念佛鏡 2.41

2.41

答：「讀經功德，亦少於念佛功德。大行和上說：『不念佛修行讀經，猶如讀藥方，念佛猶如服藥。』讀藥方，病即難除；服藥，病則易差。讀經修道功德，亦少於念佛功德，正是修道，以此事故功德最多。」

Answer: "The merit of reading sūtras is also less than the merit of buddhānusmṛti. Preceptor Daxing said: 'Cultivating practice by reading sūtras without buddhānusmṛti is like reading a medicine prescription; buddhānusmṛti is like taking the medicine.' If one reads a medicine prescription, the disease is difficult to cure; if one takes the medicine, the disease is easily healed. The merit of cultivating the Way by reading sūtras is also less than the merit of buddhānusmṛti; [the latter] is truly cultivating the Way, and for this reason its merit is supreme."