觀音義疏 1.8

1.8

As for "bodhisattva," in the foreign language it is called mahābodhicittasattva, which is translated here as "sentient being with the mind of the Great Way." A practitioner of initial mind is born of afflictions; the two vehicles are born of the fivefold dharma body; the bodhisattvas of the six perfections are born of merit; those of the Separate and Perfect [teachings] are born of the middle way. Hence the Dapin jing says: "The body of the Tathāgata is not born from a single cause or a single condition." A bodhisattva is born from manifold practices, hence called a "sentient being" (sattva); arousing the mind to seek the Buddha, he is therefore said to be "for the Great Way" (bodhi). Benefiting all, he perfects others through the path of the Dharma, or it is said he perfects sentient beings. The broad explanation of the meaning of bodhisattva is as in the separate record.