Ksanti Kusala-Mula and the Foremost Kusala-Mula in the Worldly Realm

Volume 23 of the Abhidharmakośa-śāstra (Part Four)

Original Text: This summit wholesome root, from lower to middle and then to upper grade, gradually increases. When it reaches maturity and perfection, a wholesome root arises called the Patience Dharma (kṣānti-dharma). Among the wholesome roots that can accept and affirm the truth of the Four Noble Truths, this is the supreme. Also, because this Patience stage does not regress, it is called the Patience Dharma. The initial establishment and progressive advancement of this Patience wholesome root all occur within the Mindfulness of Dharmas (dharmasmṛtyupasthāna), which is distinct from the previous [stages]. However, this Patience Dharma also has lower, middle, and upper grades. The lower and middle grades are the same as the Summit Dharma (mūrdhan-dharma), meaning they fully observe the objects of the Four Noble Truths and are capable of fully cultivating the sixteen aspects.

Explanation: When the Summit wholesome root gradually increases from the lower to the middle grade, and then from the middle to the upper grade, reaching maturity and perfection, another wholesome root arises, called the Patience Dharma. Among the wholesome roots that can accept and affirm the truth of the Four Noble Truths (suffering, origin, cessation, path), this Patience Dharma is supreme, hence it is called the Patience Dharma. Also, because one does not regress from this Patience stage, it is named the Patience Dharma. The initial arising and gradual advancement of this Patience wholesome root occur precisely during the cultivation of the Mindfulness of Dharmas. The cultivation of the first three mindfulnesses (of body, feelings, and mind) cannot give rise to the Patience wholesome root. The Patience wholesome root is not produced through mixed cultivation; this distinguishes it from the previous Heat (uṣmagata) and Summit wholesome roots. This Patience wholesome root is also divided into lower, middle, and upper grades. The lower and middle grades are the same as the Summit Dharma: both fully observe the truth of the Four Noble Truths and are capable of fully cultivating the sixteen aspects.

From the above, it is known that the Patience Dharma wholesome root does not regress, whereas the Heat and Summit Dharma wholesome roots may regress. This means that the arisen concordant factors for definite discrimination (nirvedha-bhāgīya) may be lost; the mind no longer possesses the concordant factors for definite discrimination, no longer accords with the Four Noble Truths, no longer accepts that the five aggregates are suffering, empty, impermanent, and without self, and wisdom regresses. There are many reasons for this; any condition may cause wisdom to regress. Those with heavy karmic obstacles may even cease believing in and learning the Buddha Dharma. However, after passing through the obstacle of karmic hindrances, the courage and faith to learn and practice the Dharma may reignite, and the Heat and Summit wholesome roots may be cultivated again. But the Patience wholesome root will not regress.

Because all four wholesome roots belong to cultivated wisdom (bhāvanāmayī prajñā), the wisdom obtained through practice, the wisdom from hearing (śrutamayī prajñā) and the wisdom from reflection (cintāmayī prajñā) can regress; they are not firm. The earlier part of cultivated wisdom can also regress; it is not firm. Only in the later stages of cultivated wisdom does the wisdom become firm and no longer regress. Then, once one realizes the Path (darśana-mārga) through direct experience, it definitely will not regress further. Meditative concentration (dhyāna) may regress, but the wisdom of Path-realization (darśana-mārga) never regresses, and the fruition (phala) will not be lost. When one reaches the third fruition (anāgāmin), the first dhyāna may regress and not be maintained forever, but the liberating wisdom and merits of the third fruition never regress, so the fruition is not lost. Before Path-realization, meditative concentration may not regress, but wisdom may regress. As long as wisdom regresses, the wholesome root regresses, regardless of the state of meditative concentration.

Original Text: The upper grade differs. It contemplates only the suffering of the desire realm because it is adjacent to the Supreme Worldly Dharmas (laukikāgradharma). By this principle, it is established that the Heat and other wholesome roots can all fully encompass the suffering, etc., of the Three Realms regarding the Four Noble Truths, as there is no distinction made. This means that the yogācāra (practitioner) gradually reduces and simplifies the objects and aspects of each Noble Truth regarding the antidotal paths for the form and formless realms, etc., until there is only the mental attention (manaskāra) of two thoughts contemplating the suffering Noble Truth of the desire realm. Before reaching this point, it is called the Middle Patience stage. From this stage uninterruptedly arises a superior wholesome root, one aspect per moment, called the Upper Patience. This wholesome root arises without continuity. Following the Upper Patience uninterruptedly arises the Supreme Worldly Dharmas.

Explanation: The upper grade of the Patience Dharma wholesome root differs from the Summit Dharma; the upper grade contemplates only the suffering of the desire realm because it is closely adjacent to the Supreme Worldly Dharmas. By this principle, it can be determined that the Heat, Summit, Patience, and other wholesome roots can all fully encompass the suffering, etc., of the Three Realms regarding the Four Noble Truths. This principle is already established within the mind because there is no need to further distinguish the Four Noble Truths. The yogācāra practitioner gradually reduces and simplifies the antidotal paths for the form and formless realms, and the objects and aspects (ākāra) pertaining to each Noble Truth (suffering, origin, cessation, path), until finally there is only the mental attention of two thoughts contemplating the suffering Noble Truth of the desire realm. The stage before this is called the Middle Patience stage. From this Middle Patience stage, uninterruptedly arises an even more superior wholesome root; each aspect (of contemplation) per moment is called Upper Patience. When the Patience Dharma first arises, the wholesome root is not continuous. When cultivated to the Upper Patience stage, the wholesome root becomes uninterrupted, and at this point, the Supreme Worldly Dharmas arise.

Original Text: Like the Upper Patience, it contemplates the suffering truth of the desire realm, cultivating one aspect for only one moment. Because this is with outflows (sāsrava), it is called worldly. Because it is the most supreme, it is called the First. This outflow-dharma is supreme among worldly things; therefore, it is called the Supreme Worldly Dharmas. Through the power of effort (puruṣakāra), it abandons homogeneous causes (sabhāga-hetu) and induces the arising of the Noble Path; therefore, it is called the supreme.

Explanation: For example, the Upper Patience contemplates the suffering Noble Truth of the desire realm. After cultivating one of the sixteen aspects, it is completed in just a single moment. However, because this wholesome root is with outflows (sāsrava, worldly), it is called worldly. Because it is the most supreme within the worldly realm, it is called the First. This outflow-dharma is the supreme among worldly things; therefore, it is called the Supreme Worldly Dharmas. The power of concentration and wisdom in this wholesome root stage enables the practitioner to abandon the causes common to worldly ordinary beings and to induce the power to realize the Noble Path (ārya-mārga). Therefore, this stage is called the supreme and first.

Dedication Verse: We dedicate all the merits from the Dharma propagation and group practices on our online platform to all beings throughout the Dharma realm and to the people of the world. We pray for world peace, the cessation of wars; may flames of conflict not arise, and weapons be laid down forever; may all disasters completely subside! We pray for unity, mutual aid, and kindness among the peoples of all nations; may the weather be favorable and the harvests abundant, and may countries be prosperous and people at peace! May all beings deeply believe in cause and effect and be compassionate, refraining from killing; may they widely form good affinities and cultivate wholesome deeds; may they believe in the Buddha, learn the Dharma, and increase their wholesome roots; may they know suffering, abandon its origin, aspire to cessation, and cultivate the path; may the door to the evil destinies be closed, and the path to Nirvāṇa be opened! We pray that Buddhism may flourish forever and the true Dharma abide eternally; may the burning house of the Three Realms be transformed into the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss!