Why Should a Bodhisattva Not Abide in Forms When Generating Bodhicitta?

Original text: A bodhisattva should be free from all marks. They should generate the mind of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi. They should not let the mind arise abiding in form, nor let the mind arise abiding in sound, smell, taste, touch, or dharmas. They should generate a mind that abides nowhere. If the mind abides anywhere, it is improper abiding. Therefore, the Buddha says the mind of a bodhisattva should not abide in form when practicing giving. Subhuti, for the benefit of all sentient beings, a bodhisattva should practice giving in this manner.

Explanation: The Buddha says a bodhisattva should be free from all marks, generate the mind of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, not let the mind arise abiding in form, nor let the mind arise abiding in sound, smell, taste, touch, or dharmas. When generating the bodhi mind, one should give rise to a mind that abides nowhere. If the mind clings to anything, it is improper abiding, not true abiding. Therefore, the Buddha says the mind of a bodhisattva should not abide in form when practicing giving. Subhuti, for the benefit of all sentient beings, a bodhisattva should practice giving like this.

Why should a bodhisattva be free from all marks when generating the bodhi mind? Because generating the bodhi mind is for self-benefit and benefiting others, enabling sentient beings to jointly accomplish the Buddha Way, reach the other shore of nirvana, attain tranquil coolness, and abide in the state of emptiness. To realize such a state and attain such a realm, one must realize the true reality of the vajra mind, while simultaneously realizing the empty nature of all dharmas manifested by the vajra mind. Since all dharmas and marks are empty and unobtainable, generating the mind while abiding in marks, practicing while abiding in marks, or giving while abiding in marks all contradict the Buddha Way. One cannot attain bodhi, and neither worldly nor transcendental benefits can be gained. Therefore, when generating the bodhi mind, a bodhisattva should not seek various unobtainable worldly benefits, such as seeking a majestic appearance, seeking wealth and glory, seeking rebirth in heaven to enjoy blessings, seeking supernatural powers, seeking immortality, seeking the admiration of sentient beings, seeking to surpass others, seeking to become a wheel-turning sage king, seeking to become a heavenly lord, and so on. All these involve abiding in form, sound, smell, taste, touch, and dharmas. None can fulfill the great vow of bodhi or accomplish the great path of bodhi.

If a bodhisattva’s generated mind abides in these dharma marks, such abiding is improper, not in accordance with the truth, and the result is illusory and unobtainable — one cannot truly abide even while abiding. Therefore, when practicing giving, a bodhisattva should not abide in form, sound, smell, taste, touch, or dharmas, should not cling to dharma marks, and should not seek reward. Such giving is paramita, which can reach the other shore of nirvana.