金剛般若經贊述 1.97

1.97

Here, answering 'how to abide' refers to how to settle the mind so as to generate [bodhicitta]. All practitioners, desiring to realize bodhi and create great benefit and happiness, must first generate the great bodhicitta before initiating correct practice. Therefore, a sūtra says: 'Just as splitting the first joint of a bamboo quickly splits the remaining joints, / When the path of seeing first eliminates obstacles, the remaining obstacles are quickly eliminated.' If one generates bodhicitta, all merits will naturally become complete. Therefore, regarding the generation of bodhicitta, a sūtra says that just as the great ocean begins with a single drop, which can serve as the basis for all jewels, the initial generation of the mind is also like this: the wholesome dharmas of the five vehicles are all born from this. Furthermore, just as the world, when it initially gradually arises, serves as the cause for sustaining all sentient beings, this mind is also like that: it can sustain and serve as the support for the immeasurable classes of beings in the five destinies. Furthermore, just as the space realm contains and embraces everything without exception, the great bodhicitta is also like this: because it reviles and turns away from all saṃskṛta dharmas pervading space; because it seeks to realize bodhi, which is like space; and because it deeply cares for all sentient beings exhausting space. Although this initial generation of the mind is elementary, the accumulation of merit from a single moment of thought is still difficult to describe fully—how much more so the merit of generating the mind, practicing, and benefiting beings through many kalpas!