Passage

A) sa'i mtshan nyid sra zhing 'thas pa yin la/

B) sa'i byed las ni rgyu ba dang mi rgyu ba'i 'jig rten thams cad skye zhing gnas pa'i rten byed pa'i phyir/ de ni 'byung ba bzhi'i nang tshan gyi sa mtshan nyid pa yin la/

C) theg pa gsum gyi lam la sa zhes brjod pa ni/ sa btags pa ba yin zhing/ de tlar 'dogs pa'i rgyu mtshan yang byed las chos mthun pa'i sgo nas so/ sa'i tha snyad 'jug tshul du ma yod de/ nyan thos rang rgyal byang sems kyi sa gsum dang gang zag gi bdag med rtogs pa'i rnal 'byor gyis sa (sogs?) gsum dang/ bsam gtan dang po'i dngos gzhi tsam khyad gnyis/ bsam gtan phyi ma gsum ste bsam gtan la drug dang/ zag med kyi bsam gtan sa drug gi steng du zag med kyi gzugs med dang po gsum bsnan pas zag med sa dgu dang/ 'dod sems kyi steng du bsam gzugs brgyad (3b) bsnan pas khams gsum sa dgu dang/ dmas pas brgyad rnams su yod yod pa'i phyir/ rang gi 'bras bur gyur pa'i yon tan du ma'i gzhi rten byed pa'i lam zhugs kyi mngon rtogs de/ sa lam gnyis kyi nang tshan du gyur pa'i sa'i mtshan nyid/

D) de la dbye na/ nyan thos kyi sa/ rang rgyal gyi sa/ byang sems kyi sa dang gsum yod/ de gsum la sa zhes brjod pa ni/ sas tsi shing nags tshal la sogs pa'i rten byed pa bzhin du 'dis lam zhugs kyi yon tan du ma'i rten byed bas na de ltar du brjod pa'i phyir/ yang de la mchog dman gyi sgo nas dbye na/ theg dman gyi sa dang/ theg chen gyi sa gnyis so/

Note

In this passage, Dkon mchog 'jigs med dbang po provides a detailed definition and elaboration of the term sa. The author goes on to delineate the theg dman gyi sa and the theg chen gyi sa. (See under sa bcu.)

by David Higgins

passage translation (English)

The defining characteristic of "earth/level" is its firmness and stability. Its function is to provide the basis for the birth and habitation of the entire animate and inanimate world. That is the defining characteristic of earth/level within the context of the four fundamental forces. We thus use the term earth metaphorically when speaking of the levels characteristic of the paths of the three vehicles by virtue of this metaphorical corresponence in function. There are many ways of applying the designation "earth/level"....

[3b] The direct existential awareness in those who follow the path which serves a basis for the many inborn capabilities that come forth as the naturally occuring goal is the defining characteristic of "level" within the context of both levels and the paths. It is classified as three: Śrāvaka, Pratyekabuddha, and Bodhisattva levels. The term "Level" is used with regard to these three because just as "earth" provides the nourishing ground for fruit trees and forest groves (to grow), so the (three kinds of levels) provides the ground for many inborn capabilities of those who have entered upon the path (to grow).

Passage

pha rol tu phyin pa bcu spyad pa'i 'bras bu sa bcu rim gyis bgrod pa'i mtha' bla na med pa'i byang chub tu 'grub par 'dod pa yin no/

sa zhes bya ba ni/ sa dang 'dra bas sa zhes bya ste/ sa dang po nas bcu pa dag gi shes rab dang ting nge 'dzin zung du 'brel ba'i bdag nyid/ ye shes kyi sa yin te/ sgrib pa'i gnyen por gyurd pas/ ji tsam du sgrib pa 'bri' ba dang/ ye shes 'phel ba'i shes rab dang ting nge 'dzin de nyid/ dge ba'i rtsa ba thams cad kyi gnas dang rgyur gyur pa dang/ gang zag byang chub sems dpa' de dag kyang/ ye shes de dag la gnas shing spyod pas/ de bas na gnas pa dang 'dzin pa dang spyod pa'i don gyis/ sa dang 'dra bas sa zhes bya'o/ (He then defines bla na med pa'i byang chub and goes on to indicate various distinctions between the three mtshan nyid kyi theg pa)

Note

By way of commentary to a passage from Padmasambhava's Man ngag lta ba'i phreng ba {116076} on the Bodhisattvayāna, Rong zom pa defines the meaning of sa.

by David Higgins

Passage

rang sangs rgyas mang po theg chen la zhugs nas/ 'ga' zhig gis sa brgyad pa thob nas phyir log par gsungs pa'i sa'i ngos 'dzin yang bshad ma thag pa de las gzhan pa yin na/ 'phags pa'i sa brgyad pa dngos bstan thob nas phyir mi ldog pa'i rigs pa gang gis bsgrub/ de la dgongs nas dpon dpa' bos/

yid ni mchog tu g.yo bas ldog
ji srid de la dbugs ma phyung
sa bzhin g.yo med ma thob bar
brtan med mi gyo'i sa thob dka'/ zhes gsungs pa yin no/

gal te sa bcu pa thob kyi bar du yang sngags kyi theg pa la 'jug pa'i nges pa med do zhes pa ni theg chen 'phags pa la brgyud nas skur ba btab pa yin te/ 'di ltar chos nyid spros bral mngon sum sum bar gzigs pa'i lhag mthong gi dbang po mchog thob la ma nyams pa de sngags kyi snod ma yin la/ 'ching pa kun gyis dkris pa'i so so skye bo mtha' dag sngags kyi snod yin par bsgrubs pas chos zad pa'i chos kyi snod dang snod ma yin pa'i rnam gzhag shin tu 'chol ba yin no/

Note

This passage offers a definition of the term sa. In introducing the topic of dbang bskur, the authors indicate how the ten levels and ten pāramitās (see under pha rol tu phyin pa) are realized spontaneously via Mantrayāna. 'Jigs med gling pa then [69.2] indicates how the Mantrayāna approach to traversing these levels is quite different than mtshan nyid theg pa'i lam gyi rim pa.

by David Higgins

Passage

de la rtogs pa'i yon tan gyi rten du gyur pa ni sa yin te brgyad stong 'grel chen las/

yon tan gyi rten du gyur bas na sa'o/ zhes bshad la/

de'ang nyan rang gi sa brgyad dang/ byang chub sems dpa'i sa bcur nges pa las/ snga ma ni/ yum bar ma las/

rigs kyi sa dang/ brgyad pa'i sa dang/ mthong ba'i sa dang/ bsrabs pa'i sa dang/ 'dod chags dang bral ba'i sa dang/ byas pa rtogs pa'i sa dang/ nyan thos kyi sa dang/ rang sangs rgyas kyi sa ste/ 'di dag ni nyan thos dang rang sangs rgyas kyi sa'o/

zhes bshad cing/ sa'i yang rten du gyur pa ni lam lnga po nyid du nges pas na 'dir tshogs lam nas [369] rim par snyad pa'o/ [discusses 5 lam]

[376.5] [In context of bsgom lam:] de'ang ser sna la sogs pa'i mi thun phyogs bcu sel ba la ltos nas sa bcur nges pa ni/ phal po che las/

kye rgyal ba'i sras dag sa bcu po 'di dag la mi mthun pa'i phyogs bcu dag par bya ba'i phyir pha rol tu phyin pa bcus lhag par phye ba yin no/ sa dang por ni sbyin pa'i pha rol tu phyin pa gtso cher spyod la/ lhag ma rnams kyang ci nus nus su mi bsgrub pa ni ma yin no/

zhes pa nas ye shes kyi pha rol tu phyin pa'i bar des 'gro bar gsungs so/ de'i spang bya bcu [377] ni/ ser sna dang/ 'chal ba'i tshul khrims dang/ khong khro dang/ le lo dang/ rnam g.yeng dang/ shes rab 'chal ba dang/ thabs la mi mkhas pa dang/ stobs la sgrib pa dang/ smon pa'i don mi 'grub pa dang/ shes bya'i sgrib pa ste spang bya bcu spangs pa gang zhig de'i ngo bo nyid yin par rig par bya'o/ [author then classifies the bsgom lam into 9 phases low low etc. and correlates them with the 2 through 9th bhūmis (the 1st bhūmi having been attained during the mthong lam)]

Note

This passage offers a definition of the term sa. In discussing the rtogs aspect of the dharma ratna, 'Jigs med gling pa concisely defines and outlines the bhūmis of the nyan and rang, and the byang chub sems dpa'. His presentation (along with the quotations) is largely appropriated from Klong chen pa's Shing rta chen po {116031} (see under sa bcu), some passages almost verbatim.

by David Higgins

Note

In this passage, 'Jigs med gling pa goes on to indicate how the ten levels unfold from an experiential perspective [381.5 f]. This section reproduces Shing rta chen po {116031:449.2} almost verbatim. He then discusses the Vajrayāna bhūmis [385 f] which number thirteen, sixteen, twenty-one and so forth, but are actually inconceivable. This leads into an important (and unusually lucid) discussion of the difference between the rapid Vajrayāna path (myur lam) (see under lam) and the Sūtra path.

by David Higgins

Passage

sa'i ngo bo brtan pa'i gzhi byed pa ste/ yon tan gyi dbyings sam 'byung gnas su gyur pa'o/ [Thig le kun gsal: ngo bo ni chos nyid mi 'gyur ba'o/]

nges tshig ni gnas shing brtan gzhir gyur pa'o/

dbye na/ dge bcu dang/ bsam gtan gzugs med la sogs pa brten pa 'jig rten pa'i sa dang/ mthong sgom gyi dri ma ci rigs pas dag pa'i so so'i yon tan gyi rten byed pa theg pa chung ngu dang chen po'i sa 'jig rten las 'das pa gnyis so/

dpe ni sa so so'i yon tan ma 'dres pa rdzogs pas/ mchod rten gyi bang rim lta bu ste/...

[434.1] brtsi tshul ni sbubs gsum la gang zag gcig dang ngo bo sprad/ nyams su blangs pas rdos pa dag lnga ldan dang rdzogs ldan gyi dgongs pa shar nas rdzogs ldan chen por rang sa zin pa'i bar gyi gdams pas yon tan gyi chos thob tshul rig pa gcig gi steng nas mas brtsis pa ste sa bco lnga'i ming 'og ma dang mthun yang don tha dad par bstan pa ni/...

[Thig le kun gsal: nges pa ni mi 'gyur bas sa'o/ gnas pas na sa'o/]

Note

This passage offers a definition of the term sa. By way of commentary to the Thig le kun gsal {116071} Klong chen pa concisely discusses the essence, definition, classification and so forth of the term "level". He quotes a passage from the text that discusses the fifteen levels.

by David Higgins

Passage

yang de la mchog dman gyi sgo nas dbye na/ theg dman gyi sa dang/ theg chen gyi sa gnyis yod/ dang po theg dman gyi sa la dbye na/ dman pa sa brgyad yod de/ 'grel chung don gsal [Yasomitra's Sputartha] du zhugs pa phyi ma gsum gyi mngon rtogs la nyan thos kyi sa zhes sa brgyad kyi grangs su smos pa ni theg pa gsum gyi tyshul rnam par bzhag pa'i ched yin la/ gsung rab spyi 'gro ltar na dman pa sa brgyad ni

dkar po rnam par mthong ba'i sa/

rigs kyi sa/ (gotra bhūmi)

brgyad pa'i sa/ (aṣṭana bhūmi)

mthong ba'i sa/ (darśana bhūmi)

bsrab pa'i sa/ (tano bhūmi)

'dod chags dang bral ba'i sa/ (vigatarāga bhūmi)

byas pa rtogs pa'i sa/ (kṛtavi bhūmi)

rang sangs rgyas kyi sa rnams so/ (pratyekabuddha bhūmi)

mtshan gzhi rim pa bzhin brjod na/ (1) nyan thos kyi thogs lam la dkar po rnam par mthong ba'i sa zhes bya ste/ rnam byang gi chos dkar po dang por mthong ba'i lam yin pa'i phyir/ (2) nyan thos kyi sbyor lam la rigs kyi sa zhes bya ste/ rang gi rigs la mi 'khrul pa de nas thob pa'i [427] phyir/ (3) rgyun zhugs zhugs pa'i mngon rtogs la brgyad pa'i sa zhes bya ste/ zhugs gnas brgyad kyi dang po de nas thob pa'i phyir/ (4) rgyun zhugs 'bras gnas kyi mngon rtogs la mthong ba'i sa zhes bya ste/ 'jig rten las 'das pa'i lam gyis gang zag gi bdag med dang por mngon sum du mthong ba'i phyir/ (5) phyir 'ong 'bras gnas kyi mgnon rtogs la bsrab pa'i sa zhes bya ste/ 'dod nyon gyi sum gnyis spangs te bsrab mod byas pa'i phyir/ (6) phyir mi 'ong 'bras gnas kyi mngon rtogs la 'dod chags dang bral ba'i sa zhes bya ste/ 'dod nyon mtha' dag la chags pa dang bral ba'i phyir/ (7) nyan thos dgra bcom pa'i mngon rtogs la byas pa rtogs pa'i sa zhes bya ste/ rang lam gyi bya ba rdzogs par byas par rtogs pas so/ (8) rang sangs rgyas kyi mngon rtogs la rang sangs rgyas kyi sa zhes bya ste/ srid pa tha ma'i tshe slob dpon gzhan la brten mi dgos pa'i yon tan dang ldan pa'i mkhyen pa yin pa'i phyir/

rang rgyal slob pa'i mngon rtogs rnams kyang 'di'i nang du bsdus bar bya'o/ zhugs pa phyi ma gsum gyi mngon rtogs kyang 'dir ma 'dus pa'i skyon med de/ 'bras gnas gsum gyi mngon rtogs su 'du ba'i phyir ro/ [ie. the stream enterer etc. are summarized under level 6]

[454.2 f/ 17b.2 f] sa bcu'i rnam bzhag bye brag tu bshad pa la/ (1) byang 'phags kyi sa'i mtshan nyid/ (2) dbye ba/ (3) phye ba so so'i don dang gsum/ dang po ni/ stong nyid mngon sum du rtogs pa'i shes rab dang/ snying rje chen pos zin pa'i byang 'phags kyi mkhyen pa de/ byang sems 'phags pa'i sa'i mtshan nyid/ gnyis pa ni/ de la dbye na/ [list of 10 bhūmis]... byang sems 'phags pa'i sa las bcur 'byed pa'i rgyu mtshan yod de/ sa bcu po de dag yul rtogs tshul dang/ yon tan 'thob tshul mi 'dra ba dang/ spang bya sel ba dang/ sgrub pa'i nus pa snga ma snga ma las phyi ma phyi ma khyad zhugs pa'i dbang gis bcur bzhag pa'i phyir/ bcu po der grangs nges pa yin te/ yongs spyod bcur grangs des pa'i phyir/ sa bcur dbye ba la dgos pa yod de/ theg chen la sa bcu'i rnam bzhag mi 'dod pa rnams kyi log rtog dgag pa'i ched du theg pa dman pa'i sa brgyad dper [455] bked nas theg chen la sa bcu'i dbye ba mdzad pa'i phyir/ (3) gsum pa phye ba so so'i don la/ nges tshig dang/ spang bya spong tshul gyi khyad chos dang/ yon tan lhag pa'i khyad chos gsum/ dang po la/ sa spyi'i nges tshig dang/ sa so so'i nges tshig gnyis/ dang po ni/ sa'i skad dod bhūmi zhes pa yi ge bsnan pa'i nges tshig gis bshad na/ gdul bya 'byung po dpag med sgrib gnyis kyi 'jigs pa med pa'i rten byed pa dang/ yon tan dpag med gong nas gong du 'phel bar byed pas na sa zhes brjod pa'i phyir/ gnyis pa ni/ [provides definitions and various analyses of the 10 bhūmis, see 455.3 f.]

Note

This passage offers a definition of the term sa. 'jigs med dbang po outlines the eight levels of nyan thos according to Yasomitra's Sputartha ('Jigs med gling pa's list, based on the Yum bar ma is slightly different; see the entry from Bden gnyis shing rta {115781:368.4}) and later takes up the ten Bodhisattva bhūmis.

by David Higgins

Passage

[442.6 f] skabs 'dir byang chub sems dpa'i sa bshad de/ de'ang mthong spang dang/ sgom spang gis nyon mongs pa'i 'byung po dpag tu med pa'i [443] 'jigs pa las skyob cing/ de dag gong nas gong du bgrod pas sa zhes bya ste/ mdo sde'i rgyan las/

'byung po dpag med 'jigs med phyir
dpag tu med pa de dag las
phyi phyir gong du bgrod ldan phyir
de dag nyid la sar 'dod do/ zhes so/

de yang ser sna la sogs pa mi mthun pa'i phyogs bcu sel ba la ltos nas sa bcur bzhag pa ste/ (quotes Phal po che)... (see under sgrib pa (10))

Note

This passage offers a definition of the term sa. Klong chen pa begins his lengthy discussion of the levels by distinguishing between the eight levels of Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas and ten levels of Bodhisattvas (basing himself on the Brgyad stong 'grel chen which also provides a definition of "earth level" as "that which provides a basis for capabilities (to grow)" (see the entry from Bden gnyis shing rta {115781:368.4}). Klong chen pa then begins his explication of the Boddhisattva levels which he defines (following the Mdo sde'i rgyan {116301}) in the following passage.

by David Higgins

Passage

(1) gzhan yang sa dang por sems nyid 'od gsal ba'i snying po de nyid sems can kun la khyab par rtogs pas bdag gzhan mnyam pa nyid byang chub kyi sems rtogs so/

(2) gnyis par de nyid rtogs bya rnams kyi mchog tu rtogs pas khams kyi dri ma sbyong ba'i brtson 'grus byed do/

(3) gsum par thos pa de chos kyi dbyings de'i rgyu mthun par rtogs pas stong gsum me lce gci tu gyur pa las kyang brgal nas chos nyan [ie. mnyan] to/

(4) bzhi par de nyid bdag gir 'dzin pa med par pas chos [ie. chos kyi dbyings kyi rang bzhin] la chags pa spang ngo

(5) lnga par rang gzhan gyi rgyud la yod pa'i khams de tha dad med par [ie. gnyis su med par] rtogs pas sangs rgyas thams cad bsam pa dag pa bcus mnyam par rtogs so/ (see under dag pa bcu)

(6) drug par khams de rang bzhin kyis rnam par dag pas rtogs pas [450] 'khor 'das la blang dor du 'dzin pa thams cad bzlog go

(7) bdun par khams de tha dad med par rtogs pas mtshan mar 'dzin pa thams cad bzlog go

(8) brgyad par snying po [ie. ji lta bar gzigs pa'i ye shes] de nyid la skyon yon bri ba dang 'phel ba med par rtogs pas mi skye ba'i chos la bzod pa'i [ie. bzod pa thob pa'i] mchog shin tu rnam par dag go

[de'i rang bzhin ni nyi khri las/

rab 'byor chos gang la rdul tsam yang skye ba med pa de ni mi skye ba'o/ de gang gis shes pa de ni bzod pa zhes bya ste/ shes pa des mi skye ba'i chos la bzod pa thob bo/ zhes so/]

(9) dgur khams nyid la rang chas su so sor rig bzhi yod par rtogs pas ye shes [ie. ye shes kyi rang bzhin ji snyed pa'i shes rab] la dbang bar byed do/

(10) bdu par khams de nyid 'phrin las phun sum tshogs pa'i 'byung gnas su rtogs pas dbang bzhi la rang dbang thob pa yin no/ [see the entry from under (of the 10th bhūmi)] Bden gnyis shing rta {115781:382.6}dbang bzhi

Note

In this passage, Klong chen pa goes on to provide first [444.1] a standard description of the qualities associated with the ten levels based on standard sources (especially the Mdo sde rgyan {116301} and Rin chen phreng ba) and then [449.2] a hermeneutical explication of the levels as experiential thresholds in the progressive unfoldment of sems nyid 'od gsal ba'i snying po. The passages in square brackets are from 'Jigs med gling pa's almost identical account in his Bden gnyis shing rta (see the entry {115781:368.4}) which has been consulted here for purposes of clarification.

by David Higgins

Note

After this passage, Klong chen pa goes on to discuss higher levels (thirteenth and beyond).

by David Higgins