འཕགས་པ་མ་ཏག་བརྩགས་པ་ཞས་བྱ་བའ་གཟངས intro.3

intro.3

The dhāraṇī and the discourse that frames it is delivered by Buddha Śākyamuni at Lake Anavatapta, prompted by a question from the bodhisattva Siṃhavikrīḍita who wishes to know what amount of merit is gained by worshiping a buddha. The Buddha replies by slightly rebuking Siṃhavikrīḍita: since the qualities of the buddhas are endless, so too is the merit gained by worshiping them. Moreover, it does not matter whether those buddhas are directly present in reality or are present in the form of a caitya containing a small relic. Nor does it matter how precious the offering is (although a long list of appropriate offerings is provided). What truly matters is the positive mental attitude of the worshiper, both when making the offering and after the act. After this discourse, the Buddha teaches the dhāraṇī meant to enhance the act of worship, and explains its benefits.