大毘盧遮那成佛經疏 4.46

4.46

The verse says: 'Venerating the Three Jewels', which means giving rise to a sincere and humble mind toward the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṃgha, constantly delighting in approaching, making offerings to, respecting, and praising them. One should know that this person has causes and conditions of practicing the path in past lives, down to being like Sadāparibhūta Bodhisattva—this is called deeply respecting all sentient beings and having faith in the Buddha, Dharma, and Saṃgha Jewels. 'Adorning oneself with profound wisdom': such boundless dharmas of the buddhas, equal to space, cannot be sustained by the mental vessel of one of inferior wisdom; therefore, it is only to one who adorns himself with profound and sharp wisdom that one preaches them. 'Capable of forbearance without indolence': this has the meaning of being capable and competent, with nothing making him shrink back. The Sanskrit term is different from kṣānti; it means that regarding the causes and conditions of seeking the Dharma, although there are all kinds of hardships, he is capable of performing them all; even if he fails once, he resumes his pursuit to practice, like vowing to bail out the great ocean before stopping. If a person's temperament is like this, the Dharma can be transmitted to him. 'Pure and flawless śīla': this means that regarding the moral disciplines of the lay and monastic states, and even regarding the vows received in accordance with original nature, he deeply guards them without any violation or flaw in accordance with what he upholds. If he possesses such a nature, even when entering the great equal vow of the samaya, he will respectfully comply and not transgress; hence he is fit to receive transmission of the Dharma. 'Patient, without stinginess': this is divided into two phrases. 'Patient' means that toward internal and external adverse and favorable realms and the eight great winds, his mind is peacefully forbearing and unshakeable, as extensively explained under śīlapāramitā in the Prajñāpāramitā-śāstra. One should know that such a person will definitely not violate the grave prohibitions of a vidyādhara by engaging in conduct disadvantageous to sentient beings; hence he is fit to receive transmission of the Dharma. 'Without stinginess' means that regarding whatever wealth and dharma he possesses, he constantly thinks of bestowing them on others; if someone comes seeking them, his mind is without pettiness or stinginess, as extensively explained under dānapāramitā in the Prajñāpāramitā-śāstra. One should know that such a person will definitely not violate the grave prohibitions of a vidyādhara by being stingy with the true Dharma; hence he is fit to receive transmission. 'Valiant and firm in practices and vows': this is also divided into two phrases. 'Valiant' is the valiant bodhicitta lineage among an ācārya's virtues. When practicing the path, although encountering various terrifying sights and sounds, his mind is not timid; even in entering life and death, he has no fearful thoughts, directly conforming to what is practiced by great beings who are bodhisattvas; hence it should be transmitted to him. 'Firm in practices and vows': this is a vow of determination; the Sanskrit term is different from the meaning of aspiring for wishes. For instance, if one sets one's own determination to recite during the three times every day, then to the end of one's life, even though passing through various different circumstances, it is never interrupted. When an undertaking has a beginning and an end like this, when practicing the bodhisattva path he will also not fall short of his original vow; hence he is fit to receive transmission of the Dharma. However, if these ten virtues of a disciple described here are possessed in full, one should know that such a person is extremely rare; as long as he excels in one aspect and can be fashioned by a single craft, he should be adopted. Furthermore, just as when a śrāvaka receives full ordination, various obstructions are inspected—such as being too young, too old, having physical blemishes, various illnesses, and so forth—for fear of white-robed laity's censure, so they are readily screened out. Now this Mahāyāna is not like that: as long as the capacity for the path can be saved, although there may be other faults, none are taken into account.