龍舒增廣淨土文 9.28

9.28

The Buddha said: "Although an arhat can receive the offerings of devas and humans, the merit he extends to others is inferior. If someone were to make offerings to arhats throughout the four continents for a hundred years, it would not equal generating the mind of a bodhisattva and making offerings to the Buddha for a single day." For the Buddha, from immeasurable kalpas past, has delivered sentient beings; in everything he gains merit, and the blessing and benefit he confers on others is superior. An arhat brings an end to birth and death and thereupon enters nirvāṇa, perfecting only his own person; therefore the merit he extends to others is inferior. The Buddha also said: "If a person has merit, he has previously made offerings to the Buddha." Do not say either that making offerings to the Buddha is an affair for after death. In recent years, a monk in Xiuzhou practiced exclusive recollection of Amitābha Buddha and prayed for sick people, whereupon they immediately recovered. How can it be said that the Buddha is of no benefit in this present life? Since he can be prayed to for sickness, he can also be petitioned for blessings; one only fears that one's faithful mind is not utmost. If one cultivates the Pure Land with the intention of returning to transform and liberate others, one especially cannot lack merit. Therefore, this must be understood.