金剛經纂要刊定記 7.205

7.205

不可謂作化事便言為實，不可謂度眾生便謂眾生實有。良為眾生即空，迷故不覺為說今覺，若實有體化之何益。故《淨名》云：「觀眾生如幻化、如水月鏡像、如龜毛兔角」等。文殊問云：「若然者，菩薩云何行慈？」維摩詰言：「為眾生說如是法，是真實慈也。」

One must not claim they are real merely because transformative deeds are performed, nor claim that sentient beings genuinely exist merely because sentient beings are delivered. It is precisely because sentient beings are fundamentally empty that, being deluded and unaware, one preaches so they now awaken; if they had real substance, what benefit would there be in transforming them? Therefore the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa says: "Contemplate sentient beings as like illusions and magical transformations, like the moon in the water, like a mirror's reflection, like a tortoise's hair, like a hare's horns," and so forth. Mañjuśrī asked: "If so, how does a bodhisattva practice compassion?" Vimalakīrti said: "Preaching such Dharma for sentient beings is genuine compassion."