禪林寶訓 2.28

2.28

Lingyuan said, "The former philosophers said that in studying the Way, awakening to it is difficult; once awakened, guarding it is difficult; once guarded, practicing it is difficult. Now, when it comes time to practice, the difficulty surpasses even awakening and guarding. For awakening and guarding require vigor, firm resolve, and diligent exertion in one's own person alone. Only the practitioner must have an impartial mind and a resolute vow, taking it as their duty to diminish themselves and benefit others. If the mind is not impartial and the vow is not firm, then diminishing and benefiting will be inverted, and one will fall into becoming a common, worldly master. This is something that should be truly feared."