Ten powers 十自在

Ten powers (Skt. daśavaśitā; Wyl. dbang bcu) — part of the twenty-one sets of immaculate qualities.

1. 命自在 power over life (tshe)
2. 心自在 power over mind (sems)
3. 資具自在 power over material things (yo byad)
4. 業自在 power over action (las)
5. 受生自在 power over birth (skye ba)
6. 解自在 power over aspirations (mos pa)
7. 願自在 power over prayer (smon lam)
8. 神力自在 power over miracles (rdzu 'phrul)
9. 智自在 power over wisdom (ye shes)
10. 法自在 power over Dharma (chos)

（名數）一命自在，菩薩得長壽慧命，經無量阿僧祇劫住持世間，無有障礙也。二心自在，菩薩智慧方便，調伏自心，能入無量之大三昧，遊戲神通，而無障礙也。三資具自在，菩薩能以無量珍寶種種資具嚴飾一切世界，清淨無礙也。四業自在，菩薩隨諸業，應時示現，受諸果報，無障礙也。五受生自在，菩薩隨其心念能於諸世界中，示現受生，無障無礙也。六解自在，菩薩勝解成就，能示現種種色身，演說妙法無障無礙也。七願自在，菩薩隨願欲，於諸剎中應時出現，成等正覺，無障無礙也。八神力自在，菩薩神通廣大，威力難量，於世界中示現變化，無障無礙也。九法自在，菩薩得大辯才，於諸法中廣演說無邊法門，無障無礙也。十智自在，菩薩智慧具足，於一念中能現如來之十力無畏。成等正覺內無障無礙也。見華嚴經三十八。又，此十自在名為十明。以十自在之作用明了故也。故別譯之本業瓔珞經中為十明。

Commentary

Mipham Rinpoche says:

1. Power over life means that they can choose to relinquish their life, or, if they choose to remain, live for as long as they wish, even for an infinite number of aeons. This is mainly the result of having been generous.
2. Power over mind means that they have mastery over states of meditation and so on at will. This is the result of meditative concentration.
3. Power over material things means they can materialize the riches of the gods, human beings or bodhisattvas, just as they wish. This is the result of perfecting generosity.
4. Power over action means they have the power to do whatever must be done or whatever they wish.
5. Power over birth means they have the power to manifest a variety of births according to their wishes, in whichever place, or in whichever form, or however they choose. These last two powers are mainly the result of discipline.
6. Power over aspirations means they have the power to fulfil their disciples' aspirations. This is the result of patiently acting in accordance with disciples' wishes on the path of training.
7. Power over prayer means they can perfectly fulfil whatever prayers are made. This is the result of diligence.
8. Power over miracles means they have the unimpeded power to display whatever miracles they choose. This is the result of meditative concentration.
9. Power over wisdom means they possess the great wisdom which knows, without attachment or hindrance, all that can be known throughout the past, present and future.
10. Power over Dharma means they have the unimpeded power to teach, according to the wishes of disciples, all the forms of the Dharma of transmission included within the twelve branches of the excellent teaching. These last two powers are the result of wisdom.

Alternative Translations

• Ten strengths (Padmakara Translation Group)