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順決擇分善根

Pronunciations

Basic Meaning: wholesome roots conducive to right ascertainment

Senses:

  • The faculties conducive to liberation are cultivated as part of first three of seven stages of the path of expedient means 七方便位. Although oriented within the second of five stages 五位 or paths 五道 of Abhidharma 倶舍 and Yogācāra 唯識 practice, the cultivation of the faculties conducive to liberation includes such practices as the five kinds of mental stabilization 五停心, associated with the path of preparation 資糧道 (法華經玄贊要集 X 638.34.233c5). The Foguang Dictionary explains that at this stage of cultivating the faculties conducive to liberation, the bodhisattva has not yet eliminated the two hindrances 二障, although s/he has already developed faith in and understanding 信解 of the tenet of consciousness-only 唯識 and has some experience in the practice of twofold benefit 二利行 for self and other. The practice of the wholesome faculties conducive to liberation is divided into four levels. 〔大乘阿毘達磨雜集論 T 1606.31.754a19
    1. The faculties conducive to liberation upon which one relies 依憑順解脫分 correspond to the complement of wholesome faculties 善根 upon which one relies along the path towards liberation 解脫.
    2. The faculties conducive to liberation born of determination 勝解順解脫分 correspond to the wholesome faculties that have been refined through determined practice born of a deep resolve to not give up until one reaches the other shore of liberation.
    3. The faculties conducive to liberation born of ardent desire 愛樂順解脫分 correspond to the wholesome faculties keenly focused on the object of liberation 解脫境. These faculties sustain a determined sense of focus 作意 (manaskāra) and attention to the pure objects of the realm of liberation.
    4. The faculties conducive to liberation born of actualization 趣證順解脫分 correspond to the wholesome faculties that are motivated by the aspiration to attain the faculties conducive to right ascertainment 順決擇分 within this lifetime. In developing the faculties conducive to right ascertainment, one advances to the higher levels of practice of the four wholesome roots 四善根位.
    See also 四善根. (Tib. nges par 'byed pa'i cha dang mthun pa'i dge ba'i rtsa ba; Skt. nirvedha-bhāgīyāni kuśala-mūlāni). 〔二障義 HBJ 1.802c6; 瑜伽論 T 1579.30.439b16〕 [Billy Brewster, Charles Muller, Achim Bayer]
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    [Dictionary References]

    Sanskrit-Tibetan Index for the Yogâcārabhūmi-śāstra (Yokoyama and Hirosawa) {Digital Version}



    Entry created: 2006-10-15

    Updated: 2019-05-12