釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 6.43

6.43

Regarding the mind accompanied by compassion: while in the absorption of benevolence, the practitioner constantly thinks of wishing to give happiness to sentient beings; arising from the absorption of benevolence, they still see sentient beings experiencing various bodily sufferings and mental sufferings, and feelings of pity arise in their mind, whereupon they reflect: "Sentient beings are pitiable; let them not experience these various bodily sufferings and mental sufferings." They further reflect: "Now I have no [spiritual] eyes; within the five destinies, dear ones, neutral persons, and hostile persons all experience various bodily and mental sufferings, yet I neither know nor see them, being indolent through the long night, without generating the resolve to rescue them." Having made this reflection, they generate a vow: "If there are sentient beings experiencing various sufferings, I vow to perceive them all within absorption and diligently rescue and protect them." Having made this vow, they immediately enter dhyāna absorption, and using a mind purified by concentrated mindfulness, they first grasp the characteristic of a beloved dear person experiencing suffering, tying their mind and focusing on it. If distracting thoughts arise, one gathers them and makes them return, causing the mental conceptualization to be distinctly clear, their mind full of pity and compassionate concern without limit; extending in this way to neutral, hostile, and resented persons, to one direction and even ten directions, to one destiny and even the five destinies likewise. This is a brief explanation of the method of cultivating compassion.