Why should I be unable To regard the bodies of others as "I"? It is not difficult to see That my body is also that of others. In the same way as the hands and so forth are regarded as limbs of the body, likewise why are embodied creatures not regarded as limbs of life? Only through acquaintance has the thought of "I" arisen towards this impersonal body; so in a similar way, why should it not arise towards other living beings? When I work in this way for the sake of others, I should not let conceit or [the feeling that I am] wonderful arise. It is just like feeding myself--I hope for nothing in return." (Shantideva, Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life 8:112-16)
There are three kinds of persons existing in the world: one is like a drought, one who rains locally, and one who pours down everywhere. How is a person like a drought? He gives nothing to all alike, not giving food and drink, clothing and vehicle, flowers, scents and unguents, bed, lodging and light, neither to recluses and brahmins nor to wretched and needy beggars. In this way, a person is like a drought. How is a person like a local rainfall? He is a giver to some, but to others he gives not.... In this way, a person is like a local rainfall. How does a person rain down everywhere? He gives to all, be they recluses and brahmins or wretched, needy beggars; he is a giver of food and drink, clothing... lodging and lights. In this way a person rains down everywhere." (Itivuttaka 65)
"The bodhisattva should adopt the same attitude towards all beings, his mind should be even towards all beings, he should not handle others with an uneven mind, but with a mind which is friendly, well-disposed, helpful, free from aversions avoiding harm and hurts, he should handle others as if they were his mother, father, son, or daughter. As a savior of all beings should a bodhisattva behave towards all beings." (Perfection of Wisdom 321-22)
"All beings should be accommodated and served by me as attentively as I would show filial respect to my parents, due respect to my teachers, to elders, and arhats, up to the Tathagatas, all in equality. I would be a good physician to the sick, a guide to those who have wandered from the path, setting their feet in the right way. I would be a light to those who wander in darkness. I would enable the people in poverty to discover vaults of treasure. A bodhisattva should thus benefit all beings in equal treatment, and bestow his loving care on all beings alike. And why? because if a bodhisattva serves all beings, that is equal to serving Buddhas dutifully. To hold all beings in high esteem, and render them respectful services, that is equal to reverencing and serving the Tathagatas. To make all beings happy, is to please the Tathagatas." (Gandavyuha Sutra, Vows of Samantabhadra)
"If, for my own sake, I cause harm to others, I shall be tormented in hellish realms; but if for the sake of others I cause harm to myself, I shall acquire all that is magnificent. By holding myself in high esteem I shall find myself in unpleasant realms, ugly and stupid; but should this [attitude] be shifted to others I shall acquire honors in a joyful realm. If I employ others for my own purposes I myself shall experience servitude, but if I use myself for the sake of others I shall experience only lordliness." (Shantideva, Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life 8:126-128)
"At all costs I must bear the burdens of all beings. In that, I do not follow my own inclinations. I have made the vow to save all beings. All beings I must set free. The whole world of living beings I must rescue from the terrors of birth, of old age, of sickness, of death and rebirth, of all kinds of moral offense, of all states of woe...And I must not cheat all beings out of my store of merit." (Sikshasamuccaya 280-81, Vajradhvaja Sutra)
"I should be a hostel for all sentient beings, to let them escape from all painful things. I should be a protector for all sentient beings, to let them all be liberated from all afflictions. I should be a refuge for all sentient beings, to free them from all fears...I should be like the sun, shining universally on all without seeking thanks or reward, able to take care of all sentient beings even if they are bad, never giving up on my vows on this account, not abandoning all sentient beings because one sentient being is evil." (Garland Sutra 23)
"If beings knew, as I know, the fruit of sharing gifts, they would not enjoy their use without sharing them, nor would the taint of stinginess obsess the heart and stay there. Even if it were their last bit, their last morsel of food, they would not enjoy its use without sharing it, if there were anyone to receive it." (Itivuttaka 18)
"Enlightened beings are magnanimous givers, bestowing whatever they have with equanimity, without regret, without hoping for reward, without seeking honor, without coveting material benefits, but only to rescue and safeguard all living beings." (Garland Sutra 21)
"'If I give this, what shall I [have left to] enjoy?' Such selfish thinking is the way of the ghosts; 'If I enjoy this, what shall I [have left to] give?' Such selfless thinking is a quality of the gods." (Shantideva, Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life 8:125)
"Verily, misers go not to the celestial realms. Fools do not indeed praise liberality. The wise man rejoices in giving and thereby becomes happy thereafter." (Dhammapada 177)