摩訶止觀 7.108

7.108

若大象王，雖聞圍合不忍獨去，自知力大堪遮刀箭，守護其子，令群安隱得免傷害。菩薩如是。無常、無我諸觀明時，怖畏切心，如蹈水火。又起慈悲，如母念子。眾生盲冥不覺苦燒，我今云何棄之獨去？安耐生死，以智方便教化淳熟，作得度因緣；於自功德、法身、慧命展轉增長。有緣機熟，即坐道場成佛，與眾生共出三界。如彼大象自他俱安。

It is like a great elephant king who, although hearing the encirclement closing, cannot bear to leave alone; knowing his own great strength can withstand swords and arrows, he protects his calves, causing the herd to be secure and escape harm. The bodhisattva is like this. When the contemplations of impermanence and non-self are clear, fear cuts to the heart, as if treading on water and fire. Yet compassion arises, like a mother thinking of her child. Sentient beings are blind and in darkness, unaware of the burning of suffering; how can I abandon them and depart alone now? Enduring birth and death, by means of wisdom and skillful means teaching and transforming them to maturity, creating the conditions for their deliverance; regarding their own merits, the dharmakāya and wisdom-life progressively increase. When the conditions and capacities ripen, they sit at the bodhimaṇḍa and attain Buddhahood, transcending the three realms together with sentient beings. Like that great elephant, both self and others are secure.