Content The text is a composite one which includes past life narratives, stories of previous
Buddhas, stories of
Gautama Buddha's final life, embedded
early Buddhist sutras and two prologues (
nidānas). The more recent layer of the
Mahāvastu is the
Daśabhūmika, a text which contains teachings on a scheme of bodhisattva
bhūmis (stages). According to Vincent Tournier, this text was grafted into the
Mahāvastu (which itself does not contain any teaching on bodhisattva stages) during the last period of textual formation (ca. 4-6th centuries CE). The
Nidānanamaskāras prologue introduced the doctrine of the fourfold "phases" of the bodhisattva's career. • Natural (
prakṛti-
caryā), one first plants the roots of merit in front of a Buddha to attain Buddhahood. • Resolution (
praṇidhāna-caryā), one makes their first resolution to attain Buddhahood in the presence of a Buddha. • Continuing (
anuloma-caryā), one continues to practice until one meets a Buddha who confirms one's future Buddhahood. • Irreversible (
anivartana-caryā), at this stage, one cannot fall back. ==English translations==