Diamond Sūtra 15

‘And if, O Subhfti, a woman or man sacrificed in the morning as many lives as there are grains of sand in the river Gangd and did the same at noon and the same in the evening, and if in this way they sacrificed their lives for a hundred thousands of niyutas of kotis of ages, and if another, after hearing this treatise of the Law, should not oppose it, then the latter would on the strength of this produce a larger stock of merit, immeasurable and innumerable. What should we say then of him who after having written it, learns it, remembers it, understands it, and fully explains it to others?

‘And again, O Subhuti, this treatise of the Law is incomprehensible and incomparable. And this treatise of the Law has been preached by the Tathagata for the benefit of those beings who entered on the foremost path (the path that leads to Nirvana), and who entered on the best path. And those who will learn this treatise of the Law, who will remember it, recite it, understand it, and fully explain it to others, they are known, O Subhfiti, by the Tathagata through his Buddha-knowledge, they are seen, O Subhfiti, by the Tathagata through his Buddha-eye. All these beings, O Subhati, will be endowed with an immeasurable stock of merit, they will be endowed with an incomprehensible, incomparable, immeasurable and unmeasured stock of merit. All these beings, O Subhati, will equally remember the Bodhi (the highest Buddha-knowledge), will recite it, and understand it. And why? Because it is not possible, O Subhati, that this treatise of the Law should be heard by beings of little faith, by those who believe in self, in beings, in living beings, and in persons. It is impossible that this treatise of the Law should be heard by beings who have not acquired the knowledge of Bodhisattvas, or that it should be learned, remembered, recited, and understood by them. The thing is impossible.

‘And again, O Subhuti, that part of the world in which this Sutra will be propounded, will have to be honoured by the whole world of gods, men, and evil spirits, will have to be worshipped, and will become like a ATaitya (a holy sepulchre).’

‘And, O Subhuti, sons or daughters of a good family who will learn these very Sutras, who will remember them, recite them, understand them, thoroughly take them to heart, and fully explain them to others, they will be overcome}, they will be greatly overcome. And why? Because, O Subhhti, whatever evil deeds these beings have done in a former birth, deeds that must lead to suffering, those deeds these beings, owing to their being overcome, after they have seen the Law, will destroy, and they will obtain the knowledge of Buddha.

‘I remember, O Subhhti, in the past, before innumerable and more than innumerable kalpas, there were eighty-four hundred thousands of niyutas of kotis of Buddhas following after the venerable and fully enlightened Tathâgata Dipankara, who were pleased by me, and after being pleased were not displeased. And if, O Subhfti, these blessed Buddhas were pleased by me, and after being pleased were not displeased, and if on the other hand people at the last time, at the last moment, in the last 500 years, during the time of the decay of the good Law, will learn these very Sfttras, remember them, recite them, understand them, and fully explain them to others, then, O Subhuti, in comparison with their stock of merit that former stock of merit will not come to one hundredth part, nay, not to one thousandth part, not to a hundred thousandth part, not toa ten millionth part, not to a hundred millionth part, not to a hundred thousand ten millionth part, not to a hundred thousands of niyutas ten millionth part. It will not bear number, nor fraction, nor counting, nor comparison, nor approach, nor analogy.

‘And if, O Subhuti, I were to tell you the stock of *K 2 132 THE VAGRAKKHEDIKA merit of those sons or daughters of good families, and how large a stock of merit those sons or daughters of good families will produce, and hold fast at that time, people would become distracted and their thoughts would become bewildered. And again, O Subhati, as this treatise of the Law preached by the Tathâgata is incomprehensible and incomparable, its rewards also must be expected (to be) incomprehensible.’