TIME TAKEN TO ATTAIN
ENLIGHTENMENT
28.1 Tien Tai's Ways to Attain
Enlightenment
How long does it take to attain Enlightenment? In answering this question,
Buddhism tell us that to complete the cultivation methodically and
systematically from the beginning to the end would take no less than three
kalpas. It is the same as going through the course of education from primary
to high school and to university. One cannot skip over the various stages of
development by leaps and bounds. The Ten Stages of Faith, the Ten Stages of
Abiding, the Ten Stages of Activities and the Ten Stages of Merit
Transference are to be completed in the first kalpa. The first seven Grades
of Merits are to be completed in the second kalpa, and from the eighth to the
tenth in the third kalpa (according to the stages of the Differentiated
Doctrine). Kalpa, meaning unlimited length of time, implies that there is no
time-limit for cultivating Buddhism because the long-accumulated defilements
of the self-nature of the mind would necessarily take considerable time to be
removed. Moreover, the question of how soon one may complete the cultivation
depends on the extent of one's bondage, the causes and conditions of one's
cultivation and the effort of one's cultivation. These factors determining
the time of accomplishment usually vary from person to person. After all, as
people generally do not expect to complete their development of Buddhahood in
this very life, it does not make sense that they should speculate on the time
of attaining Buddhahood by the conventional standard.
28.2 Tantric Ways to Attain
Enlightenment
The Tantra Buddhism says nothing of the three kalpas for completing
the Buddha development, but gives three grades of coarse, fine and
subtlest illusions instead. According to the theory of this school,
for those people of superior root and intellect "implanted in former
life", they are bestowed with the three mystic powers of the Enlightened
one, besides their own intensive practice of the special expedient
means of this Tantric Sect. It is not impossible to rid the three
Grades of illusion and to open, to reveal, to wake and to enter themselves
into the Buddha-Wisdom at last, so that they would complete their
Buddhahood development in this life. It is just like one obtaining
diploma and degree after having fully met the credits requirements
but without being restricted by the academic school years (By the
way, the qualifying phrase "the superior root formerly implanted"
implies that cultivation has been carried on from previous lives and
now may be mature for completing this stage of Buddhahood development).
Besides, the Tantra Buddhism also lays down three ways for attainment
of Buddhahood in the present life.
28.2.1 To realize Buddhahood by understanding the
principle
It is the principle that fundamentally our body and mind are themselves the
substance of Vairocana and Vajrayana. In other words, apart from
our mind and body, there is no essence of enlightenment. This is
in line with the Tien T'ai's first aspect of "Enlightenment by Realizing
the Principle" that in respect of Buddha-nature, sentient beings
are not different from Buddha.
28.2.2 To realize Buddhahood by Empowerment
If the omnipresent self-nature of the mind corresponds to the three mystic
protecting powers of the Enlightened One and is integrated with them, both His
transcendental activities and fundamental virtues would be manifested. This
may be said to be identical with the Tien Tai's Semblance Stage of Buddhahood
development
28.2.3 To realize Buddhahood by self-experiencing
If the three mystic profound activities are accomplished, the fundamental
immanent virtues and the reality of the True Nature would be automatically
manifested.
28.2.4 Similarity with Tien Tai Sect
This may be said to be corresponding to the last two of the six aspects of
Enlightenment of the Tien T'ai's Teaching, by self-experiencing the
progressive stages of different realms and by Absolute Perfect Enlightenment.
Apparently, the Tantric practice "to become Buddha in this life" and the Tien
T'ai Complete Teaching "to be identical with Buddha" are similar to each
other.
28.3 Chan's Ways to Attain
Enlightenment
According to the Ch'an's teaching and practice of sudden enlightenment,
if one realizes Self-nature, thereby one will attain Buddhahood. It
is because as soon as ignorance, the root cause of suffering, is eliminated,
all the lesser delusions would be automatically removed, as the saying
has it, "to destroy the one is to destroy all". It may be seen why
the Ch'an's practice is not to be cultivated by stages nor to be restricted
by time limits. It is why the moment one realizes Self-nature, one
may also attain Buddhahood simultaneously. This Dharma of Perfect
and Sudden Enlightenment is well said in the Avatamasaka Sutra: "Primary Awareness is conducive to Sambodhi (Enlightenment) and it
is by this expedient means and not others, that Buddha-Wisdom is thereby
to be attained." In fact, to realize the Self-nature of the
mind is the common goal of every Buddhist, yet the time to pass through
the three Gates of Understanding, which correspond to the three grades
of illusion, coarse, fine and subtle, usually varyfrom person to person.
28.4 Pure Land Ways to Attain
Enlightenment
By the Name-reciting method, however, sentient beings are blessed with Amita
Buddha's gracious and compassionate response to their call, just like
a piece of iron being drawn to a powerful magnet. Either in this or
next life, they will be born in the Buddhaland of Supreme Happiness,
where under the special and highly favorable conditions they would
advance from one to the three Non-receding positions and also from
one Buddhaland to transcend beyond the other three and so would complete
their Buddhahood development in their present life. This is why the
complete and perfect Reciting method of the Pure Land Sect wins its
universal appeal.
28.5 Summary
To sum up, in both the Ch'an and the Tantric practices, there is no time limit
involved, nor is there such a thing as to realize Buddhahood by stages. This
is called "all the Six are but One". According to the Doctrine of Buddhism,
in general, however, "The One is all the Six" upholds that the principle of
Buddhahood and the six aspects of realizing Buddhahood are not two things but
mutually integrated and complementary to each other. From this standpoint,
cultivating Buddhism should not lean to one side, i.e. not leaning to the principle
or to the practice. Regardless of the outcome of cultivation, one should
carry on as vigorously as possible. May our aspiration for Buddhahood,
unlimited, and undiminished despite the finite void, lead us precisely to the
Way of Buddhism!