安樂集 1.55

1.55

答曰：「依《智度論》云：『新發意菩薩機解軟弱，雖言發心，多願生淨土。何意然者？譬如嬰兒，若不近父母恩養，或墮阬、落井，火、蛇等難，或乏乳而死。要假父母摩洗養育，方可長大能紹繼家業。菩薩亦爾，若能發菩提心，多願生淨土，親近諸佛，增長法身，方能匡紹菩薩家業，十方濟運。為斯益故，多願生也。』又彼論云：『譬如鳥子翅翮未成，不可逼令高翔，先須依林傅樹，羽成有力，方可捨林遊空。新發意菩薩亦爾，先須乘願，求生佛前，法身成長，隨感赴益。』又阿難白佛言：『此無相波羅蜜在何處說？』佛言：『如此法門在阿毘跋致地中說。何以故？有新發意菩薩，聞此無相波羅蜜門，所有清淨善根悉當滅沒也。』又來但至彼國，即一切事畢，何用諍此深淺理也？」

I reply: According to the Da zhidu lun: 'Bodhisattvas who have newly aroused the aspiration have weak capacities and understanding; though they are said to have aroused the aspiration, they mostly vow to be reborn in the Pure Land. For what reason? For example, an infant, if not kept close to the loving care of its parents, may fall into a pit or well, encounter dangers like fire or snakes, or die from lack of milk. It must rely on its parents' nursing and upbringing before it can grow up and succeed to the family estate. The bodhisattva is also like this: if they can arouse bodhicitta, they mostly vow to be reborn in the Pure Land, to be intimate with all Buddhas and increase the dharmakāya; only then can they sustain and continue the bodhisattva's family estate and deliver beings across the ten directions. Because of this benefit, they mostly vow to be reborn there.' That treatise also says: 'For example, when a fledgling's wings are not yet formed, one cannot force it to soar high; it must first rely on the forest and cling to trees, and only when its feathers are grown and strong can it leave the forest to roam the sky. The bodhisattva who has newly aroused the aspiration is also like this: they must first rely on vows to seek rebirth before the Buddha, so that their dharmakāya matures, and only then respond to calls to bring benefit.' Furthermore, Ānanda addressed the Buddha, saying: 'Where is this formless pāramitā expounded?' The Buddha said: 'Such a Dharma gate is expounded on the avaivartika stage. Why? If there are bodhisattvas who have newly aroused the aspiration and hear this formless pāramitā gate, all their pure roots of goodness will be destroyed.' Furthermore, once one simply reaches that realm, all matters are completed; what need is there to dispute these deep and shallow principles?