Dreaming the path: diagnosing Bodhisattva progress in early Mahāyāna

Abstract

This dissertation explores the early formation of the notion of bodhisattva developmental stages on the basis of a unique text on this topic—a Mahāyāna sūtra titled “The Teaching on Dreams” (*Svapnanirdeśa). Through examining the correlation between dreams and bodhisattva progress taught in the Svapnanirdeśa, this research reconsiders the development of the notion of bodhisattva progress from the perspective of the underlying motivation behind the doctrinal innovations. That is, it explores the attempts to resolve Mahāyāna followers’ uncertainties over the prospect of the bodhisattva career.