大乘入道次第 1.19

1.19

八辨其喻者，《大集經》云：「譬如小寶亦不可輕。何以故？如是小寶能作大事，多所利益。菩薩亦爾，初發心時亦不可輕。」又云：「如餘小王，一切悉屬轉輪聖王。一切人天亦復如是，悉來歸屬初發心菩薩。」又云：「無苷蔗子，則無種種石蜜諸味。若無菩提心者，亦無種種三寶諸味。」又頌云：「若有菩薩勤精進，即能破壞諸煩惱。如火能焚乾草木，菩提心能燒煩惱。」又《發菩提心經論》云：「菩薩初始發心，譬如大海初漸起時。當知為彼下中上價乃至無價如意寶珠而作住處，此寶皆依大海生故。菩薩發心亦復如是，為三乘人禪定、智慧一切功德之所生處。又如三千大千世界初漸起時，當知便為二十五有，其中所有一切眾生悉皆荷負，作依止處。菩薩亦爾，一切初漸起時，普為一切無量眾生，六道四生乃至四姓，一切荷負，作依止處。」又《大莊嚴論》廣有喻事，恐繁不引。

Eighth, in discerning its metaphors, the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra states: "Just as a small jewel must not be looked down upon—why? because such a small jewel can accomplish great deeds and bring much benefit—bodhisattvas are also like this: when they initially generate the mind, they must not be looked down upon either." It also says: "Just as all other minor kings are subordinate to a wheel-turning sage king, all humans and devas are likewise all subordinate to a bodhisattva who initially generates the mind." It also says: "Without sugar-cane seeds, there would be no various flavors of rock candy. If there were no bodhimind, there would likewise be no various flavors of the Three Jewels." Another verse states: "If a bodhisattva is diligent and energetic, / He can immediately destroy all afflictions. / Just as fire can burn dry grass and wood, / The bodhimind can burn afflictions." Furthermore, the Bodhicittotpādasūtra-śāstra states: "A bodhisattva's initial generation of the mind is like the great ocean when it first gradually begins to form. One should know that it serves as the dwelling place for wish-fulfilling gems of low, medium, superior, or even priceless value, because these gems are all produced in reliance on the great ocean. A bodhisattva's generation of the mind is also like this: it serves as the place of origin for all the merits of dhyāna and wisdom of the people of the three vehicles. Furthermore, it is like the trichiliocosm when it first gradually begins to form: one should know that it supports and serves as a locus of reliance for the twenty-five states of existence and all the sentient beings within them. A bodhisattva is also like this: when he first gradually initiates everything, he universally supports and serves as a locus of reliance for all immeasurable sentient beings, across the six destinies, four forms of birth, and down to the four castes." In addition, the Mahālaṅkāra-śāstra contains extensive metaphorical examples, but they are not cited here for fear of verbosity.