勸發菩提心集 2.24

2.24

Furthermore, the bodhisattva thinks to himself: 'I should uphold the precepts, and by the retribution of these precepts, for the sake of all sentient beings, become a wheel-turning king, or become a king of Jambudvīpa, or become a heavenly king, to cause all sentient beings to be fully satisfied with wealth without any lack. Afterward, sitting under the Bodhi tree, I will subdue the demon king, realize the unsurpassed path, and preach the pure Dharma for all sentient beings, causing immeasurable sentient beings to cross over the ocean of aging, sickness, and death.' This is the condition of upholding the precepts engendering dānapāramitā. The rest should be explained according to principle. Now, the precepts are likened to an old man, and patience is likened to a staff; without a staff, one stumbles. Patience is the staff for the precepts, supporting a person to reach the path. That the precepts engender diligence means: a person who upholds the precepts grows weary and disgusted with the suffering of the world and the afflictions of aging, sickness, and death; his mind gives rise to vigor, resolutely seeking his own liberation and also to deliver others. For example, a jackal among the trees of a forest follows behind lions and tigers and dogs, seeking their leftover meat to sustain its own life. Sometimes running short of food, in the middle of the night it leaps over city walls to enter human dwellings, but failing to find meat, it sleeps and rests in a secluded place. Unaware of the break of dawn, it is terrified and at a loss: to flee, it fears it cannot escape; to stay, it fears the agony of death. It then steadies its mind and feigns death on the ground. People come and see it, and one person says: 'I need the jackal's ear.' He immediately cuts it off and takes it. The jackal thinks to itself: 'Though cutting the ear hurts, as long as my body remains, it is fine.' Next, a person says: 'I need the jackal's tail.' He then cuts it off. The jackal again thinks: 'Though cutting the tail hurts, it is still a small matter.' Next, a person says: 'I need the jackal's fangs.' The jackal thinks in its mind: 'Those who take parts are becoming more numerous; if someone takes my head, there will be no way to live.' It immediately springs up from the ground, exerts its wit and strength, leaps over the barriers, and directly manages to save itself. The practitioner's mind seeking liberation from suffering and difficulty is also like this. If when old age arrives he still relaxes himself, he cannot endure toil with resolute vigor. Sickness is also like this: because there is an expectation of recovery, he has not yet made a resolute plan. When death is about to arrive, knowing there is no hope, he then rouses himself, becomes brave and earnest, cultivates great vigor, and from the jaws of death manages to reach nirvāṇa. In the explanation of the pāramitā of patience it is said that the wound of gain and offerings is especially deep, and one should especially practice patience. For instance, though Devadatta succeeded in going forth, the Buddha and the five hundred great arhats did not teach him to cultivate supernormal powers. Ānanda had not yet attained knowledge of others' minds; out of respect for his elder brother, relying on what the Buddha had taught, he taught him to cultivate supernormal powers. Having attained supernormal powers, he manifested transformations, sought disciples, and so forth; contemplate this as explained at length.