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“What strikes me most about this particular passage is the soteriological import of the message, that by diligently being attuned with the śāstra one is unequivocally rescued from the phenomenal hell of samsara*, as well as having the internal passions quelled from further self-affliction.”
*On this topic of the “irreversible Bodhisattva” (Skt: “avaivartika”) liberated from future birth in states of woe, I recommend a paper by James Apple in the Bulletin of The Institute of Oriental Philosophy No. 29, pp.(59-81) 176-154, 2014. I am sure you have discussed this topic elsewhere but it seemed worthy of a footnote here.
Notably this paper refers to the earliest known scriptures which articulate the Bodhisattva path including the recent finds in the “greater Ghandara” and also the Bajaur region of Western Pakistan, and some interesting comparisons from the Nikayas as well as the Daoxing Jing. A copy is freely available on the internet. Here is a brief excerpt relevant to this discussion with reference to the mystical “seal” or prediction of the Buddhas about the Bodhisattva’s eventual perfect enlightenment (and by extension salvation from birth in the hells); notably this may include not only monastics or those with formal vows but the diligent householder who is well advanced in the cognition of non-duality and emptiness (this latter point is per the Virmalakirti sutra):
“In this early layer [of the astasahasrika prajnaparamita], the attainment of non-retrogression or avaivartika is related to dwelling in and not turning back from a concentration (samadhi) that does not grasp at anything at all (sarvadharmaparigrhita) (Conze 1975:85). Attaining this concentration leads to the bodhisattva’s prediction to become fully awakened to perfect awakening (Verboom 1998:247).”
Look’s great! Did you have any trouble with downloading the article? Many times when I click on a journal link you have to pay a hefty fee for downloading. Do you have a direct link? Many thanks!
Got it! Thanks again!