法苑珠林 64.38

64.38

As the Great Vaipulya Mahāsaṃnipāta Sūtra states, the Buddha said: “In the past, for the sake of all sentient beings, I practiced the bodhisattva conduct. For the sake of this Dharma-eye, I generated a mind of great compassion toward all sentient beings, relinquishing the blood of my own body like the great ocean to give to seekers. I relinquished heads, eyes, and ears [piled high] like Mount Vipula; I relinquished noses, tongues, and the like, amounting to ten droṇas; I relinquished hands, feet, and the like [piled high] like Mount Vipula; I gave away skin sufficient to cover one Jambudvīpa. I also relinquished immeasurable elephants, horses, male and female slaves, wives and children, as well as royal thrones, kingdoms, cities, palaces, and hamlets, to give to seekers. In the presence of all Buddhas, I received and upheld the prohibitive precepts without transgression. Before each and every Buddha, I made immeasurable offerings; from each and every Buddha, I received immeasurable nayutas of hundreds of thousands of Dharma gates, receiving, upholding, reading, reciting, and skillfully cultivating samādhi. I also revered immeasurable noble beings of the three vehicles and four fruits, parents, teachers, elders, and those afflicted with illness and suffering. For those without protection, I served as a protector; for those without refuge, I served as a refuge; for those without direction, I served as a guide, establishing them in peace. Having done so through three great asaṃkhyeya kalpas, out of pity for all afflicted sentient beings, I aroused a great, firm, and valiant resolve, cultivating the practice of unsurpassed bodhi for a long time. Now, in this blind and benighted world, in an era lacking the Great Guide and scarce of Dharma, amidst such sentient beings as these, I gave rise to the resolve wishing to attain anuttarasamyaksaṃbodhi, desiring to cause them not to regress in the bodhi of the three vehicles, and wishing further to deliver the sentient beings of the three evil destinies, establishing them on the good paths and in the bliss of nirvāṇa.”