Part 16-2
“Subhuti, I remember how in the past, over incalculable eons in the presence of Dipankara Buddha, I got to meet eight hundred and four thousand myriad zillions of Buddhas; I supported and served every one of them, not missing a single opportunity. If, however, there is someone in the final age who can accept and hold and read and recite this Sutra, the merit obtained thereby are such that the merit of my support of those Buddhas do not amount to a hundredth part, to a trillionth part, indeed to any numerical or figurative part of it.”
Commentary:
This part explains how important it is to accept and hold and read and recite this Sutra. What should be kept in mind is that only when we accept and hold, and read and recite this Sutra in the right way as the Buddha told us to can we enjoy the merit mentioned by the Buddha.
The merit of seeing the true-Self in each word at this moment is a trillion times larger than that of the Buddha’s supporting eight hundred and four thousand myriad zillions of Buddhas because then, we can realise that we are the Buddha and that not only the eight hundred and four thousand myriad zillions of Buddhas but also all the Buddhas are one with us.
As stated previously, the purpose of Buddhism is not to support, or worship the Buddhas but to realise that we are the Buddha. Supporting many Buddhas is no more than an expedient, not the final goal. This is why the merit of accepting and holding and reading and reciting this Sutra is much greater than that of supporting eight hundred and four thousand myriad zillions of Buddhas.
Student: “Why isn’t the merit of serving so many Buddhas as much as that of accepting and holding and reading and reciting this Sutra?”
Master: “Because seeing many Buddhas is not seeing them but the illusions of them until you become the Buddha.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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