Chapter 10: Comparison of Merits Derived from
Giving Alms
At that time, through the Buddha's divine power, Ksitigarbha
Bodhisattva-Mahasattva rose from his seat, knelt down on one knee with
his
palms
joined, and addressed the Buddha, saying, "World Honored One, I observe
that
the alms given by sentient beings in the karmic paths generate
different amounts of benefits. Some acts result in blessings
for one lifetime to ten lifetimes. Then, there are acts that
generate great blessings for hundreds to thousands of lifetimes.
I
wish the World Honored One would explain to me the reason for this
difference."
At that time, the Buddha told Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, "Now, at this
great gathering in Trayastrimsas Palace, I shall expound the
comparable weight of merit generated from alms-giving in
Jambudvipa. Listen attentively to my explanation."
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva said to the Buddha, "I will gladly listen to
your
answers."
Providing foods to the
impoverish
The Buddha told Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, "In Jambudvipa,
there
are [people with the greatest of earthly blessings, such as] kings,
high-ranking
government officials, honorable elders,
Ksatriyas, Brahmans, and
others. They
may encounter people [who have the least blessings, such as those] who
are the most destitute; or those who are mute, deaf, or blind; or those
who
have hunchbacks, disabilities, mental retardation, and/or
physical deformities. The kings and other [blessed people]
may personally give alms to these [least
blessed] people with great compassion and smiles with humility.
They
may
motivate
others to give alms and console these
impoverished or disabled
people. For those [aforementioned blessed people] from kings to
Brahmans who do so, they shall receive benefits
equivalent to that [generated] from giving alms to as many Buddhas as
there
are sands in hundreds of Ganges Rivers. Why is this so? The
reason is [because]
these kings
and other [with great earthly blessings] have great compassion in
their
hearts [that they humble themselves from their lofty
positions] to help
those most impoverished or disabled people. Hence, these kings
and other [blessed people]
will receive such
great blessings in return. For hundred and thousands
of lives, they
will have ample [amount of the]
seven treasures, not to mention food, clothings and other daily
necessities."
Help with the construction of Buddhist temples.
"Furthermore, Ksitigarbha, in the future, these [aforementioned blessed
people from] kings to Brahmans may come across Buddhist monasteries,
stupas,
or
statues of Buddhas,
Bodhisattvas, Arahats, or Pratyeka-Buddhas. If they personally
and respectfully make offerings and give alms [to these statues,
monasteries, etc], then
these kings and other [blessed people] shall [attain the karmic
fruitions of] becoming
Sakra for three kalpas and
receive great blessings. They
shall [attain the karmic fruition of] becoming the Great Brahma if they
dedicate the
merits [from their act of devotion] to the Dharmadhatu (the dharma
realm which encompasses everything past, present, and future, including
phenomenon
undefinable within confines of space and time).
"Additionally, Ksitigarbha, in the future, these [aforementioned
blessed people from] kings to Brahmans may
encounter old Buddhist monasteries, Buddhist stupas, Buddha statues
and sutras that had been severely damaged. These kings and others
may resolve to restore these monasteries, stupas, etc. They may
personally finance and manage the restoration, or persuade others to
make charitable donation to finance or participate in the
restoration. [It does not matter] how many people were persuaded
to join the effort,
be it
one or
hundreds or
thousands who make donations and create karmic affinities. In the
future hundreds and thousands of rebirths, everyone who
initiated the restoration, from the kings to the Brahmans, shall become
Chakravartins
(Universal Kings who spread the Buddha-Dharma). Those who are
persuaded to participate or make donation shall often be reborn as
kings of small countries for hundreds of thousands of lives. If
[at the conclusion of repair and restoration,] these kings and other
participants of the restoration dedicate these
merits to the Dharmadhatu in front of these stupas and monasteries,
then these kings and others shall all attain Buddha-hood. The
[rewards from the] fruition of these acts are boundless and
immeasurable."
Provide food, medicine and
other necessities to the old, sick, and pregnant women.
"Moreover, Ksitigarbha, in the future, the [aforementioned blessed
people] from kings to Brahmans may
encounter
[people in need, such as] the old,
the sick, or pregnant women. If their
hearts are instantly filled with compassion so they provide medicine,
food and
other
necessities which allow these people in need to find peace, the
[resulting]
benefits and blessings are
quite unimaginable. For one
hundred kalpas, they shall often be the Lord of Pure Abode
Heaven. For two hundred kalpas, they shall be the Lord of the
Six
Heavens of
Desire. Eventually, they shall become Buddhas and shall never
fall
into
realms of suffering. For hundreds and thousands of lives,
suffering will not even come near their earshot."
"Furthermore, Ksitigarbha, in the future, if the [aforementioned
blessed people from] kings to Brahmans give alms as outlined in these
aforementioned examples, they shall receive
immeasurable
blessings. If they can further dedicate [these virtuous deeds] to
the
Dharmadhatu, regardless of
how much merits were dedicated, then they shall eventually become
Buddhas. There are also the intermediate reward of being Sakra,
Great Brahma
and Chakravartin.
Hence, Ksitigarbha, sentient beings should be persuaded
to follow these examples."
"Moreover, Ksitigarbha, in the future, if virtuous men or women plant
some virtuous roots in the Buddha-dharma,
be it as light as a hair or dust,
the [resulting] benefits will be beyond comparison."
"Additionally, Ksitigarbha, in the future, there may be virtuous men or
women who encounter the statues or images of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas,
Pratyeka-Buddhas,
or Chakravartins. If they make offerings
and give alms to the statues or images, they shall attain immeasurable
benefits. They
shall often be born in the human and heavenly realm to enjoy
great happiness. If they dedicate [these virtuous deeds] to the
Dharmadhatu, the benefits [attained by them] will be incomparable."
"Moreover, Ksitigarbha, in the future, there may be virtuous men or
women who come across Mahayana Sutras, or hear only one stanza or
phrase of a
Sutra. If they devotedly praise, show respect to
these sutras, make offerings and give alms with these sutras (provide
free
copies
of these sutras to
others), then
they shall receive great boundless and immeasurable fruition. If
they can dedicate [the resulting merits] to the Dharmadhatu,
then
the
blessings will be incomparable."
"Furthermore, Ksitigarbha, in the future, there may be virtuous men or
women who come
across Buddhist monasteries and Mahayana Sutras. If these
monasteries and
sutras are new, then they make
offerings, say praises, and pay respect with their palms joined.
If these monasteries and
sutras
are old or damaged,
then they restore it. It does not matter
if they do these restorations by themselves or persuade
others to assist in the effort. Those who
were persuaded to
assist shall often be reborn
as kings of small
nations for thirty lifetimes. Those people who persuade others to
repair the damaged [monasteries and
sutras]
shall be reborn as Chakravartins. In the future, these
Chakravartins will instruct these kings of
small countries and transform them through the Buddha-dharma."
"Additionally, Ksitigarbha, in the future, there may be virtuous men or
women who
plant some virtuous roots in the Buddha-dharma. It may be giving
alms, making offerings, or restoring damaged sutras, stupas or
monasteries. [These deeds] may even
be as small as a strand of hair, speck of
dust, grain of
sand, or droplet of water. If [they can] dedicate these virtuous
deeds
to the Dharmadhatu, these people shall gain great merits and receive
great happiness in the future hundred of thousands of lifetimes.
If they dedicate the virtuous deeds to their relatives
or for their own benefits, then they shall only receive happiness for
three
lifetimes from the fruition of their virtuous deeds. [All these
are
examples of] giving up one
blessing and receiving tens of thousands
blessings
in
return. Hence, Ksitigarbha, these are the causes and
effects of
giving alms."
