Bodhisattvas Should Comprehend the Path of Practice

A bodhisattva clearly understands the Dharma they are currently practicing, the Dharma they will practice next, and the Dharma they will practice thereafter. Their wisdom enables them to comprehend the Dharma they should practice over the span of one kalpa, several kalpas, or even longer. Since they possess wisdom, bodhisattvas must be thoroughly clear about all Dharmas; all the methods of cultivation must be completely clear to them, and they must be fully aware of how to proceed step by step. If they are not clear, it is ignorance, which must then be eliminated through cultivation. Every bodhisattva can clearly discern their current level of practice: which Dharma has been accomplished and which has not, what Dharma they need to practice next, and how to practice it—all are perfectly clear. If they are not clear, it is ignorance; they lack the wisdom they should presently possess.

When a bodhisattva begins their practice, even as they take their first step, they are clearly aware of the direction in which they should set out. They do not walk aimlessly or haphazardly. If they were to proceed carelessly, they might stray onto a wrong path without even realizing it. Such a confused individual is not a bodhisattva and is not yet qualified to be one. Especially for a bodhisattva who propagates the Dharma and guides others, it is even more crucial that they have absolute clarity in their mind about where they are leading sentient beings.