If one reaches the stage of subtle awakening, there are [either] nine or ten dharmas [of suchlike characteristics]. The reason is that the wisdom of the middle path causes rebirth to be lost. Since [in some stages of some Teachings] birth is not completely exhausted, there are differences among the stages concerning birth and extinction.²¹⁷

The stage of subtle awakening completes the process of losing further rebirth. Why then can one speak of retribution at this level? Therefore it is written, “Only the Buddha alone dwells in the Pure Land.”²¹⁸ “The passage through the ten bhūmi stages is finished²¹⁹ and one is equivalent to Great Awakening. [The Buddha] has no further rebirths in this saṃsāric world because he has exhausted all passions [kleśa]. His wisdom and virtue is already perfect so he has no more repetitive results. He no longer experiences rebirth in another physical body, therefore he has no retributive results. But from the perspective of [the Buddha’s] present life, one can speak of nine or ten [such-like characteristics].221

217

In this passage Chih-i is warily circumscribing the issue of whether or not one can speak of the Buddha having any retribution. The texts that Chih-i quotes make clear that one can speak it in the sense of the reward for his perfection of practice and attainment of enlightenment, and thus the Buddha also has ten suchlike characteristics. However, since the Buddha has severed all delusions and utterly destroyed all vestiges of ignorance, one cannot speak of any “retribution” for the Buddha in the sense of his being reborn in saṃsāra as a result of bad karma. In this sense the Buddha has only nine suchlike characteristics. Thus Chih-i discriminates between “retribution” and the “resultant reward” of Buddhahood. return

218

A continuation of the same passage in the Jên wang ching quoted above.  return

219

“Thirty lives are exhausted.” return

220

From the Jên wang ching, immediately preceding the above quotes. The context is describing the attainment of supreme Buddhahood after passing through the various bodhisattva stages. return

221

One can speak of the Buddha’s present life as a “reward” for his past virtuous deeds. return