坐禪三昧經 1.90

1.90

If the mind scatters and dwells in the five sense-objects or the six awarenesses, one should urge oneself on, discipline one's mind, and forcefully subdue it! One should reflect in this way: a human body is difficult to obtain, and the Buddha-Dharma is difficult to encounter. Therefore it is said: 'Among lights, the sun is foremost; among all wisdoms, the Buddha is foremost.' Why is this? The Buddha aroused great compassion and, constantly for the sake of all, gave his head, eyes, marrow, and brain to rescue sentient beings; how could one let one's mind wander, fail to concentrate on recollecting the Buddha, and be ungrateful for his heavy kindness? If the Buddha did not appear in the world, there would be no human path, heavenly path, or path to nirvāṇa. If someone makes offerings of incense and flowers, and builds stūpas with bones, flesh, blood, and marrow to make offerings, it is not as good as a practitioner making Dharma offerings and reaching nirvāṇa. Even so, one is still indebted to the Buddha's kindness. Even if one were to recollect the Buddha in vain and gain nothing, one should still diligently concentrate on recollecting him without forgetting, in order to repay the Buddha's kindness. How much more so when recollecting the Buddha brings various samādhis, wisdom, and the attainment of Buddhahood—how could one not concentrate on recollecting him?