四明尊者教行錄 4.53

4.53

Answer: If we discuss creating good and evil causes that incur retributions of suffering and joy, that is indeed due to sentient beings and does not concern the Buddha. But if we consider using matters of suffering and joy to subdue and embrace sentient beings, that is manifested by the Buddha and does not concern sentient beings. Truly, because those who should be cured through suffering are only then able to receive transformation, the Buddhas enact it for them. Just as former kings established punishments, was it that they wished to inflict suffering on the common people? It was out of supreme benevolence! The Buddhas are also like this: for the sake of subduing and embracing, they forcefully manifest it. Furthermore, although sentient beings dwell in lands of suffering and joy, they do not attain mastery therein. The Buddhas can transform them in this regard; hence it is said to be due to the Buddha. Moreover, the Buddha is the Buddha of sentient beings, and sentient beings are the sentient beings of the Buddha. Thus it is said that within the minds of sentient beings, the Buddhas thought-moment by thought-moment realize reality; within the minds of the Buddhas, sentient beings afresh and anew create karma. From this we know that if we discuss sentient beings, everything at that moment belongs to sentient beings; if we bring up the Buddha, everything at that moment belongs to the Buddha. By this principle, the sūtra therefore says: 'Now this triple world is entirely my possession, and the sentient beings within it are all my children.'