Shikshasamuccaya 70

70

saṃvara-grahaṇaṃ ca bodhi-satva-śikṣā-pada-abhyāsa-paramasya sāṃvarikasya + antikāt kartavyaṃ | evaṃ hy asya śikṣā-atikrame tīvram apatrāpyaṃ guru-visaṃvādana-bhayaṃ ca + utpadyate | tatra ca + an-ābhogataḥ prema-gaurava-siddhir ity eṣa sāmānya-saṃvara-dharmaḥ | ata eva bodhi-satvāḥ tathā-gatānāṃ purataḥ śikṣāṇām anyatama-śikṣā-niṣpatti-kāmāḥ samādānaṃ kurvanti | tasya ca kalyāṇa-mitrasya + a-bhāve daśa-dig-avasthita-buddha-bodhi-satva-abhimukhī-bhāva-bhāvanayā saṃvaro grāhyaḥ saṃvaram ātma-balaṃ ca tulayitvā | anyathā tu sarva-buddha-bodhi-satvāḥ sa-devakaś ca loko visaṃvāditaḥ syāt | sad-dharma-smṛty-upasthāna-sūtre hi kiñ-cin mātraṃ cintayitvā + apy a-dadataḥ preta-gatir uktā pratijñātaṃ ca + a-dadato naraka-gatiḥ | kiṃ punar an-uttaram artham a-khilasya jagataḥ pratijñāya + a-saṃpādayataḥ | ata eva + uktaṃ dharma-saṃgīti-sūtre | satya-gurukeṇa kula-putra bodhi-satvena bhavitavyaṃ | satya-saṃgītiḥ kula-putra dharma-saṃgītiḥ | tatra kula-putra katamat satyaṃ yad bodhi-satvo * an-uttarāyāṃ samyak-saṃbodhau cittam utpādya tac cittaṃ jīvita-hetor api na parityajati na satveṣu vipratipadyate | idaṃ bodhi-satvasya satyaṃ ||

And taking the vow should be done in the presence of one who possesses the vow and is dedicated to the practice of the bodhisattva training precepts. For thus, upon transgressing a training, one develops acute moral dread and fear of deceiving the guru. And there, affection and respect are accomplished effortlessly; such is the general rule of vows. For this very reason, bodhisattvas desiring the accomplishment of any of the trainings undertake them in the presence of the Tathāgatas. And in the absence of that virtuous friend, the vow should be taken by visualizing the presence of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas residing in the ten directions, having weighed the vow and one's own strength. Otherwise, all the Buddhas and bodhisattvas and the world together with its gods would be deceived. For in the Saddharmasmṛtyupasthānasūtra, the state of hungry ghosts is stated for one who does not give even after intending a mere trifle, and the state of hell for one who does not give what has been promised. How much more so for one who, having promised the unexcelled benefit of the entire world, fails to carry it out! For this very reason it is said in the Dharmasaṃgītisūtra: "A bodhisattva, noble son, must hold truth in high esteem. Noble son, the recitation of truth is the recitation of Dharma. There, noble son, what is truth? That a bodhisattva, having generated the mind for unexcelled, complete awakening, does not abandon that mind even for the sake of his life and does not act contrary toward sentient beings. This is the truth of the bodhisattva.