“Now, Kauśika, never mind the accumulation of merit from having introduced this transcendent state of wisdom to all those beings beyond regressing on the Jambu continent. Suppose that all sentient beings within the world system with four great continents were also to become bodhisattvas beyond regressing from unsurpassed, perfect awakening. Then, suppose that after making a written book of this transcendent state of wisdom, a certain noble son or daughter were to give it, introduce it, and expound its words and meaning to them all.
“Now, Kauśika, never mind the accumulation of merit from having introduced this transcendent state of wisdom to all sentient beings beyond regressing within the world system with four great continents. Suppose that all beings within a thousandfold, lesser order world system were also to become bodhisattvas beyond regressing from unsurpassed, perfect awakening. Then, suppose that after making a written book of this transcendent state of wisdom, a certain noble son or daughter were to give it, introduce it, and expound its words and meaning to them all.
“Now, Kauśika, never mind the accumulation of merit from having introduced this transcendent state of wisdom for the benefit of all sentient beings beyond regressing within a thousandfold, lesser order world system. Suppose that all the sentient beings within a millionfold, medium order world system were also to become bodhisattvas beyond regressing from unsurpassed, perfect awakening. Then, suppose that after making a written book of this transcendent state of wisdom, a certain noble son or daughter were to give it, introduce it, and expound its words and meaning to them all.
“Now, Kauśika, never mind the accumulation of merit from having introduced this transcendent state of wisdom for the benefit of all sentient beings beyond regressing within a millionfold, medium order world system. Suppose that all the sentient beings within a billionfold, great order world system were also to become bodhisattvas beyond regressing from unsurpassed, perfect awakening. Then, suppose that after making a written book of this transcendent state of wisdom, a certain noble son or daughter were to give it, introduce it, and expound its words and meaning to them all.
“Now, Kauśika, never mind the accumulation of merit from having introduced this transcendent state of wisdom for the benefit of all sentient beings beyond regressing within a billionfold, great order world system. Suppose that all the sentient beings within as many billionfold, great order world systems as there are grains of sand in the River Ganges were to become bodhisattvas beyond regressing from unsurpassed, perfect awakening. Then, suppose that after making a written book of this transcendent state of wisdom, a certain noble son or daughter were to give it, introduce it, and expound its words and meaning to them all. Kauśika, what do you think? Would that noble son or daughter earn a great amount of merit by doing so?”
“A great amount, Blessed One. A great amount, Sugata,” replied Śakra. “Blessed One, it would not be easy to come up with any calculation for such masses of merit. It would not be easy to come up with any fraction, any quantification, any metaphor, any analogy, any equivalence, or any comparison for such masses of merit.”
The Blessed One said, “O Kauśika, an even greater amount of merit than that would be earned by any noble son or daughter who did the following. First, after making a written book of this transcendent state of wisdom, he or she would give it and introduce it to those bodhisattva great beings beyond regressing who wish to realize unsurpassed, perfect awakening even more quickly. Then, he or she would expound its words and meaning. Next, he or she would instruct and coach them in this transcendent state of wisdom. On the other hand, Kauśika, suppose some other bodhisattva great being appeared and said, ‘I will realize unsurpassed, perfect awakening more quickly than they will.’ If, Kauśika, that noble son or daughter were to instruct and coach that bodhisattva great being in the transcendent state of wisdom, then he or she would earn an even greater amount of merit than that noble son or daughter just mentioned.”
Then Śakra, powerful lord of the gods, said to the Blessed One, “Blessed One, it is the case that as a bodhisattva great being approaches unsurpassed, perfect awakening, he or she is to be instructed and guided in the transcendent state of wisdom, and, in being instructed and guided in the transcendent state of wisdom, he or she becomes close to the actual nature of things. And since that bodhisattva great being is becoming close to the actual nature of things, he or she transforms any offerings enjoyed—be they robes, alms, seats, beds, preventive medicines, remedies, and other requisites—into something extremely fruitful and extremely beneficial for those who made those offerings. Hence, this noble son or daughter would earn an even greater amount of merit than the other noble sons or daughters just mentioned.388 Why is that? O Blessed One, it is because, in this way, a bodhisattva great being is becoming close to unsurpassed, perfect awakening.”
Then the venerable Subhūti said to Śakra, powerful lord of the gods, “Excellent, Kauśika, it is excellent that you encourage, assist, and support those persons belonging to the bodhisattva path. Kauśika, it is something that must be done. Any noble disciple who wishes to assist all sentient beings encourages, assists, and supports these bodhisattva great beings in unsurpassed, perfect awakening in this way. This is to be done. Why is that? It is because of this that the unsurpassed, perfect awakening of bodhisattva great beings bears fruit. And if the bodhisattva great beings were not to develop the proper mindset of awakening, or to train in unsurpassed, perfect awakening, or to train in the six transcendent states, then, without that training, they could never realize unsurpassed, perfect awakening. But since the bodhisattva great beings do train in the six transcendent states that constitute a bodhisattva’s training, they do indeed develop the proper mindset of awakening, and they do indeed realize unsurpassed, perfect awakening.”
This ends the chapter “The Kinds of Merit,” the fifth chapter in “The Noble Transcendent State of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines.”