釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 6.37

6.37

Regarding "cultivated well": this means the benevolent mind is firm and solid. When first attaining benevolence, it is not called cultivated well; it is not called cultivated well merely within beloved sentient beings, nor merely within good sentient beings, nor merely within benefiting one sentient being, nor merely within sentient beings of one direction. When the practitioner maintains affection and aversion equally without difference among the nine kinds of persons—superior dear ones, middling dear ones, inferior dear ones, superior neutral persons, middling neutral persons, inferior neutral persons, inferior hostile ones, middling hostile ones, and superior hostile ones—and even extends affectionate regard among sentient beings of the five destinies, viewing them with a single benevolent mind as father and mother, as brothers, children, nephews, and good friends, constantly seeking good things, wishing to bring them benefit, peace, and happiness, and such a mind pervades the ten directions, this is called cultivated well. Furthermore, if one only gives sentient beings the happiness of the desire realm, it is not called cultivated well; if one only gives the happiness of the first dhyāna, it is not called cultivated well; if one only gives the happiness of the second dhyāna, it is not called cultivated well. If one is able to fully give the happiness of the desire realm up to the happiness of the third and fourth dhyānas, this is called cultivated well. Such a benevolent mind is called conditioned upon sentient beings. It may be the sphere of action of ordinary persons, or learners whose defilements are not yet exhausted also practice this compassion to harmonize the mind, obtain great merit, and enter undefiledness.