Post by Neo on Oct 12, 2020 22:33:17 GMT -5
Let us suppose, prince of gods, that this billion-world- galactic universe were as full of Tathagatas as it is covered with groves of sugarcane, with rosebushes, with bamboo thickets, with herbs, and with flowers, and that a noble son or daughter were to HONOR THEM, REVERE THEM, RESPECT AND ADORE THEM, OFFERING THEM ALL SORTS OF COMFORTS AND OFFERINGS FOR AN AEON OR MORE THAN AN AEON. And let us suppose that, these Tathagatas having entered ultimate liberation, he or she honored each of them by enshrining their preserved bodies in a memorial stupa made of precious stones, each as large as a world with four great continents, rising as high as the world of Brahma, adorned with parasols, banners, standards, and lamps. And let us suppose finally that, having erected all these stupas for the Tathagatas, he or she were to devote an aeon or more to offering them flowers, perfumes, banners, and standards, while playing drums and music.
That being done, what do you think, prince of gods? Would that noble son or daughter receive much merit as a consequence of such activities?"
Sakra, the prince of gods, replied, "Many merits, Lord! Many merits, O Sugata! Were one to spend hundreds of thousands of millions of aeons, it would be impossible to measure the limit of the mass of merits that that noble son or daughter would thereby gather!"
The Buddha said, "Have faith, prince of gods, and understand this: Whoever accepts this exposition of the Dharma called 'Instruction in the Inconceivable Liberation,' RECITES IT, AND UNDERSTANDS IT DEEPLY, HE OR SHE WILL GATHER MERITS EVEN GREATER THAN THOSE WHO PERFORM THE ABOVE ACTS.
Why so? Because, prince of gods, the enlightenment of the Buddhas arises from the Dharma, and one honors them by the Dharma worship, and not by material worship. Thus it is taught, prince of gods, and thus you must understand it." ~ Vimalakirti sutra
Source:
www.imeditate.com/books_music/vimalakirti/vimalakirti13.html
That being done, what do you think, prince of gods? Would that noble son or daughter receive much merit as a consequence of such activities?"
Sakra, the prince of gods, replied, "Many merits, Lord! Many merits, O Sugata! Were one to spend hundreds of thousands of millions of aeons, it would be impossible to measure the limit of the mass of merits that that noble son or daughter would thereby gather!"
The Buddha said, "Have faith, prince of gods, and understand this: Whoever accepts this exposition of the Dharma called 'Instruction in the Inconceivable Liberation,' RECITES IT, AND UNDERSTANDS IT DEEPLY, HE OR SHE WILL GATHER MERITS EVEN GREATER THAN THOSE WHO PERFORM THE ABOVE ACTS.
Why so? Because, prince of gods, the enlightenment of the Buddhas arises from the Dharma, and one honors them by the Dharma worship, and not by material worship. Thus it is taught, prince of gods, and thus you must understand it." ~ Vimalakirti sutra
Source:
www.imeditate.com/books_music/vimalakirti/vimalakirti13.html