What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

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Motova
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What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

Post by Motova »

What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

Thank you.
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明安 Myoan
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Re: What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

Post by 明安 Myoan »

Forsaking vows and thereby beings.
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Motova
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Re: What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

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Monlam Tharchin wrote: Mon Oct 29, 2018 9:36 pm Forsaking vows and thereby beings.
What do they encounter that defeats them?
To become a rain man one must master the ten virtues and sciences.
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Re: What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

Post by Sentient Light »

afaik, regression is only possible for those devotees below the first bhumi, which is effectively those Mahayanists aspiring toward bodhicitta. Otherwise, actions might stall or delay a bodhisattva’s progress, but those bodhisattvas that have realized the first stage abide on the ground of non-retrogression and cannot backslide. Depending on your usage of ‘bodhisattva’, we could argue that a bodhisattva can never backslide.
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jet.urgyen
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Re: What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

Post by jet.urgyen »

Motova wrote: Mon Oct 29, 2018 9:56 pm
Monlam Tharchin wrote: Mon Oct 29, 2018 9:36 pm Forsaking vows and thereby beings.
What do they encounter that defeats them?
arrogant buddhists in general. nobody want those to be still more arrogant.
true dharma is inexpressible.

The bodhisattva nourishes from bodhicitta, through whatever method the Buddha has given him. Oh joy.
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ThreeVows
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Re: What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

Post by ThreeVows »

Sentient Light wrote: Mon Oct 29, 2018 10:03 pm afaik, regression is only possible for those devotees below the first bhumi, which is effectively those Mahayanists aspiring toward bodhicitta. Otherwise, actions might stall or delay a bodhisattva’s progress, but those bodhisattvas that have realized the first stage abide on the ground of non-retrogression and cannot backslide. Depending on your usage of ‘bodhisattva’, we could argue that a bodhisattva can never backslide.
I believe this is correct. Generally, I think each 'ground' is basically not possible to go backwards from.
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kirtu
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Re: What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

Post by kirtu »

Well, in Lord of the Dance Chagdud Tulku mentions that until we attain full Buddhahood we can regress (he even said a 10th Bhumi Bodhisattva could regress as did Jigten Sumgon). So it appears to be more than one factor superficially but it boils down to losing Bodhicitta.

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jet.urgyen
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Re: What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

Post by jet.urgyen »

Now i think ¿what "regression" means in this question?
true dharma is inexpressible.

The bodhisattva nourishes from bodhicitta, through whatever method the Buddha has given him. Oh joy.
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明安 Myoan
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Re: What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

Post by 明安 Myoan »

It means being reborn in the lower realms and falling away from the Dharma, like a rich person who becomes destitute.
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Re: What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

Post by PeterC »

Seeker12 wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:04 pm
Sentient Light wrote: Mon Oct 29, 2018 10:03 pm afaik, regression is only possible for those devotees below the first bhumi, which is effectively those Mahayanists aspiring toward bodhicitta. Otherwise, actions might stall or delay a bodhisattva’s progress, but those bodhisattvas that have realized the first stage abide on the ground of non-retrogression and cannot backslide. Depending on your usage of ‘bodhisattva’, we could argue that a bodhisattva can never backslide.
I believe this is correct. Generally, I think each 'ground' is basically not possible to go backwards from.
Not sure that’s true before at least the eighth bhumi
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kirtu
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Re: What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

Post by kirtu »

PeterC wrote: Sat Nov 03, 2018 5:56 am
Seeker12 wrote: Tue Oct 30, 2018 8:04 pm
Sentient Light wrote: Mon Oct 29, 2018 10:03 pm afaik, regression is only possible for those devotees below the first bhumi, which is effectively those Mahayanists aspiring toward bodhicitta. Otherwise, actions might stall or delay a bodhisattva’s progress, but those bodhisattvas that have realized the first stage abide on the ground of non-retrogression and cannot backslide. Depending on your usage of ‘bodhisattva’, we could argue that a bodhisattva can never backslide.
I believe this is correct. Generally, I think each 'ground' is basically not possible to go backwards from.
Not sure that’s true before at least the eighth bhumi
Interestingly Kongtrul addresses this in passing in Book 2 Light of the World, Treasury of Knowledge, at the end of Chapter 1 Our Teacher's Path to Awakening. So many of us have been taught that a bodhisattva can't regress once they have reached the first bhumi and others have been taught that non-reversal is assured only after one reaches the eight bhumi (and some of us have been taught both in fact). I think this partially reflects differences in emphasis in different lineages (so for example when I mentioned that Jigten Sumgon had written that even tenth Bhumi Bodhisattvas could regress this was in a discussion of karma and actually the point was made to emphasize the inexorable effects of karma rather than actually being a statement about regression).

Kongtrul says at the end of Book 1, chapter 1 (I don't have a page number since my version of this Kindle book just has locations and no page numbers, the location is 1332/1336)
Bodhisattvas' Level of Capacity
The three points at which bodhisattvas no longer regress- From the instance of the supreme mind of awakening, at awakening's first stage, or at the eight stage- Indicate distinctions of capability; the sublime Sage belongs to the first

A bodhisattva of a high degree of acumen does not regress after the first time he or she develops the supreme mind of awakening; a bodhisattva of average acumen does not regress after attainment of awakening's first stage; one of lesser acumen , at the eight stage. These are the three points [after which bodhisattvas] no longer regress. One teaching even states that those of very low acumen [no longer regress after the attainment of] awakening's ninth stage. These categories are based upon distinctions in capability.
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”

"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
PeterC
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Re: What causes a Bodhisattva to regress?

Post by PeterC »

Thanks - helpful reference
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