大乘正宗分第三
佛告須菩提,諸菩薩摩訶薩,應如是降 伏其心。所有一切眾生之類,若卵生、若胎生、若濕生、若化生、若有色、若無色若有想、若無 想、若非有想、若非無想,我皆令入無餘涅槃而滅度之。如是滅度,無量無數無邊眾生,實無眾生 得滅度者。何以故？須菩提！ 若菩薩有我相、人相、眾生相、壽者相,即非菩薩。
My rendition: the corner stone of Mahayana
Buddha said to Subhuti: “All Bodhisattvas and Mahasattvas (high Bobhisattvas) listen, this is where to put one's restless heart. All the different types of sentient beings, whether they are born from eggs, from wombs, from moisture, or by transformation; whether or not they have form; whether they have thoughts or no thoughts, or have neither thought nor non-thought, I compassionately vow to lead them into Nirvana. When immeasurable, countless, infinite numbers of sentient beings have been led into Nirvana, yet in reality, not even one sentient being (have I perceived) as having been led . Why is this so? Subhuti.
If a Bodhisattva perceives beings as absolute self, persons, sentient beings, or elders, he is not a Bodhisattva.”
Paul's comment: Without a proper understanding of the previous chapter, a reader, interpreter or translator will fail to understand this chapter, making his interpretation or translation lacking in profound meaning. And readers will ponder: what the Buddha was talking about?
The Buddha had been talking about using himself as an example (or model) as to where to put one's restless heart. The Buddha's compassion was great, he vowed to lead all sentient beings into Nirvana, yet his didn't see any of his effort as discrete, countable or measurable. Great humility indeed!
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