The Stages of Practice After Enlightenment

After enlightenment, there are two paths for cultivation. One path involves directly perceiving the Buddha-nature, realizing the Illusion-like Contemplation, experiencing both body-mind and the world as illusory transformations, thereby entering the Ten Abodes. Then, continuing cultivation upwards, one attains the First Dhyāna, severs greed and hatred, and becomes a Third Fruition [Sainthood]. Subsequently, through contemplation practice, one realizes the Mirage-like Contemplation, becoming a Bodhisattva of the Ten Practices. After passing the Three Barriers of Chan, through contemplation one realizes the Dream-like Contemplation, gaining the capacity to enter the First Ground (Bhūmi). After that, one progressively cultivates up through the Eighth Ground to the Buddha Ground. This is one method and path of cultivation and realization.

Another path is one that may not necessarily go through the stage of directly perceiving Buddha-nature; it is sufficient to directly perceive Buddha-nature before the Ninth Ground. After enlightenment, one diligently practices contemplation and cultivates meditative concentration, attenuating greed, hatred, and delusion, becoming a Second Fruition person. Then, one arouses the First Dhyāna, becoming a Third Fruition person. Following this, one progressively engages in various stages of contemplation practice, successively realizing the Mirage-like Contemplation and the Dream-like Contemplation. Afterwards, one enters the First Ground, Second Ground, up to the Eighth and Ninth Grounds, finally perfecting and accomplishing the Buddha Way.

Realizing the Illusion-like Contemplation is equivalent to the Second Fruition in the Śrāvaka vehicle. One knows that both the internal and external body-mind are false, illusory appearances, not truly existent. One no longer regards all dharmas of the five aggregates (skandhas) world as real. From then on, the afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion become extremely faint, almost non-existent, and meditative concentration (dhyāna) will arise. After realizing the Mind, one gradually experiences that both the internal and external body-mind are unreal, like an illusion. From then on, greed, hatred, and delusion become extremely faint. Afterwards, as meditative concentration increases, one reaches the First Dhyāna, severs craving and malice, and becomes a Third Fruition person. Having severed them completely, and progressively passing the Three Barriers of Chan, one becomes thoroughly proficient in the Three Vehicles and enters the First Ground. Of course, this also requires many realizations and attainments, which will not be elaborated here in detail, as everyone is still very far from reaching the First Ground.

If one does not realize the Mind and directly attains the Second Fruition, greed, hatred, and delusion are attenuated, but one cannot realize the Illusion-like Contemplation. Even if one cultivates to the Fourth Fruition, one cannot become a Seventh Abode Bodhisattva, much less enter the Ten Abodes. However, once great Arhats realize the Mind, they may not necessarily be at the Seventh Abode; they might be higher. Their cultivation on the Mahāyāna path will be extremely rapid. There is a type of First Ground Bodhisattva who directly advances through precepts and meditative concentration, cultivates supernatural powers (abhijñā), and can fly to a hundred Buddha-worlds to meet a hundred Buddhas face to face. However, their wisdom is not deep, and they cannot expound the Dharma for sentient beings. This is an example of entering the First Ground relying solely on meditative concentration and supernatural powers.