The Lotus Sūtra 5.84

5.84

妙法蓮華經卷第五

And who are free from pride, Always contemplate wisdom, Never get angry at difficult questions, And teach in accordance With the questioner’s capacity! If there is anyone Who can carry out these practices, Their merit will be immeasurable. If one were to see such an expounder of the Dharma Who has perfected merits like these, One should scatter heavenly flowers over him And provide him with heavenly garments, Bow until one’s forehead touches his feet, And think of him as if he were a buddha. Furthermore, one should think That before long the expounder of the Dharma

Will approach the terrace of enlightenment, Attain the unconditioned state of noncorruption, And extensively benefit devas and humans. Wherever he dwells, walks, or sits, Or recites even a single verse, A stupa should be built, Made beautiful with adornments, And paid homage in various ways. Wherever the heirs of the Buddha may reside, There the Buddha himself will take pleasure in its use And will always be dwelling, Walking, and sitting within.

The Merits of Joyful Acceptance

Thereupon Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Maitreya addressed the Buddha, saying: “O Bhagavat! If sons and daughters of a virtuous family rejoice in hearing this sutra, how much merit do they acquire?”

And he spoke in verse, saying:

After the Bhagavat’s parinirvāṇa,

If there is anyone who hears this sutra

And rejoices in it,

How much merit do they acquire?

Then the Buddha addressed Bodhisattva Mahāsattva Maitreya, saying: “O Ajita! After the Tathāgata’s parinirvāṇa, suppose those monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen and other wise ones, whether old or young, having rejoiced in hearing this sutra, take leave of the Dharma assembly and go to