The word “bodhi” can be found everywhere in Buddhist texts. In Buddhism, the word “Bodhi” has a profound meaning, as the Khyentse Veda says, “The supreme and subtle law”. Bodhi is the phonetic translation of the Sanskrit word, and its original meaning is wisdom and enlightenment. Just as when people dream for a long night, they suddenly wake up and become enlightened, seeing the light of supreme wisdom, realizing the truth, and obtaining complete liberation. When one attains Bodhi, he or she becomes clear and sees the nature of the mind and attains the purity of Buddha nature, becomes enlightened, and is able to enter the realm of Nirvana. Bodhi is divided into levels according to the degree of Nirvana attained (“All sages and saints are differentiated by the law of inaction,” as stated in the Diamond Sutra). In the Tathagata, Bodhi is categorized into five levels.
Enlightened Bodhi
Bodhi is the “Ten Minds”, which are: faith, mindfulness, diligence, wisdom, determination, non-retreating, return, protection of the Dharma, precepts, and aspiration. If a Bodhisattva develops the Ten Minds, the Ten Minds become the cause for realizing the fruit of Bodhi.
Subduing Bodhi
To subdue one's own worries is to practice the Mahayana teachings of the Ten Abodes, Ten Actions, and Ten Returns. Through various practices, the three poisons of greed, anger, and dementia are completely eliminated, and one's worries are subdued to create a pure mind, which is the foundation for attaining the fruit of bodhicitta.
Mindfulness of Bodhi
Through the practices of developing the mind and subduing the mind, the bodhisattva's cultivation can reach the ground, completely subduing the worries and becoming a bodhisattva of the ground. The Bodhisattva has realized the reality of all dharmas and attained Prajna Paramita, which means that he has reached the shore of great wisdom.
Exit to Bodhi
Those who have attained the state of Bodhicitta refer to those who have attained the Eighth Land of Immovability, the Ninth Land of Good Wisdom, and the Tenth Land of Dharmakaya. At the above three levels of enlightenment, the Bodhisattva no longer clings to the Prajna Paramita, but is able to attain the power of convenience in the Prajna Paramita. This Bodhi Fruit is the result of breaking the “bondage”, leaving the three realms, and attaining all intellects.
Supreme Bodhi
The supreme bodhi is “Adorable Three Contemptuous Bodhi”, that is, the supreme realization, is the perfect fruit of the Buddha. The Buddha's fruit of virtue and wisdom are all perfect, is the omniscience, the full wisdom, is the highest fruit in the practice of Buddhism. The above five types of Bodhi are distinguished by the level of cultivation. In addition, in the Dharma Flower Sutra, the three bodies of the Buddha, namely, the Dharma Body, the Retribution Body, and the Response Body, are mentioned. In terms of the Buddha's three bodies, bodhi can be categorized into three types of bodhi: Dharma body bodhi, retributive body bodhi, and responsive body bodhi. There are also three kinds of bodhi among the ten three dharmas of the Tiantai Sect. They are actual bodhi, actual wisdom bodhi, and convenience bodhi. Actual Bodhi: This is also known as realizing the truth of the Buddha's origin and attaining supreme and equal enlightenment. Actual Wisdom Bodhi: Also known as Pure Bodhi, this is the great wisdom of realizing the truth. Convenient Bodhi: Also known as ultimate Bodhi, this is the great wisdom of teaching and transforming sentient beings.
