仁王護國般若波羅蜜多經疏 1.9

1.9

Second, clarifying the superior virtues: the prajñā that is expressed can give birth to all buddhas; how could there be any comparison to the teaching that expresses it? The 'Chapter on Contemplating the Tathāgata' states: 'If someone were to fill with the seven treasures three-thousand great thousand worlds as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, and give them in charity so that all sentient beings of the great thousand worlds attain the fruit of arhatship, it would not equal someone who, in regard to this scripture, gives rise to even a single thought of pure faith, not to mention one who can receive, hold, read, recite, and understand a single phrase.' Furthermore, the 'Chapter on the Two Truths' states: 'If someone can give rise to a single thought of pure faith in this scripture, that person will transcend the suffering and difficulties of birth and death for a hundred kalpas, a thousand kalpas, a hundred thousand myriads of kalpas; how much more so the merit obtained from copying, receiving, holding, reading, reciting, and explaining it for the liberation of others—it will be equal to and no different from that of all buddhas of the ten directions.' Revealing the superior virtues of the scripture shows that the Dharma is rare to hear; sacrificing one's whole body is still light, while half a verse is heavy; it is the correct cause of transcendence spoken identically by all buddhas. If not through this scripture, there is no way to attain liberation; to cause beings to give rise to liberation, this scripture was spoken.