THE MERIT
AND VIRTUE GAINED FROM UPHOLDING THIS SUTRA, FIFTEEN
" Subhuti, a good man or good woman might in the morning give away as
many bodies as there are grains of sand in the Ganges River, and again
at noon give away as many bodies as there are grains of sand in the Ganges
River, and again in the evening give away as many bodies as there are
grains of sand in the Ganges River, giving away bodies like that throughout
immeasurable hundreds of thousands of billions of kalpas. But if someone
else were to hear this Sutra and believe it without reservation, his blessings
would surpass the blessings of the former person. How much greater the
blessings would be if one could write out, accept, uphold, read, recite
and explain this Sutra for others. "Subhuti, to sum it up, the merit and
virtue of this Sutra is inconceivable, incalculable and boundless. The
Thus Come One spoke it for those intent on the Great Vehicle, for those
intent on the foremost vehicle. The Thus Come One knows and sees all people
who can accept, uphold, read, recite and extensively explain this Sutra
for others. Such people perfect immeasurable, incalculable, boundless
and inconceivable merit and virtue and sustain the Thus Come One's Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.
Why? Subhuti, one who delights in lesser dharmas is attached to a view
of a self, a view of others, a view of living beings and a view of a life.
This person cannot hear, accept, uphold, read or recite this Sutra or
explain it for others. "Subhuti, the gods, humans, and asuras of the world
should make offerings wherever this Sutra is found. Know that this place
is a Stupa. All beings should pay respect, worship, circumambulate and
decorate it with incense and flowers."
