摩訶止觀 2.23

2.23

Regarding the exhortation to practice: if someone wishes to attain wisdom like the great ocean, so that none can act as their teacher, and sitting right here without exercising supernatural powers, completely see all Buddhas, completely hear what they expound, and completely be able to accept and uphold it, then the constantly walking samādhi is foremost among all merits. This samādhi is the mother of all Buddhas, the eye of the Buddhas, the father of the Buddhas, and the great compassionate mother of non-arising; all Tathāgatas are born from these two dharmas. If one were to pulverize the earth, grasses, and trees of a great trichiliocosm into dust particles, each particle becoming a buddha-land, and filled with jewels throughout these worlds, give them in almsgiving, the merit would be exceedingly great; yet it is not equal to hearing of this samādhi without fear or dread, how much less to having faith, accepting and upholding, reading and reciting, and expounding it for others? How much less to cultivating it with a settled mind for the time it takes to milk a cow? How much less to being able to accomplish this samādhi? Therefore [its merit] is immeasurable and boundless. The Vibhāṣā says: "That the fire of the kalpa, official bandits, poisonous resentment, dragons, wild beasts, or various diseases should harm this person—there is no such possibility. This person is constantly protected and remembered, praised and extolled by the eight classes of devas and nāgas and all Buddhas. All wish to see him, and all come to his dwelling." If upon hearing of this samādhi, one rejoices in accordance with the fourfold merits above, the Buddhas and bodhisattvas of the three periods of time will all rejoice in accordance, surpassing the previous fourfold merits. If one does not cultivate such a dharma, one loses immeasurable heavy treasures, and humans and devas grieve and sorrow for it. It is like an anosmic person holding sandalwood without smelling it; like a peasant boy trading a cintāmaṇi jewel for an ox (and so forth).