大乘入道次第 1.14

1.14

Third, in revealing its mental mode (ākāra), aspiration is its characteristic mode. Aspiration is twofold: first, seeking bodhi; second, seeking to benefit sentient beings. Therefore, the Yogācārabhūmi-śāstra states: "When a bodhisattva gives rise to the mind that seeks bodhi, he generates such a mind and speaks these words: 'May I determinately realize unexcelled, perfect awakening and be able to bring about all welfare and benefit for sentient beings.'" It also says: "At the initial generation of the mind, one gives rise to two kinds of excellent, supreme intentions toward sentient beings: first, the intention of benefit, which means wishing to rescue sentient beings from unwholesome places and establish them in wholesome places; second, the intention of peace and happiness, which means, toward sentient beings who are destitute, destitute of refuge and protection, wishing, with a mind free of defilement, to provide them with various beneficial requisites of happiness." Furthermore, the Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra discusses generating the mind and dwelling in practice through four meanings: first, the vast mind, wherein the four types of birth and the three realms are all those to be crossed over through compassion; second, the supreme mind, which causes sentient beings all to attain the superior fruit of nirvāṇa without residue; third, the constant mind, wherein although one crosses over sentient beings, one does not see characteristics of sentient beings outside one's own body, as they are all identical with one's own body, and therefore one can constantly cross over all sentient beings; fourth, the non-perverted mind, wherein one does not give rise to the grasping at self that grasps that there are selves, others, sentient beings, a soul, and so forth. All these teachings take the determinate aspiration for the two benefits as the mental mode of generating the bodhimind.