Amitabha Buddha is
the great king who presides over Pure Land,
the great boatman who ferries beings across, and
the great shepherd who protects beings on the way.
- Anonone
The Courage of a King: A king's first priority is
to overcome all his rivals, promote those who support him and
proclaim himself sovereign. Only after that does his wish to take
care of his subjects come into effect. Similarly, the wish first to attain
Buddhahood for oneself and then to bring others to Buddhahood is
called the king's way of arousing Bodhicitta [the aspiration
to attain Buddhahood for all beings].
The Courage of a Boatman: A boatman aims to arrive
on the other shore together with all his passengers. Likewise, the
wish to achieve Buddhahood for oneself and all beings at the same
time is called the boatman's way of arousing Bodhicitta.
The Courage of a Shepherd: Shepherds drive
their sheep in front of them, making sure that they find grass and
water and are not attacked by wolves, jackals or other wild beasts.
They themselves follow behind. In the same way, the attitude of
those who wish to establish all beings of the
three worlds [of desire, form and formlessness] in perfect
Buddhahood before achieving it for themselves is called the
shepherd's way of arousing Bodhicitta.
The king's way, called 'arousing Bodhicitta with the great wish,'
is the least courageous of the three. The boatman's way, called
'arousing Bodhicitta with sacred wisdom,' is more courageous. It is
said that Lord Maitreya aroused Bodhicitta in this way. The
shepherd's way, called 'the arousing of Bodhicitta beyond compare,'
is the most courageous of all. It is said to be the way Lord
Manjusri aroused Bodhicitta