BHUMI

in Mahayana Buddhism, the stages of spiritual progress of the bodhisattva, or one who, though capable of enlightenment, delays his buddhahood in order to work for the salvation of others. The stages (which are also termed viharas, stations) appear as 7, 10, and 13 in various texts, but the scheme that is most commonly agreed upon is the one given in the Dasabhumika-sutra (The Sutra on the Ten Spiritual Levels). It lists the progressively superior stages as: (1) pramudita (joyful, with the thought that, having begun the career of a bodhisattva, he will attain enlightenment and will help others), (2) vimala (free from impurities), (3) prabhakari (luminous with the noble doctrine), (4) arcismati (brilliant, the rays of his virtue consuming evil passions and ignorance), (5) sudurjaya (hard to conquer), (6) abhimukhi (turning toward both transmigration and nirvana), (7) durangama (far-going), (8) acala (immovable), (9) sadhumati (good-minded), and (10) dharmamegha (showered with clouds of dharma, or universal truth).