2. THE SECOND STAINLESS GROUND

The second bhūmi, the Stainless

Bodhisattvas on the second level generate great effort towards the "Stainless" perfect virtue and overcome all tendencies towards engagement in negative actions.

Daily vigilence becomes so complete that they have no thoughts that do not have natural virtue as a base.

And according to Nagarjuna, "The second is called 'the Stainless' because all ten [virtuous] actions of body, speech, and mind are stainless and they naturally abide in those natural virtues. Through the maturation of those [good qualities] the perfection of ethics becomes supreme. They become [eventually] Universal Monarchs helping beings."

Because of this, the bodhisattva's mind becomes eventually purified and equinanimous, which is a prerequisite for training in the four dhyānas (meditative absorptions of Samatha) and the four arupa-samapattis (formless absorptions).

Now when it says that they generate perfect virtue, that does not mean that perfect virtue is actually attained at this level.

SUMMARY of the SECOND BHUMI

At this level there is the intention that all actions are a consequence of the awakening of NATURAL VIRTUE. 

The Motivating Factor here then is the INTENTION to generate a Natural Virtue. We can then declare that the genuine intention, which is after all at this stage cognitive, is sufficient Motivation for the arousal of that virtue.

That would not be possible if work on the first Bhumi characteristics were insufficient.

We can ask here the question why this mundane INTENTION which is COGNITIVE has any real value. Those that have studied the advanced Contemplations of Zeal, will know that Virtue is a central component of that subconscious motivating impulse that generates a more efficient and rapid connection of COGNITION with the MASCULINE PRINCIPLE expression of the Natural Survival Paradigm.

The second level intentions act to brake any behavioral interference with the generation of Zeal contemplations.