ten Stages (daśabhūmi) thought and is considered an incomplete commentary. However, through an in-depth research of Bodhisattva Nāgārjuna's philosophical system, along with a detailed analysis of the literature and a comparison of the ideas in the treatise. The research indicates that the treatise has an important value as a guide to practice in the elaboration of the Bodhisattva's path and the threefold training in Discipline (śīla), Meditation (samādhi), and Wisdom (prajñā). The research first explores how the Bodhisattva path embodies the concepts of initial resolve and vow-making, as well as the idea of living compassionately in the world. It also compares the forty-one aspects of initial resolve in the “ Mahāsaṃnipāta Sūtra”and further studies the concept of non-retrogression in the original vows of various Buddhas. This highlights the practical approaches of the easy and difficult paths and describes the characteristics and practices of the non-retrogressing Bodhisattvas . These studies reveal the profound significance of initial resolve and vow-making in the Bodhisattva path and the practical approaches to living compassionately in the world. The Mahayana Bodhisattva precepts are dispersed in various Mahayana scriptures and lack a specific content. By analyzing and comparing the sixty-five precepts in the“ Daśabhūmika vibhāṣā Śāstra”, the sixty-seven Bodhisattva precepts in the“ Mahāsaṃnipāta Sūtra”, and the sixty-six matters of Bodhisattva precepts recorded in the “Sutra Requested by Maitreya”, the study indicates the consistency of Bodhisattva precepts across these three scriptures. Furthermore, from the study of virtuous practices, the research explores the concept of the Three Sets of Pure Precepts, which are already present in the framework of this treatise. Regarding the study of meditation, the research suggest that the ideas and methods of practice in this treatise expand from the Buddha’s three powers to the ten powers, leading to liberation without obstacles. Finally, the research explores how the study of wisdom helps to eliminate the afflictions of the three realms of reincarnate and realize the Four Noble Truths. It examines how Bodhisattvas develop skillful means based on wisdom to liberate sentient beings, and details the process of cultivating wisdom in stages. The research also analyzes the critical role of unpolluted wisdom in freeing oneself from the afflictions of the liberation without obstacles, as well as the differences and similarities between Bodhisattva wisdom and Buddha wisdom. Through an in-depth study of the “Daśabhūmika vibhāṣā Śāstra”, this thesis provides a comprehensive and systematic framework for practice, aimed at helping practitioners better understand and implement the Bodhisattva path and the Three Studies (discipline, meditation , and wisdom). It offers not only a new perspective for modern Buddhist studies, but also a practical guide for Buddhist disciples in their practice of the Bodhisattva path.
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