Diamond Sūtra 8

Bhagavat said: ‘What do you think, O Subhhti, if a son or daughter of a good family filled this sphere of a million millions of worlds! with the seven gems or treasures, and gave it as a gift to the holy and enlightened Tathagatas, would that son or daughter of a good family on the strength of this produce a large stock of merit’ Subhfiti said: ‘Yes, O Bhagavat, yes, O Sugata, that son or daughter of a good family would on the strength of this produce a large stock of merit. And why? Because, O Bhagavat, what was preached by the Tathagata as the stock of merit, that was preached by the Tathagata as no-stock of merit. Therefore the Tathagata preaches: “A stock of merit, a stock of merit? indeed”’ Bhagavat said: ‘And if, O Subhhti, the son or daughter of a good family should fill this sphere of a million millions of worlds with the seven treasures and should give it as a gift to the holy and enlightened Tathagatas, and if another after taking from this treatise of the Law one Gatha of four lines only should fully teach others and explain it, he indeed would on the strength of this produce a larger stock of merit immeasurable and innumerable. And why? Because, O Subhhti, the highest perfect knowledge of the holy and enlightened Tathâgatas is produced from it; the blessed Buddhas are produced from it. And why? Because, O Subhati, when the Tathagata preached: Bie biasinl homae tL Se Ok ee ee a “The qualities of Buddha, the qualities of Buddha indeed” they were preached by him as no-qualities of Buddha. Therefore they are called the qualities of Buddha.’