大方廣佛華嚴經疏 28.31

28.31

Twenty-four: Giving wives, children, and so forth, and rescuing prisoners from jail: what preceded all explained external giving; the two sections below explain the giving of fearlessness. The first combines internal and external wealth. Internal wealth is difficult, and therefore the Abhiniṣkramaṇa-sūtra states: 'Long ago, five hundred sons of elders each relinquished precious jewels and other gifts. There was a poor man who was asked what vow he sought; he replied that he wished to seek the Buddha path. Thereupon he reflected on his own poverty and lack, smeared his body with honey, and abandoned himself in a charnel ground. The Lord of Gods tested him, but his mind remained calm and unmoved. Knowing that he sought the fruit of Buddhahood, he praised him, saying: "Your bravery here surpasses the gifts of those five hundred bodhisattvas by a hundred thousand koṭis of times; you shall become a Buddha first." That poor man was none other than myself.' Thus we know it is the most difficult among the difficult. The practice of giving has three parts: first, seeing the situation and giving rise to compassion; second, from 'like the Great Compassionate One' onward, pointing to the same precedent—the Great Compassionate One is Avalokiteśvara, because he specifically presides over this approach. Citing precedents in the text below should all be understood in accordance with this. Finally, from 'having rescued and delivered' onward, giving with wealth and Dharma. The ten vows of the pariṇāmanā practice can be easily understood by reflecting accordingly.