Samdhinirmocana-sutra

Chapter VIIgood states, yet there still remain passions. They are not yet capableof vanquishing them but rather are themselves vanquished bythem. Perfection refers to the development of such weak commitmentduring the [initial] stage of practicing commitment. Thosebodhisattvas, through further unlimited periods of time, cultivateand practice giving, etc., and gradually increase and bring tocompletion those good stages. Passions still do make their appearance,but they are able to vanquish them and are not themselvesvanquished by them. Near perfection, then, refers to this [stage ofdevelopment] in the initial stage and above. Those bodhisattvas,during further unlimited periods of time, cultivate and practicegiving, etc., develop further increases, and bring to completiongood states. No passion now appears at all. Great perfection refersto this [stage of development] in the eighth stage and above."The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara addressed the Buddha andsaid: "World-honored One, how many varieties of passionate inclinationsare to be found in all these stages?"The Buddha answered the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and said:"Good son, there are three varieties. The first are the passionateinclinations that are removed from their companions. These occurin the first five stages. Why is this so? Good son, all the passionsthat do not arise connaturally are companions to the arising ofconnatural passions. Since they no longer are present at the time[of the sixth stage], they are said to be removed from their companions.The second are debilitated passionate inclinations, which appearsubtly in the sixth and seventh stages. But if one cultivatestheir suppression, they will appear no longer. The third are thesubtle passionate inclinations found in the eighth stage and above.Herein all passions have been removed and no longer appear. Thereremains only the support for the obstacle to the knowable."The Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara addressed the Buddha andsaid: "World-honored One, how many varieties of abandoning theweakness of these passionate inclinations are manifested?"The Buddha answered the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara andsaid: "Good son, there are only two varieties. [The first] is the95