大乘起信論裂網疏 6.25

6.25

This refers precisely to Samantabhadra's Ten Great Vows, as well as the repentance practice demonstrated by the Great Being Kṣitigarbha in the Divination Sūtra, and the method of practicing the path through the ten items in the various samādhis of the Lotus and Vaipulya [sūtras]. Regarding the ten vows: first, to pay homage to all Buddhas; second, to praise the Tathāgatas; third, to vastly cultivate offerings; fourth, to repent of karmic obstructions; fifth, to rejoice in merit—the sequence differs slightly, but all can be understood; sixth, to request the turning of the wheel of the Dharma; seventh, to request that the Buddhas remain in the world, which are here subsumed under 'entreating'; eighth, to always follow and learn from the Buddhas; ninth, to constantly accord with sentient beings, which are here subsumed under 'making vows'; tenth, to universally dedicate all [merits], which is here 'dedicating to unsurpassed bodhi'. Regarding the ten items: first, purifying the bodhimaṇḍa; second, purifying the three karmas, up to the tenth, seated meditation, and so forth. In the protocols for the various samādhis, their expansions and contractions differ, and their elaboration and brevity vary, which I have no leisure to recount here. Only offerings, praise, and paying homage must certainly be fully present, whereas the five matters from repentance downward are combined into a single item, collectively named the 'five repentances'—meaning that repentance can extinguish karmic obstructions, entreaty can extinguish māra obstructions, rejoicing can extinguish the obstruction of jealousy, dedication can extinguish the obstruction of clinging to the two extremes, and making vows can extinguish the obstruction of frequent regression and forgetfulness; thus they are named the five repentances. Since it says 'practicing the path at the six times [of the day and night]', both principle and practice must assist each other for it to succeed. Be careful not to rely merely on personal opinions or be careless, and especially do not use this to seek profit and fame, so that evil karmic obstructions may be extinguished and good roots may grow.