Mahāyāna Buddhism, indeed, believes that every sentient being is able to attain Buddhahood, but first, one must be a good and pure person. Only on the basis of being a good person, can one learn from Buddhas and attain Buddhahood. Just as Sākyamuni puts it,
大乘佛教是說一切眾生都能成佛,但成佛必需先要做個好人,做個清白正直的人,要在做好人的基礎(chǔ)上才能學(xué)佛成佛。這就是釋迦佛說的,
Do no evil,
“諸惡莫作,
Do all that is good,
眾善奉行,
Purify your own mind,
自凈其意,
This is all Buddhas' teaching.
是諸佛教。”
What is meant by learning from Buddhas? It means to follow the Bodhisatta code of conduct. This is how preceding Buddhas attained their Buddhahood. For us too, to learn from Buddhas is just to follow the Bodhisatta code of conduct.
怎樣叫學(xué)佛?學(xué)佛就是要學(xué)菩薩行,過去諸佛是修菩薩行成佛的,我今學(xué)佛也要修學(xué)菩薩行。