釋門歸敬儀 2.48

2.48

Above, diligence and indolence have been fully clarified, and their marks are complete. Confused ordinary beings in this lower defiled realm mostly harbor twisted views; before they can put things into practice, they first give rise to slander and doubt. Therefore, I have set forth the various sūtras to block rigid attachments. May those practitioners with aspiration know that my intention lies here. Thus we know that beginners and latecomers must rely on masters and good friends. Now, taking refuge in the Three Jewels, one should constantly delight in drawing near to them. Therefore, the Da zhidu lun states: 'If a bodhisattva has not yet entered the stage of the Dharma and remains distant from the Buddhas, he will destroy his roots of goodness and sink into afflictions; being unable to cross himself over, how could he cross others over? Therefore, he should not be distant from the Buddhas. Just as an infant does not leave its mother, a traveler on the road does not leave provisions, in hot weather one does not leave a cool breeze, in cold weather one does not wish to leave fire, crossing water one does not leave a good boat, and when sick and suffering one does not leave a good physician, so a bodhisattva constantly does not leave the Buddha. Why? Parents, relatives and friends, kings of humans and gods, and the like, cannot benefit me by crossing me over the oceans of suffering; only the Buddha, the World-Honoured One, can cause me to escape suffering. For this reason, one should constantly be mindful of not leaving the Buddhas.'