法苑珠林 64.45

64.45

菩薩思惟。因彼乞者得證菩提。我今因施得無比樂。因中施樂猶尚如是。況無上菩提。如是乞者。其恩甚重。無以可報。若以財寶不足報恩。當以無上菩提而施與之。以我福故。願使乞者於將來世亦如我今成大施主得無上菩提。不念恩者無有悲心。若無悲心無有行施。若不施者不能濟度眾生生死。若不行施覆蔽悲心。如以書石乃知真偽。假使怨家亦如親友。

The bodhisattva reflects: “It is because of that beggar that I am able to realize bodhi. Now, because of giving, I obtain incomparable joy. If giving in the causal stage is already like this, how much more so unexcelled bodhi! The kindness of such beggars is extremely profound and cannot be repaid. If repaid with wealth and jewels, it would not suffice; I must give them unexcelled bodhi. By virtue of my merits, may it be that in future lives these beggars, like me now, become great donors and attain unexcelled bodhi!” One who does not remember kindness lacks a compassionate heart. Without a compassionate heart, there is no practice of giving. If one does not give, one cannot deliver sentient beings from saṃsāra. If one does not practice giving, one’s compassionate heart is obscured. Just as when inscribing stone one comes to know truth from falsity, one should treat even enemies as close friends.