The Four Stages of Spiritual Cultivation

Faith, understanding, practice, and realization are the four sequential stages of spiritual cultivation. Faith does not necessarily imply understanding, understanding does not necessarily imply practice, and practice does not necessarily imply realization. Alternatively stated, realization does not necessarily imply practice. For instance, severing the view of self is realization, but afflictions may not be eliminated simultaneously. If the attachment to self remains unsevered, it indicates that practice is incomplete. It can also be said that after severing the view of self, certain Dharma principles have not yet been realized, so afflictions and attachment to self cannot be eradicated concurrently.

Take another example: realizing the mind refers to attaining realization of the Tathāgatagarbha-Ālayavijñāna, but if afflictions are not eliminated and habitual tendencies remain unsevered, practice will lack efficacy and be incomplete. This also illustrates that until certain Dharma principles are realized, practice cannot be complete. Once those subsequent principles are fully realized, practice becomes complete and perfected. After realizing the mind, one progressively attains realizations such as the observation of illusion, the observation of mirage, the observation of dream, the observation of mirror images, the observation of light and shadow, and so forth. Afflictions are eliminated, habitual tendencies gradually fade, ignorance diminishes, the Bodhisattva's mental disposition continuously strengthens, and Bodhisattva conduct is progressively perfected. Without the preceding realization, the subsequent practice cannot exist. Therefore, it is said that for any Dharma principle, once realization is attained, the corresponding practice is simultaneously accomplished. This demonstrates that realization possesses the meritorious effect of liberation; regardless of the degree of realization, there is a corresponding meritorious effect of liberation. Thus, the first fruition (Srotāpanna) has its own meritorious effect, the fourth fruition (Arhat) has its own meritorious effect, realizing the mind has its own meritorious effect, and each realization of the Bodhisattva stages of observation and practice has its corresponding meritorious effect. Attaining Buddhahood possesses the meritorious effect of the Buddha stage. Without meritorious effects, there is no realization.

When the very last Dharma principle is realized, practice becomes utterly complete and perfect, and one attains Buddhahood. Therefore, the sequence of spiritual cultivation remains faith, understanding, practice, and realization, with realization being the final, ultimate culmination. Once realization is attained, there is no need to concern oneself with other matters, for having reached the ultimate goal, one may finally rest.