摩訶止觀 7.179

7.179

修行至此，審自斟酌，智力強盛，須廣利益，如大象押群。若其不然，且當安忍深修三昧，行成力著為化不晚。《大論》云：「菩薩以度人為事，云何深山自善？答曰：『如服藥將身，體康復業；身雖遠離，心不遠離。』」若至六根清淨，名「初依人」，有所說法亦可信受。一音遍滿，聞者歡喜，是化他位也。若此時不出，強軟兩賊無如之何，自行轉成，於他有辦。大象捍挌，刀箭無施；日光照世，長氷自冶。此即安忍之力焉。

When practice reaches this point, one should carefully assess oneself: only if one's power of wisdom is strong and flourishing should one broadly benefit others, like a great elephant leading the herd. If this is not the case, one should patiently endure and deeply cultivate samādhi; once practice is accomplished and power is evident, transforming others will not be too late. The Mahāprajñāpāramitopadeśa says: 'A bodhisattva makes saving people his business; why should he cultivate himself in deep mountains? The answer is: “It is like taking medicine to care for the body: once the physique is restored to health, one returns to work. Though the body is far away, the mind is not far away.”' If one reaches the purity of the six sense faculties, one is called 'the first person of refuge'; what one expounds can be trusted and accepted. A single voice pervades everywhere, and those who hear it rejoice; this is the stage of transforming others. If one does not venture forth at this time, neither the strong nor the soft thieves can do anything against one; one's own practice advances toward completion, and one will succeed with respect to others. When a great elephant resists, knives and arrows are of no avail; when the sun shines upon the world, perennial ice melts on its own. This is the power of patient endurance.