A Bodhisattva's Own Path, Utterly Subtle
Two long lists, each item built on the same phrase "utterly subtle" (甚微細), together sketch the whole shape of a bodhisattva's path: first twenty-one aspects of inner cultivation, from the first arising of the mind of enlightenment through immeasurable forms of samādhi; then the outward stages of a bodhisattva's final life — Tuṣita Heaven, entering and dwelling in the womb, the miraculous events of birth, the seven lion's steps, going forth from the household, and the seat beneath the bodhi tree, on the verge of defeating Māra's armies and awakening.
Twenty-One Kinds of Utterly Subtle Cultivation
The first list moves from the very beginning of the path — the first arising of the mind of enlightenment for the sake of every sentient being — through a bodhisattva's own abode, spiritual powers, journeying among buddha-lands, the gate of dhāraṇī, and eleven distinct forms of samādhi, closing each item with the same word: utterly subtle, and yet entirely knowable.
以無著無縛解脫心，立深志樂，修普賢行，能知一切菩薩從初發心為一切眾生修菩薩行甚微細、菩薩住處甚微細、菩薩神通甚微細、菩薩遊行無量佛剎甚微細、菩薩法光明甚微細、菩薩清淨眼甚微細、菩薩成就殊勝心甚微細、菩薩往詣一切如來道場眾會甚微細、菩薩陀羅尼門智甚微細、菩薩無量無畏地一切辯才藏演說甚微細、菩薩無量三昧相甚微細、菩薩見一切佛三昧智甚微細、菩薩甚深三昧智甚微細、菩薩大莊嚴三昧智甚微細、菩薩法界三昧智甚微細、菩薩大自在神通三昧智甚微細、菩薩盡未來際廣大行住持三昧智甚微細、菩薩出生無量差別三昧智甚微細、菩薩出生一切諸佛前勤修供養恒不捨離三昧智甚微細、菩薩修行一切甚深廣博無障無礙三昧智甚微細、菩薩究竟一切智地住持行智地大神通地決定義地離翳三昧智甚微細——如是等一切甚微細，悉能了知。
With a mind of non-attachment, non-bondage, and liberation, holding a deep and firm aspiration, he cultivates Samantabhadra's own practice, able to know the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own practice cultivated for every sentient being from the first arising of the mind of enlightenment, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own abode, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own spiritual powers, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own journeying through immeasurable buddha-lands, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own light of the Dharma, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own pure eye, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own accomplishment of a supreme mind, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own going forth to every assembly at every Tathāgata's seat of enlightenment, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own wisdom at the gate of dhāraṇī, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own expounding, from the ground of immeasurable fearlessness, the treasury of every eloquence, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own immeasurable forms of samādhi, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own samādhi that beholds every buddha, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own profound samādhi, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own greatly adorned samādhi, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own dharma-realm samādhi, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own samādhi of great sovereign spiritual powers, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own samādhi upholding vast practice to the very end of future time, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own samādhi giving rise to immeasurable, distinct samādhis, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own samādhi born of diligently cultivating offerings before every buddha, forever without abandoning them, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own samādhi cultivating and practicing every profound, vast, unobstructed, and unhindered state, and the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own samādhi, free of every obscuration, that is the ground of ultimate omniscience, the ground of upholding practice and wisdom, the ground of great spiritual powers, and the ground of definitive meaning — all such utterly subtle things as these, he is entirely able to comprehend.
Eleven of the twenty-one items in this list are distinct forms of samādhi — meditative absorption on beholding every buddha, on the dharma-realm, on sovereign spiritual power, on upholding practice across all future time. The sheer number suggests samādhi is not one attainment among many on a bodhisattva's path but something closer to its central occupation, taking as many distinct forms as there are objects and purposes to absorb the mind in.
From Tuṣita Heaven to the Seat of Enlightenment
The second list turns from inner cultivation to the outward, narrative stages of a bodhisattva's final life as they are told throughout the Buddhist tradition — descending from Tuṣita Heaven, entering and abiding within the womb, the miraculous events surrounding birth, the seven steps taken like a lion, dwelling skillfully within the royal palace, going forth from the household life, and finally sitting at the seat of enlightenment beneath the bodhi tree, on the threshold of defeating the armies of Māra. This list continues into the next Part.
以無著無縛解脫心，修普賢行，悉知一切菩薩安立智甚微細、菩薩地甚微細、菩薩無量行甚微細、菩薩出生迴向甚微細、菩薩得一切佛藏甚微細、菩薩觀察智甚微細、菩薩神通願力甚微細、菩薩演說三昧甚微細、菩薩自在方便甚微細、菩薩印甚微細、菩薩一生補處甚微細、菩薩生兜率天甚微細、菩薩住止天宮甚微細、菩薩嚴淨佛國甚微細、菩薩觀察人中甚微細、菩薩放大光明甚微細、菩薩種族殊勝甚微細、菩薩道場眾會甚微細、菩薩遍一切世界受生甚微細、菩薩於一身示現一切身命終甚微細、菩薩入母胎甚微細、菩薩住母胎甚微細、菩薩在母胎中自在示現一切法界道場眾會甚微細、菩薩在母胎中示現一切佛神力甚微細、菩薩示現誕生事甚微細、菩薩師子遊行七步智甚微細、菩薩示處王宮巧方便智甚微細、菩薩出家修調伏行甚微細、菩薩菩提樹下坐道場甚微細、菩薩破魔軍眾成阿耨多羅三藐三菩提甚微細。
With a mind of non-attachment, non-bondage, and liberation, he cultivates Samantabhadra's own practice, entirely knowing the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own wisdom of establishing, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own grounds, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own immeasurable practices, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own giving rise to dedication, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own attainment of every buddha's treasury, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own wisdom of contemplation, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own power of vow and spiritual power, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own expounding of samādhi, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own sovereign skillful means, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own seal, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own status as one bound by a single lifetime to buddhahood, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own birth in Tuṣita Heaven, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own dwelling in the heavenly palace, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own adornment and purification of a buddha-land, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own contemplation of the human realm, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own emanation of great light, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own supreme lineage, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own assembly at the seat of enlightenment, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own taking birth throughout every world, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own manifesting, within a single body, the ending of every life, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own entering the womb, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own abiding in the womb, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own sovereign manifestation, while within the womb, of every assembly at every seat of enlightenment throughout the dharma-realm, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own manifestation, while within the womb, of the spiritual power of every buddha, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own manifestation of the event of birth, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own walking seven steps like a lion, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own skillful means of dwelling within a royal palace, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own leaving the household life to cultivate the practice of taming, the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own sitting at the seat of enlightenment beneath the bodhi tree, and the utterly subtle wisdom of a bodhisattva's own defeating the armies of Māra and attaining anuttarā-samyak-saṃbodhi.
Even the womb is treated as a site of teaching rather than mere waiting: while still within it, a bodhisattva is said to manifest every assembly at every seat of enlightenment throughout the whole dharma-realm, and the spiritual power of every buddha. Nothing in this narrative sequence — heaven, womb, birth, palace, bodhi tree — is ordinary; every stage is itself an act of teaching, utterly subtle and entirely knowable at once.
Part 365 Complete
This continues the ninth dedication's litany of Samantabhadra's practice. Chapter 25 continues in Part 366 as the list turns from a bodhisattva's own path to the Tathāgata's own boundless activity — sitting at the seat of enlightenment radiating light through the ten directions, manifesting immeasurable spiritual transformations, and roaring the lion's roar of great nirvāṇa — before the litany moves on to new subjects entirely.