法苑珠林 50.7

50.7

如正法念經云。有四種恩甚為難報。何等為四。一者母。二者父。三者如來。四者說法師。若有供養此四種人得無量福。現在為人之所讚歎。於未來世能得菩提。

As the Saddharmasmṛtyupasthāna-sūtra says: 'There are four kinds of kindness that are extremely difficult to repay. What are the four? First is one's mother; second is one's father; third is the Tathāgata; and fourth is the Dharma master who preaches the Dharma. If anyone makes offerings to these four kinds of persons, they will obtain immeasurable merit; in the present they will be praised by people, and in future lives they will be able to attain bodhi.'