大乘入道次第 1.13

1.13

Second, revealing its causes: according to the various sūtras and treatises, the causes are not singular; we shall briefly present an outline. Thus the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra states: 'Sentient beings accomplish sixteen kinds of dharmas and are thereby able to generate the mind of bodhi: 1. Constantly cultivating the higher mind, burnishing the faculties; 2. Diligently cultivating all virtues, adorning their qualities; 3. Upholding the precepts with an utmost mind, without generating regret or aversion; 4. Cultivating and gathering great compassion, taking pity on sentient beings; 5. Having faith that the Buddha, the World-Honoured One, possesses great loving-kindness and compassion; 6. For the sake of all sentient beings, undergoing and practicing all sufferings; 7. Being able to destroy all the afflictions and distress of sentient beings; 8. Subduing the faculties, endowed with right view; 9. Having no fear in mind, not seeking any existences; 10. Delighting in seeking the Buddha's wisdom, not delighting in the two vehicles; 11. Experiencing pleasure without arrogance, experiencing suffering without regret; 12. Revering wisdom, destroying haughtiness and arrogance; 13. Knowing gratitude and repaying gratitude; 14. Being endowed with physical strength; 15. Protecting and maintaining the true Dharma; 16. Ensuring the continuity of the Three Jewels.' Furthermore, the 'Bodhisattvabhūmi' of the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra states: 'A bodhisattva generates the mind through four conditions, four causes, and four powers.' Regarding the four conditions: 1. Seeing the wondrous transformations and mighty powers of the buddhas and bodhisattvas, or hearing of such matters from a trustworthy source; having heard this, they generate deep faith and understanding in great bodhi, and thereby generate the mind of great bodhi. 2. Although not seeing or hearing the supernormal powers and virtues of the buddhas and bodhisattvas, having heard the Bodhisattva Piṭaka they deeply believe it, and in order to attain the Tathāgata's subtle and wondrous wisdom, they generate the mind of bodhi. 3. Or there is a type who, although not seeing the Buddha or hearing such true Dharma expounded, sees that all the teachings of the Bodhisattva Piṭaka are about to vanish, and then reflects: 'The teachings of the Bodhisattva Piṭaka remain long in the world and are able to extract countless sentient beings from great suffering. I ought to uphold the teachings of the Bodhisattva Piṭaka.' Generating the mind of bodhi to extinguish the great suffering of countless sentient beings, through the predominant power of protecting the Bodhisattva Piṭaka, they generate deep faith and understanding in the Tathāgata's wisdom, and are thus able to generate the mind. 4. Or there is a type who, although not seeing that the true Dharma is about to vanish, in the final eon sees the bodies and minds of defiled and evil sentient beings tormented by the ten secondary afflictions—namely, great ignorance, great lack of shame, great lack of conscience, great stinginess and jealousy, great sorrow and suffering, great heaviness, great afflictions, great evil deeds, great heedlessness, great laziness, and great lack of faith. Having seen these things, they then reflect: 'The great defiled and evil age is arising right now, tormented by the secondary afflictions. Even those able to generate the inferior mind of a śrāvaka are hard to find, let alone those able to generate the mind directed toward unexcelled, perfect awakening! I ought to generate the mind of great bodhi, causing countless sentient beings in this evil age to emulate me and give rise to the vow of bodhi.' Through the predominant power of seeing that generating the mind is rare in an evil age, they generate the mind of bodhi. What are the four causes? 1. Bodhisattvas are fully endowed with the bodhisattva gotra. 2. They rely on the reception and support of good spiritual friends, the buddhas and bodhisattvas. 3. Toward all sentient beings, they frequently give rise to thoughts of compassion. 4. Through immensely long durations of the great suffering of saṃsāra, they have no cowardice or fear regarding difficult-to-practice austerities. What are the four powers? 1. Through their own power, bodhisattvas are able to give rise to deep love and delight toward unexcelled, perfect awakening. 2. Through the power of others, they give rise to deep love and delight. 3. Having habitually practiced wholesome dharmas corresponding to the Mahāyāna in past lives, when they now catch sight of buddhas and bodhisattvas for a moment, or momentarily hear praises and eulogies, they are instantly able to generate quickly the mind of great bodhi—how much more so if they witness supernormal powers or hear the true Dharma! 4. In the present life, they associate closely with good persons, listen to the true Dharma, reflect attentively, and cultivate manifold wholesome dharmas over a long period; through such preparatory application, they generate the mind of bodhi.