What Dharmas Do Bodhisattvas Cultivate?
直心是菩薩法 深心是菩薩法
發心是菩薩法 降魔是菩薩法
菩薩雖然有無量法門，而歸納之則有四弘誓願、四無量心、四攝法、六波羅蜜等……。是一切菩薩發菩提心，成就無上正等正覺，所應實踐的法門。
略述四弘誓願：
所謂大乘四弘誓願，即是依苦、集、滅、道，四聖諦而發起的深誓弘願。
一、因為眾生多苦，所以發願眾生無邊誓願度。
二、因為苦由業集，所以發願煩惱無盡誓願斷。
三、為令眾生向道，所以發願無量法門誓願學。
四、為使眾生證果，所以發願佛道無上誓願成。
修習苦、集、滅、道四聖諦，而發菩提心的大乘菩薩，就要以四弘誓願，來弘揚四聖諦的真義。
資料來源：心靈甘露(四)，隆門圓通法師著。英文翻譯：張惠平。
What Dharmas Do Bodhisattvas Cultivate?
A straightforward heart is the Bodhisattva Dharma.
A deep heart is the Bodhisattva Dharma.
Making vows is the Bodhisattva Dharma.
Subduing devils is the Bodhisattva Dharma.
Bodhisattvas are cultivating countless Dharma approaches, but, to sum up, they are the Four Great Vows, the Four Boundless Hearts, the Four Absorbing Approaches, the Six Perfections, and so on. These are the approaches that all Bodhisattvas should fulfill when they make up their Bodhi minds to achieve anuttara-samyak-saṃbodhi.
The Four Great Vows are briefly described as follows:
The Four Great Vows are made according to the Four Noble Truths—sufferings, accumulation, extinction, and the Path.
- Because sentient beings are suffering so much, I vow to rescue the countless sentient beings.
- Because sufferings are accumulated by karmas, I vow to sever the endless afflictions.
- In order to make sentient beings face toward the Path, I vow to learn the boundless Dharma approaches.
- In order to make sentient beings attain and confirm the fruit, I vow to achieve the supreme Buddha Path.
The Great Vehicle Bodhisattvas who practice sufferings, accumulation, extinction, and the Path and make up the Bodhi mind will expound the true significance of the Four Noble Truths with the Four Great Vows.
Source: Sweet Dew for the Soul (Vol. IV), Written by Master Shih Longmen Yuantong. Translated by Huei Ping Chang.