People of Different Levels Have Their Respective Dharma

After attaining enlightenment of the mind, one becomes a true Mahayana bodhisattva. If the nature of the mind has not been genuinely transformed prior to this enlightenment and does not possess the qualified mind-nature of a Mahayana bodhisattva, it is difficult, if not impossible, to become a true Mahayana bodhisattva. A bodhisattva should possess the character of a bodhisattva, a human should possess human character, and a Buddha has Buddha character. The nature of their minds should correspond to their respective fruition stages; this is the natural order. Otherwise, they are false bodhisattvas or false Buddhas. A person lacking human character is not a complete person, not a human in the true sense.

Bodhisattvas learn from Buddhas and bodhisattvas throughout the ten directions for immeasurable kalpas. The correct parts of their teachings belong to the Dharma of the Buddhas of the ten directions, while the erroneous parts belong to the Dharma they themselves have not yet perfected in cultivation and realization. The Buddha Dharma cannot be claimed as the sole possession of any single Buddha, much less any single bodhisattva. Ordinary beings certainly cannot possess the Buddha Dharma. Those who possess the Buddha Dharma are Buddhas; those who possess the bodhisattva Dharma are bodhisattvas; those who possess the Dharma of ordinary beings are ordinary beings. People at each level possess their respective levels of Dharma. Therefore, everyone should generate the great resolve to fully attain the Buddha Dharma as soon as possible, so they may swiftly attain Buddhahood.

Regarding the observation of Dharma, the Buddha's realization is the most ultimate. Even the observation of bodhisattvas after their awakening is neither complete nor ultimate; its depth is insufficient. Therefore, the realization of bodhisattvas is divided into innumerable levels. It is impossible to suddenly realize all Dharma, nor is it possible to always realize it to the most ultimate degree. The merit, samadhi, and wisdom of bodhisattvas differ, leading to different levels of realization. At a certain point, if a bodhisattva does not cultivate the four dhyanas and eight samadhis, they will be unable to realize subsequent Dharma and become restricted. The vast majority of Buddha Dharma is realized through extremely profound samadhi.

Some insist on denying the function of samadhi. If bodhisattvas do not cultivate samadhi, their progress on the Path fundamentally cannot advance; they become stuck at a certain stage or level, unable to proceed further. Subtle and extremely subtle dharmas must be realized, and fully realized, only with the support of samadhi and supernatural powers. Profound wisdom is also realized with the support of extremely deep samadhi and supernatural powers.