Karma On Cultivating the Thirty-two Marks

 

“Good son, there are two kinds of bodhisattvas: the lay and the ordained ones. It is not difficult for ordained bodhisattvas to cultivate these deeds, but it is difficult for lay bodhisattvas to do so. Why? It is because  lay bodhisattvas are bound by more unfavorable conditions.” The Sūtra on Upāsaka Precepts, Chapter VI

「善男子！菩薩二種：一者在家，二者出家；出家菩薩修如是業，是不為難；在家之人，是乃為難。何以故？在家之人，多惡因緣所纏遶故。」 優婆塞戒經〈修三十二相業品〉第六   

Remarks:

While practitioners pursue the Bodhi Path, there are two types of compounded (saṃskṛt) dharma (有為法): the taintless compounded (無漏有為) one and the contaminated compounded (有漏有為) one. 

For example, some people do virtuous deeds to obtain good retribution in the future, while others do so to obtain a good reputation in this life. These two kinds of deeds are both contaminated compounded dharmas. 

On the other hand, the term "taintless compounded dharma" connotes that one's purpose in doing good deeds is purely to become a Buddha. The taintless compounded dharma belongs to supramundane and is motivated by the desire to guide and embrace sentient beings. Once one becomes a Buddha with the 32 majestic physical features, one will find it much easier to guide and embrace sentient beings. 

The 32 majestic physical features of the Buddha Ground refer to the meritorious virtues required to attain Buddhahood. All World-Honored Ones, with no exception, must perfect the necessary meritorious virtues and extraordinary wisdom to attain Buddhahood.

All Buddhas seek to obtain the 32 majestic physical features for the sake of embracing sentient beings. Although the karmic appearances of these features are those of taintless compounded dharmas, they are indispensable for attaining Buddhahood. 

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