五觉

The five (sa) bodhi, or states of enlightenment, as described in the 起信論 <Awakening of Faith>; see also 五菩提 for a different group.

(1) 本覺 Absolute eternal wisdom, or (sa) bodhi;

(2) 始覺 (sa) bodhi in its initial stages, or in action, arising from right observances;

(3) 相似覺 bodhisattva. attainment of (sa) bodhi in action, in the 十信;

(4) 隨分覺 further bodhisattva-enlightenment according to capacity, i. e. the stages 十住, 十行, and 十廻向;

(5) 究竟覺 final or complete enlightenment, i. e. the stage of 妙覺, which is one with the first, i. e. 本覺. The 本覺 is bodhi in the potential, 始覺 is (sa) bodhi in the active state, hence

(2),

(3),

(4), and

(5) are all the latter, but the fifth has reached the perfect quiescent stage of original (sa) bodhi.