釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 1.65

1.65

First, distinctive explanation: As for 'reaching the other shore', samsāra is this shore, nirvāṇa is the other shore, and defilements are the midstream. With signless sublime wisdom, the bodhisattva boards the boat of dhyāna concentration and crosses from this shore of samsāra over to the other shore of nirvāṇa. Thus we know that [this translation] explains pāramitā in terms of concentration on the principle. As for 'perfection of matters', this is the bodhisattva's great compassion universally cultivating to completion all practical activities for the sake of sentient beings. Hence the Mahāyāna[-śāstra] says: 'Because of dhyāna, the bodhisattva can bring all matters to completion; when dhyāna is in the bodhisattva's mind, it is called pāramitā.' This explains pāramitā based on practical activity. As for 'crossing over without limit', when matters and principle are discussed together, both possess a profound and distant meaning; combined, it is called 'crossing over without limit'. This explains pāramitā in terms of the completion of practices concerning both matters and principle.