起信論疏筆削記 4.21

4.21

In the Commentary, from "yet the myriad" downward, third, resolving an objection. Someone might say: "The Buddha possesses immeasurable merits; why only cite great compassion?" Hence this resolves it. "Myriad virtues" refers to the three knowledges, the eight liberations, the five eyes, the six supernormal powers, the ten powers, the four fearlessnesses, the eighteen unshared dharmas, and so forth. The Buddha's virtues are immeasurable; now speaking of "myriad" is merely citing a round number, because the virtues of the original nature are immeasurable, so the virtues manifested in the fruit are also immeasurable. As for "great compassion as power" and so forth: according to what the Āgamas say, in general, power has six kinds: a child's is crying, a woman's is anger, a king's is pride, a śramaṇa's is patience, an arhat's is vigor, and a Buddha's is great kindness and compassion. When the Buddha was about to attain right awakening, the demon army arrived in great force; the Buddha entered the concentration of kindness, and the demons forthwith retreated and were defeated. How much more so since great kindness and compassion is the essence of the Buddha's mind; hence the sūtra says: "The Buddha's mind is precisely great kindness and compassion." Now praying for protective empowerment, it is logically appropriate to praise it.