Sūtra on the Four Levels of Practice of the Dharma (Si Pin Xue Fa Jing) 四品學法經

Translated by Guṇabhadra

Colophon

第 17 冊　No. 771 四品學法經 劉宋 求那跋陀羅譯 共 1 卷 Volume 17, No. 771; Sūtra on the Four Levels of Practice of the Dharma (Si Pin Xue Fa Jing); Translated by Guṇabhadra in the Liu Song in 1 scroll

Notes

Date 435-443 from Lancaster (Lancaster 2004, 'K 995')

English translations

None

Summary

This text categorizes Buddhist practice into four levels: true learning, upholding the precepts, relying on blessed precepts, and detached service. True learning, characterized by full precepts, knowledge of scriptures, and the ability to convert others, is considered the highest. The text outlines the qualities and virtues associated with each level, emphasizing that even detached service, though not a formal precept, is significantly better than ordinary life. Ultimately, the text encourages practitioners to strive for higher levels of practice to escape suffering and attain liberation. (AI generated)

Primary Source

Guṇabhadra, 《四品學法經》 'Si Pin Xue Fa Jing,' in Taishō shinshū Daizōkyō 《大正新脩大藏經》, in Takakusu Junjiro, ed., (Tokyo: Taishō Shinshū Daizōkyō Kankōkai, 1988), Vol. 17, No. 771, Accessed 2016-09-25, http://tripitaka.cbeta.org/T17n0771.

References

  1. Lancaster, L.R. 2004, The Korean Buddhist Canon: A Descriptive Catalogue, http://www.acmuller.net/descriptive_catalogue.

Collection vocabulary analysis