The bodhisattva described in the 5th stage (sudurjayāpañcamībhūmi) of the Daśabhūmikasūtra has a characteristic that he positively acts to remove pain (duḥkha) from all living things in the world (sarvasattva), while he observes all existence as emptiness (sarvadharmaśūnyatā) in the next, 6th stage.
In the present paper, four phrases of the text— ‘equality (samatā)’; ‘being conversant with the truth (satyakuśala)’; ‘bringing benefit to the whole world (sarvasattvahita)’; ‘means to bring to maturity (upāyaparipācana)’— are taken up and examined.
1) samatā means equality between oneself and others. 2) being satyakuśala helps the bodhisattva to lead each sattva to the truth, and at the same time, he learns the skill to enlighten them. 3) sarvasattvahita is his final purpose, because he wishes to take away the pain of all beings through his great mercy. 4) by upāyaparipācana he helps all beings in various ways.
The study concludes that the bodhisattva in this text is described as living in this secular world. Thus, to ascend to the next 6th stage, he need to purify all beings in the world as himself.
