勸發菩提心集 3.86

3.86

In the twelfth [chapter] of the Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra, the bodhisattva has seven resemblances of benefactors: first, resembling a mother; second, resembling a father; third, resembling a good friend; fourth, resembling a companion; fifth, resembling a capable slave; sixth, resembling an ācārya; seventh, resembling an upādhyāya. Resembling a mother: just as a loving mother performs five beneficial actions for her child—first, bearing the child in the womb; second, giving birth; third, nurturing; fourth, preventing harm; fifth, teaching speech. The bodhisattva's five actions of benefiting sentient beings are also like this: first, facing sentient beings with an impartial mind; second, giving birth to them in noble grounds; third, nurturing wholesome roots; fourth, protecting against unwholesome actions; fifth, teaching and training them with extensive learning. Just as a loving father performs five kinds of beneficial actions for his child: first, planting seeds; second, teaching crafts; third, arranging a marriage; fourth, entrusting to a good friend; fifth, settling debts so that there is no repayment later. The bodhisattva's five actions are also like this: first, causing them to arouse faith as the seed of the noble substance; second, causing them to train in the higher morality and higher meditation as crafts; third, causing them to attain the joy of liberation as arranging a marriage; fourth, causing them to entreat the Buddhas as good friends; fifth, blocking all obstacles as settling debts. Just as a good friend performs five beneficial actions for oneself: first, concealing secret matters; second, causing evil deeds to be severed; third, praising good deeds; fourth, assisting in endeavors; fifth, warding off habituation to evil deeds. There are four kinds of evil deeds: first, hunting; second, sexual misconduct; third, indulgence in alcohol; fourth, gambling. The bodhisattva's five actions are also like this: first, concealing profound explanations from those who are not proper vessels; second, reproving precept-breakers according to the Dharma; third, praising those who possess the precepts with wholesome [words]; fourth, instructing practitioners to swiftly realize [the goal]; fifth, immediately making them aware of demonic affairs. Just as a wise companion performs five beneficial actions for oneself: first, providing happiness; second, providing benefit; third, constantly providing happiness; fourth, constantly providing benefit; fifth, not departing. The bodhisattva's five actions are likewise: first, providing non-perverted happiness, which is called happiness for mundane accomplishments, because by this one obtains pleasant feeling; second, providing non-perverted benefit, which is called benefit for supramundane accomplishments, because by this one counters the disease of afflictions. The remaining three can be understood. Just as a capable slave performs five beneficial actions for the master: first, exhausting all efforts; second, being truthful without deception; third, enduring all beatings and scoldings; fourth, doing work meticulously and well; fifth, being clever and resourceful in expedient means. The bodhisattva is also like this: first, maturing sentient beings; second, revealing the essential path of transcendence; third, enduring all evil matters; fourth, providing mundane happiness; fifth, providing supramundane benefit. Just as an ācārya performs five beneficial actions for a disciple: first, teaching dharmas; second, demonstrating the swift and essential; third, having a relaxed countenance in body; fourth, having affectionate speech in mouth; fifth, having no expectations in mind. Just as an upādhyāya performs five beneficial actions for a disciple: first, enabling ordination; second, conferring the precepts; third, prohibiting and cutting off faults; fourth, sustaining with material goods; fifth, instructing with the Dharma. The bodhisattva is likewise: first, causing fulfillment of the two accumulations; second, causing attainment of liberation; third, causing severance of all obstacles; fourth, providing mundane happiness; fifth, providing supramundane benefit.