釋禪波羅蜜次第法門 6.48

6.48

Answer: It is not so; this is the path of resolute conviction. When practitioners wish to train in this immeasurable mind of loving-kindness, they should first make an aspiration: 'May all sentient beings receive diverse kinds of happiness.' Taking the sign of a person experiencing happiness, they gather the mind and enter absorption, whereupon they see all sentient beings experiencing happiness. For example, when drilling for fire, one first uses soft grass, dry cow dung, and the like; as the fire grows stronger, it can burn large, damp logs. The initial arising of the mind of great loving-kindness is also like this. The fire when first born reaches only dear ones; as the mind of loving-kindness broadens, enemies and dear ones become equal, and all are seen experiencing happiness without any further signs of suffering. Furthermore, as all sentient beings transmigrate through the five destinies, happiness and suffering are unfixed: although there may be temporary happiness now, in the future there will surely be great suffering; though there may be great suffering now, in the future they will attain happiness. Although it is not yet so [at present], it will surely come to pass. Therefore practitioners, using the mind of resolute conviction, focus on everyone being happy, and do not fall into delusion. The minds of compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity are also like this.