What is the Meaning of Icchantika Cutting Off the Roots of Goodness?

An icchantika (those who have severed their roots of goodness) does not merely refer to those who generally disbelieve in the True Mind, the Tathagatagarbha. Rather, it signifies those who, while disbelieving, also engage in malicious speech, commit grave slander, and exert an extremely negative influence. Although the majority of people do not believe in the existence of Tathagatagarbha, genuine icchantikas—those guilty of this specific offense—are very few in number, constituting an extreme minority. Otherwise, the Avici Hell would not be able to contain them all.

When Manjushri Bodhisattva expounded the Mahayana Dharma to five hundred bhikkhus, the bhikkhus, while disbelieving, rose and departed, harboring resentment in their minds—especially resentment towards Manjushri Bodhisattva for teaching the Dharma. This offense is many times greater than harboring resentment towards ordinary people. Consequently, they fell into hell to suffer. Manjushri Bodhisattva had foreseen this outcome. Shariputra asked him why he still taught them the Mahayana Dharma knowing this result. Manjushri Bodhisattva replied that although they fell into hell, their roots of goodness had already matured. After entering hell, they would realize repentance, and with a single thought of repentance, their hellish offenses would be eradicated. They would then ascend to the heavens, return to the human realm to study and practice the Mahayana Dharma, and ultimately attain enlightenment. If he had not taught them the Mahayana Dharma, although they would not have fallen into hell, they would also not have planted the roots of goodness and merit, missing the opportunity to study and practice the Mahayana and attain enlightenment.

Therefore, some things may appear unwholesome and unbeneficial temporarily, but from a long-term perspective, they yield great benefits. Great Bodhisattvas possess vast insight and long-range vision, perceiving the profound benefits. All their actions bring benefit to sentient beings. Ordinary people, however, can only see immediate benefits, lacking long-range vision, hence their short-sightedness.

Since Buddhists are followers of the Buddha, they should diligently study the Buddhist sutras, learn extensively about the Buddha's cultivation experiences spanning three asamkhyeya kalpas, and deeply understand the cultivation journeys of the great Bodhisattvas and the great wisdom and conduct of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. This will provide immense guidance for their own practice, preventing them from being lost in ignorance. The Buddhist sutras offer comprehensive and ultimate teachings, rich and detailed in content. Studying them extensively will undoubtedly bring profound benefits. It lays a foundation for future lifetimes and grants the wisdom eye to discern Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, enabling one to recognize whether those propagating the Dharma are virtuous teachers or deviant masters, thus avoiding deception, refraining from wrong paths, and swiftly attaining Buddhahood.