Sudurjaya?

[Brian]

This thread began life as an off-topic question I posed in another thread, in another sub-forum. That topic was related to "joy" and one of the responses was a list of the ten bhūmi.

 

The fifth bhūmi caught my attention...

 

 

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The fifth bhūmi, the Difficult to Master. (Skt. Sudurjaya), in which one surmounts the illusions of darkness, or ignorance as the Middle Way.

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Can someone more knowledgeable than I am help me with this concept? Is the idea that one possible distraction from the Way is the belief that there is "a path through darkness" or is the distraction the idea that darkness is separate from the Way, or that "darkness" itself is just an illusion? Or something completely different...

 

I think the idea is to leave darkness behind but I'm not sure I understand.

 

 

 

 

 

This AM, I briefly researched "Sudurjaya" on the innerwebz. First thing I came across was:

Concentration: Difficult to Cultivate Ground (sudurjaya bhumi), in which the Bodhisattva surmounts the illusion of ignorance.

OK, not terribly helpful.

 

Then I found this:

5. Sudurjaya-bhumi (The Land That Is Difficult to Conquer)

 

Now the bodhisattva goes deeper into meditation, as this land is associated with Dhyana Paramita, the perfection of meditation. He pierces through the darkness of ignorance. Now he understands the Four Noble Truths and the Two Truths. As he develops himself, the bodhisattva devotes himself to the welfare of others.

Still vague on what is meant by phrases like "in which one surmounts the illusions of darkness, or ignorance as the Middle Way" but...

 

This lead me back to oft-plowed ground -- the Four Noble Truths, the Two Truths and the Eightfold Path.

 

Frankly, I have always been a bit dismissive of Buddhist inquiry because... Well, primarily because of two things, I think.

 

First is that most people I've encountered in my long-ago who spoke of Buddhist principles simply didn't understand them. They would present a superficial view ("the world is about suffering" or some such tripe) and I would question them on the veracity of their statements -- and things would go downhill from there. Largely because of these early experiences, I unfortunately largely discounted the entire school of thought as circular and suffering from delusions of depth. Honestly, I never, in all the interim of years, bothered to give it much more attention.

 

The second reason, I now realize, is that I was not in a position to recognize it for what it is. I have acquired some of the terminology by osmosis but never turned my attention to it fairly. Today, however...

 

Reading the simplistic explanation of the Four Noble Truths on "about Religion" was an "ah-ha" moment. Suddenly, words I had read and heard before bore new meaning and, most beautifully, dove-tailed very nicely with my other dawning realizations from the last few years of discovery & exploration. It is like someone opened a curtain across the room and the sunlight suddenly shone upon some overlooked pieces half under the couch just as it was time to fit them into the jigsaw puzzle I've been casually assembling for some time now.

 

Well, duh...

 

 

Something new for me to reflect upon.

 

 

 

I am still somewhat uncertain, though, about the phrase "in which one surmounts the illusions of darkness, or ignorance as the Middle Way," though.

 

I think get the darkness equals lack of illumination equals ignorance thing. What I'm not understanding is whether it means that ignorance is an illusion (a transitory effect or a matter of perspective, perhaps?), or that some believe ignorance to be "the Middle Way" (taking to extreme the admonitions against attempting to reason oneself into the Tao) and that this is this belief which must be surmounted at this stage.

 

Or does it speak of, perhaps, something completely different???

[Brian]

Jeff's response (and my reply) in that other thread:

 

 

In the definition, darkness just really means something like "obscured view", and so yes one leaves behind or moves beyond such beliefs/perspectives (or view). The 5th in other translations is also called "hard to teach". This is because at this level, one is now radiating wisdom/light (4th) and it can directly affect those around you. A new level of interaction with other sentient beings begins. This new level is not something that can't really be taught, and also these new connections can become overwhelming, resulting in a falling back. If one continues, the early stage sambhogkaya begins to manifest (6th) and later it becomes increasingly unbounded (7th - gone afar).

Thank you, Jeff! This is very helpful.

 

While you were posting this reply, I was opening a new thread on the topic in the Buddhist Discussions sub-forum. I'll include this response there, too.

 

 

 

[Seeker of Wisdom]

According to wikipedia, "Bodhisattvas on this level cultivate the perfection of samadhi. They develop strong powers of meditative stabilization and overcome tendencies toward distraction. They achieve mental one-pointedness and they perfect calm abiding. They also fully penetrate the meanings of the four noble truths and the two truths (conventional truths and ultimate truths) and perceive all phenomena as empty, transient and prone to suffering."

 

I.e., I think you were on the right track with this:

 

 

I think get the darkness equals lack of illumination equals ignorance thing. [...] ignorance is an illusion (a transitory effect or a matter of perspective, perhaps?)

 

[Brian]

Thank you for your reply, Seeker of Wisdom.

 

Before someone beats me to it, let me point out that I am not a bodhisattva. I suspect bits and pieces of these higher levels sometimes trickle down and sparkle tantalizingly in the awareness of the mundane as well.

[Jeff]

Thank you for your reply, Seeker of Wisdom.

 

Before someone beats me to it, let me point out that I am not a bodhisattva. I suspect bits and pieces of these higher levels sometimes trickle down and sparkle tantalizingly in the awareness of the mundane as well.

 

Are you not one who wants to help all sentient beings? Would stick around to help?

 

[Brian]

I am and I would...

[steve]

I am and I would...

_/\_

I believe that you would.

 

I believe that your original question is about dispelling the darkness of ignorance. In fact, in an esoteric and "innermost secret" teaching of the Bon tradition, namely the 21 nails, the primordial Buddha, or fundamental nature of being, Kuntuzangpo, is referred to as the one who dispels the darkness of ignorance.

 

This darkness has infinite aspects but the fundamental core is not realizing the nature of who and what we are, which is of course Kuntuzangpo. Darkness refers to our samsaric existence, a life of confusion, suffering, and ignorance. The bodhisattva is mentioned because in the Mahayana tradition, the cultivation of bodhicitta is the path to illumination, the two go hand in hand.

 

Yes, ignorance is the illusion being pointed out. The middle way is not an illusion, it is the way toward the truth.