One who has the Mahayana family cultivates bodhicitta, receives teachings from masters, and makes effort in the virtues until the heat of wisdom is attained. During this time, progress is classified in four stages: realisation, aspiration, greater aspiration, and achievement. Why is this called the path of accumulation? Because on it, one gathers the accumulations of virtue in order to become a vessel for the realisation of heat and so forth. Therefore, it is called the path of accumulation.

These are also called the root virtues which are similar to liberation. At this stage, twelve of the branches of enlightenment are practiced:

A. the four types of mindfulness,

B. the four types of perfect abandonment, and

C. the four feet of miracle powers.

The Four Types of Mindfulness are:

1. sustaining mindfulness of the body,

2. sustaining mindfulness of feelings,

3. sustaining mindfulness of the mind, and

4. sustaining mindfulness of phenomena.

These four occur during the lesser stage of the path of accumulation.

The Four Types of Perfect Abandonment are:

1. abandoning nonvirtues which have been created,

2. not allowing new nonvirtues to be produced,

3. producing the antidotes, virtues which have not arisen, and

4. allowing those virtues which have arisen to increase.

These four occur during the middle stage of the path of accumulation.

The Four Feet of Miracle Powers are:

1. the absorption of strong aspiration,

2. the absorption of perseverance,

3. the absorption of the mind, and

4. the absorption of investigation.

These four occur during the greater stage of the path of accumulation.

-- Gampopa