天台四教儀 1.37

1.37

Next, explaining the ranks of the bodhisattva: from the initial generation of the mind, taking the four truths as objects, one gives rise to the four universal vows and cultivates the practices of the six perfections. First, 'to cause those not yet ferried across to be ferried across', which is 'living beings are boundless, I vow to ferry them across', taking the truth of suffering as its object; second, 'to cause those not yet liberated to be liberated', which is 'afflictions are inexhaustible, I vow to sever them', taking the truth of origination as its object; third, 'to cause those not yet at peace to be at peace', which is 'dharma gates are measureless, I vow to learn them', taking the truth of the path as its object; fourth, 'to cause those who have not yet attained nirvāṇa to attain nirvāṇa', which is 'the Buddha Way is supreme, I vow to achieve it', taking the truth of cessation as its object. Having already generated the mind, one must perform practices to fulfill the vows: throughout three asaṃkhyeya kalpas one cultivates the practices of the six perfections, and for one hundred kalpas one plants the causes for the marks and signs.