Chapter 16 : Discrimination of Merits

At that time, after the great assembly had heard the Buddha speak of the great length of his life span and kalpa, incalculable, limitless asamkhyeyas of living beings gained a great advantage. Then, the World-honoured One declared to the Bodhisattva-mahasattva Maitreya, “O, Ajita! When I preached the great length of the life span of the Tathagata, living beings to the number of sand in six hundred and eighty myriads of millions of nayutas of Ganges rivers gained a state of non-backsliding. Again, a thousand times this number of bodhisattva-mahasattvas were enabled to gain the Dharani of hearing and keeping. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal in number to the dust in one world-sphere attained the faculty of eloquent and unembarrassed discussion. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal in number to the dust in one world-sphere attained hundreds of thousands of myriad kotis of the Dharani of Infinite Revolutions. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal in number to the dust in one world-sphere were enabled to turn the never-retreating dharma-wheel. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal in number to the dust in middle two-thousandfold domain were enabled to turn the pure Dharma-wheel. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal in number to the dust in a small-thousandfold domain were destined after eight rebirths to gain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas numerous as the dust of four four-continent worlds after four births will attain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal in number to the dust of three four-continent worlds after three births will attain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal in number to the dust of two four-continent worlds after two births will attain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Again, bodhisattva-mahasattvas equal in number to the dust of one four-continent world after one birth will attain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Again, living beings equal in number to the dust in eight world-spheres have all aspired to Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.”

When the Buddha said that these bodhisattva-mahasattvas had gained a great Dharma-advantage, in open space there was a rain of mandarava and maha-mandarava flowers, scattered over the Buddhas seated on the lion thrones at the foot of incalculable hundred thousands of myriads of millions of jewelled trees; scattered at the same time on Sakyamuni Buddha and on the Tathagata Abundant Treasures, long passed into extinction, both seated on the lion throne in the stupa of the seven jewels; scattered also on all the great bodhisattvas and fourfold multitude. There was also a rain of finely powdered candana and of incense that sinks in water (agurusya curani ca). In open space the divine drums sounded on their own accord, their sound being fine, deep, and far-reaching. There was also a rain of a thousand varieties of divine garments, hung with laces of jewels, laces of pearls, laces of mani-jewels, laces of wish-granting jewels, filling the eight directions. A great number of jewelled censers were burning priceless incense, whose scent of itself reached everywhere as an offering to the great assembly. Above each Buddha were bodhissattvas holding banners and parasols, reaching in ascending order up to the Brahma-heaven. With fine sounds these bodhisattvas sang incalculable hymns of praise, lauding the Buddhas.

At that time, Bodhisattva Maitreya, with his palms joined, and facing the Buddha proclaimed gathas, saying:

“The Buddha has preached the rare Dharma
Which is never heard of before.
Great is the power of the World-honoured One
And his lifetime beyond estimation.
Numberless Buddha-sons,
Hearing the World-honoured One in detail
Tell of those who obtained the dharma-advantage,
Have been filled with joy.
Some are steadfast in the never-retreating stage,
Some have attained to the dharanis,
Some to unembarrassed eloquence
Or to myriads of kotis of Revolving All Protective (kotisahasraya ca dharaniye).
Of a great-thousandfold world's
Dust of bodhisattvas,
Each of them is able to turn
The unretreating Dharma-wheel;
Of a middle-thousandfold world's
Dust of bodhisattvas,
Each of them is able to turn
The pure Dharma-wheel;
Of a small-thousanndfold world's
Dust of bodhisattvas,
Each of whom, after eight rebirths,
Will accomplish the Buddha Path.
Again there are four, three, two
Four-continent worlds',
Dust of bodhisattvas,
Who will become Buddhas after those numbers of rebirths.
Of one four-continent world's
Dust of bodhisattvas,
Who after one more birth
Will accomplish omniscience.
Such bodhisattvas as these,
Hearing that the Buddha’s life span is long,
Will obtain infinite, without outflow,
Pure reward.
Also there are eight worlds'
Dust of bodhisattvas, who,
Hearing the Buddha's preaching of his lifetime,
Have all aspired to the Supreme.
The World-honoured One, by preaching the infinite
And inconceivable Dharma,
Has benefited many,
As boundless as the space.
Divine mandarava flowers rain down
And maha-mandaravas.
Sakras and Brahmas numerous as the sand of the Ganges
From countless Buddha-lands have come,
Raining sandal and aloes, which
Fall blended and commingled;
Like birds flying below the sky
They reverently bestrew the Buddhas.
The celestial drums in space
Roll forth of themselves their wondrous sounds;
A thousand myriad kinds of divine garments
Whirl around in their descent;
Exquisite bejewelled censers,
Burning priceless incense,
Move around of their own accord;
In homage to the World-honoured Ones.
Hosts of great bodhisattvas
Hold canopies of the precious seven,
Of wondrous height and of myriads of kotis of varieties,
One above another up to the Brahma-heaven.
Before each one of the Buddhas
Jewelled streamers hang fluttering;
Also with thousands of myriads of gathas
They praise the Tathagatas in song.
Such a variety of things as these
There have never been before.
Hearing the Buddha's life span is infinite,
All are gladdened.
The Buddha's name, bruited in ten directions,
Broadly benefits the living beings,
And all are fully endowed with wholesome roots,
Which serve to further the unexcelled thought.”

At that time the Buddha declared to Bodhisattva-mahasattva Maitreya, “O, Ajita! Whatever living beings, hearing that the Buddha's life span is as long as this, can produce as much as a single moment of faith and understanding, shall gain merit that shall have no limit and no measure. A good man or good woman for Anuttarasamyaksambodhi's sake throughout eighty myriads of millions of nayutas of kalpas may practise the five paramitas, to wit, danaparamita, silaparamita, ksantiparamita, viryaparamita, and dhyanaparamita, all except prajnaparamita, but if one compares his or her merit with the former, it does not come to the hundredth part, not to the thousandth, nor the hundred-thousand-myriad-millionth, nor, for that matter, can it be known by resort to count or even to parable. That a good man or good woman having this sort of merit should recede from Anuttarasamyaksambodhi is simply not possible.

“If a man, seeking the Buddha-wisdom,
During eighty myriad kotis
Of nayutas of kalpas
Were to perform the five paramitas,
And during those kalpas
Give alms in homage to Buddhas,
Cause-enlightened ones, and sravakas,
As well as to bodhisattva-multitude -
Rare and precious food and drink,
Superior clothing and bed furniture,
Monasteries built of sandalwood and
Adorned with gardens and groves,
Such alms as these,
Wonderful in variety -
Were he to maintain them through all those kalpas
As meritorious gifts to the Buddha Path;
Moreover, if he were to keep the commandments
Purely, without flaw or fault,
And seek the Supreme Path
Which all Buddhas praise;
Or were he patiently to endure insult,
Stand firm in the stage of gentleness,
And though evils came upon him,
His mind is kept undisturbed;
And those who possess the dharma
Filled with utmost arrogance
To be scorned and distressed,
Yet able to bear even this;
Or were he to be diligent and zealous,
Ever strong in will and memory,
And during measureless kotis of kalpas
With all his mind continue unremitting,
And during numberless kalpas
Dwell in secluded places,
Whether sitting or walking,
Avoiding sleep and ever concentrating his mind;
Were he, by this means,
To be able to beget dhyana-concentrations
And for eighty myriad kotis of kalpas
Calmly remain in them with unperturbed mind;
Were he, maintaining this single-minded merit,
Willingly to seek the Supreme Path:
‘I will attain omniscience
And go on to the utmost point of dhyana-concentration.’
Were such a man for hundreds of thousands of
Myriads of kotis of kalpas
To perform such deeds of merits
As those above expounded;
Yet any good man or woman
Who, hearing me declare my life span,
Believes it with but a single thought,
This one's merit surpasses his.
If anyone is entirely free
From all doubts and misgivings
And in his deepest heart believes it but for a moment,
Such shall be his merit.
If there are bodhisattvas
Who have trodden the Path for innumerable kalpas
And hear of my announcement of my life span,
They will be able to receive it in faith;
Such men as these
Will bow their heads in receiving this sutra
And say, ‘May we in the future
Have long life to save the living beings;
And just as the present World-honoured One
Who, King of the Dharmas,
On his Platform of the Path raises the lion's roar,
Preaching the Dharma without fear,
So may we in future ages,
Honoured and revered by all,
When sitting on the Platform of the Path
In like manner tell of the life span!’
If there are any of profound spirit,
Pure and upright,
Learned and able to uphold the truth,
Who understand the Buddha's words in accord with their meaning,
Such men as these
Concerning this shall have no doubts.

“Further, O, Ajita, if there is anyone who, hearing of the great length of the Buddha's life span, understands the import of the words, the merit gained by that man shall have no limit or measure, for he shall be able to produce the Unexcelled Wisdom of the Tathagata. How much more shall this be of one who broadly hears this sutra, or causes others to hear it, or keeps it himself, or causes others to keep it, or writes it down himself, or causes others to write it, or who pay homage to the scriptural roll with flower perfume, necklaces, banners, parasols, fragrant incense, and candles made of wax scented with fragrant wood! For this man's merit shall be incalculable and limitless, able to produce the Wisdom of All Modes.

“O, Ajita! If a good man or good woman, hearing me preach of the great length of my life span, with profound thought believes and understands, then he or she thereby shall see the Buddha ever in the world, with his great multitude of bodhisattvas surrounding him as he preaches the Dharma. He or she shall also see this Saha World, its soil made of vaidurya; flat and even; highways in eight directions bordered with Jambunada gold and rows of jewelled trees; its terraces, towers, and halls all fashioned from gems; a multitude of bodhisattvas all dwelling in its midst. Be it known that if a person is able to take such a view as this, this ability is a mark of profound faith and understanding.

“Again, if after the extinction of the Tathagata, anyone hears this sutra and without maligning it raises up thoughts of joyful acceptance, be it known that this is a mark of his having already achieved profound faith and understanding. How much more is this of one who reads and recites, accepts and keeps it! For such a man thereby carries the Tathagata on his head. O, Ajita! Such a good man or good woman needs not ever erect stupa or monastery, build cells for the sangha, or make the four kinds of offerings to the sangha-multitude for my sake. Wherefore? Such a good man or good woman, by accepting and keeping, by reading and reciting this scriptural canon, thereby shall already have erected stupas, built sangha-cells, and made offerings to the sangha-multitude. That is, he or she shall have erected with the Buddha-sarira stupas of the seven jewels, tapering both vertically and horizontally and reaching to the Brahma-heaven; hung with banners, parasols, and a multitude of jewelled tinkling bells; fitted out with flower perfume, necklaces, powdered incense, paint incense, burnt incense; a multitude of drums and musical instruments, pipes, flutes, harps, and sundry dancers, who shall sing praise with fine-sounding song. That is, he shall throughout incalculable thousands of myriads of millions of kalpas have made these offerings.

“O, Ajita! If after my extinction there are, among the hearers of this scriptural canon, any who can accept and keep it, or write it down themselves, or instruct others to write it, then they shall thereby have erected sangha-cells; also with red candana they shall have fashioned palatial halls, thirty-two in number, the height of eight tala-trees, high and wide, imposing and lovely, a hundred thousand bodhisattvas dwelling within them; with gardens, groves, and bathing ponds, with walks and dhyana-caves filled with clothing, food and drink, sitting mats and bedding mats, potions and medicines, and all manner of musical instruments provided to the full therein; such sangha-cells, halls, and towers being in several hundred thousands of myriads of millions, the number being in fact incalculable - so shall they appear, making offerings to me and to the bodhisattva-sangha. For that reason I say: if after the extinction of the Tathagata, there is anyone who accepts and keeps, reads and recites, preaches to others, or writes down himself, or instructs others to write, and thus honours the scriptural roll, he needs not go further and erect stupa or monastery or build sangha-cells as offerings to the multitudinous sangha. How much more he who is able to keep this sutra and practises the almsgiving, commandments, forbearance, zeal, concentration, and wisdom. His merit will be most excellent, infinite and boundless! Just as the space, eastward, westward, southward, and northward, as well as in the four intermediate directions, upward, and downward, is incalculable and limitless, this man's merit is also in like manner incalculable and limitless, leading quickly to the Wisdom of All Modes. If a person shall read and recite, accept and keep this sutra and preach it to others, or write it down himself, or instruct other to write it; if, again, he can erect stupas and build sangha-cells, paying homage and singing hymns of praise to the multitudinous sangha of bodhisattvas; if also, having recourse to a hundred thousand myriads of millions of modes of praise, he lauds the merits of the bodhisattvas; if he also, by various causes and conditions, preaches to others, in accord with its meaning, this Sutra of the Dharma Blossom; if, again, he can purely keep the commandments and dwell with gentle and agreeable persons, enduring humiliation without anger, his will and presence of mind hard and firm, ever attaching great weight to sitting in dhyana, attaining to the deep concentrations, persevering vigorously and with heroic courage, gathering all good dharmas to himself, being of keen faculties and wisdom, skilled at answering queries and objections - if, O, Ajita, after my extinction the good men and good women who accept and keep, read and recite this scriptural canon also have expedient good merits like these, be it known that these persons have already turned toward the Platform of the Path, that they are close to Anuttarasamyaksambodhi and seated under the Tree of the Path. O, Ajita! Wherever these good men and good women sit, or stand, or walk, there one should erect a stupa, all gods and men should make offerings to it, as if it were a stupa of the Buddha himself.

“If anyone, after my extinction,
Is able respectfully to keep this sutra,
This man's merit will be infinite
As is above mentioned.
Such a man will have made perfectly
All kinds of offerings
And erected stupas for sariras
Adorned with the precious seven,
With banner towers, high and broad,
Tapering up to the Brahma-heaven,
With thousands of myriads of kotis of jewelled bells,
Stirred by the wind to wonderful sound.
For innumerable kalpas
He will have paid homage to these stupas
With flowers, incense, and garlands,
With celestial garments and playing of music,
With perfumed oil and ghee lamps burning
And illuminating all around.
In the evil ages of the Dharma's decay,
He who can keep this sutra
Will have, as above mentioned,
Perfectly made all kinds of offerings.
If anyone can keep this sutra
It will be as if the Buddha were present
And he, with ox-head sandalwood,
Built monasteries to serve him,
Consisting of thirty-two halls,
Eight tala trees in height,
With superior food and fine garments,
Beds all complete,
With abodes for hundreds and thousands;
With gardens, groves, and bathing pools,
With walks and dhyana-cells,
All beautifully adorned.
If anyone has the mind of faith and discernment,
Receives, keeps, reads, recites, and copies,
Or moreover causes others to copy,
And pays homage to the scriptural rolls,
Strewing flower incense, and powdered incense,
And uses perfumed oil of sumana, campaka
And Atimuktaka
For constant burning;
He who pays such homage to it
Will obtain infinite merit;
Just as the space is boundless,
So will it be with his merits;
How much more with one who keeps this sutra,
At the same time gives alms and keeps the commandments,
Endures humiliation and desires dhyana concentration,
Not irascible, nor speaking ill,
Reverent to stupas and sanctuaries,
Humble toward the bhikshus,
Far removed from haughtiness,
Ever pondering on wisdom,
Not angry when asked about difficulties
But compliantly explaining them;
If he is able to do these deeds,
His merits cannot be estimated.
If one meets such a Dharma preacher
Who has accomplished such virtues,
He should strew divine flowers upon him,
Cover him with divine clothing,
And salute him by bowing to his feet,
With a mind as if thinking of the Buddha.
Moreover, he should reflect thus:
‘Soon he will be going to the Tree of the Path
To achieve non-outflow and effortlessness,
Widely benefiting gods and men.’
Wherever he dwells and stays,
Walks, sits, or lies,
Or preaches but a single gatha,
In that place one should erect a stupa,
Adorn it and make it beautiful,
And in all ways pay homage to it.
When a Buddha-son dwells in such a place,
It means that the Buddha himself uses it
And ever abides in it,
Walking, or sitting, or lying down.”