金剛般若經依天親菩薩論贊略釋秦本義記卷上 1.14

1.14

Sūtra: 'The Tathāgata well protects and is mindful of the bodhisattvas, and well entrusts and charges the bodhisattvas.' / Second, this specifically praises his virtues. 'Tathāgata' brings forth the Buddha's first epithet. 'Tathā' (Thusness) is the realized dharma; 'āgata' (Come) is the realizing wisdom. Through wisdom realizing true thusness, he comes and accomplishes right awakening; hence he is called Tathāgata. 'Well protects and is mindful of the bodhisattvas' means that for bodhisattvas whose faculties are mature, the Buddha himself protects and is mindful of them, causing them to accomplish the Buddha's dharmas of merit, identical to the Buddha's own practice of self-benefit, and the dharmas of transforming sentient beings, identical to the Buddha's practice of benefiting others. 'Entrusts and charges' means that for bodhisattvas whose faculties are not yet mature, the Buddha entrusts them to those bodhisattvas whose faculties are mature, charging them to instruct and guide them, so that those who have attained the Great Vehicle do not regress, and those who have not yet attained the Great Vehicle advance in practice. Bodhisattvas from the lineage stage onward are called those whose faculties are mature; bodhisattvas prior to the lineage stage are called those whose faculties are not yet mature.