金剛般若論會釋 2.23

2.23

Vasubandhu's treatise states: The subsequent scriptural text clarifies that within that merit, this merit is progressively superior. Relinquishing one's life is weightier than relinquishing material resources, jewels, and the like; when compared, it is slightly superior, for giving one's life surpasses wealth. While those who thus relinquish countless lives receive retribution of merit, this merit of upholding the scripture surpasses that merit. Merely relinquishing life in this way torments body and mind, yet the merit is still limitless; how much more so when relinquishing many lives for the sake of the Dharma—how could the merit not be immense? Yet although that merit is immense, it is still not equal to the merit of upholding and expounding the scripture, because it is the cause of unexcelled bodhi, whereas the former is merely an auxiliary merit. Therefore, wishing in future lives to draw close to and make offerings to the Tathāgata and plant the provision of merit, when accepting, upholding, and expounding this scripture, one must not give rise to indolence and the like, because the merit of upholding and expounding surpasses relinquishing many lives, being the cause of bodhi. This refers to fulfilling one's sought-after provision of merit; for this meaning, the subsequent scripture appears.