法苑珠林 20.7

20.7

Respectfully contemplating: the compassion of the Greatly Awakened and the holiness of the Utmost Culmination, with past blessings and fortunate destinies, secretly resonate in accordance with the time. Hearing the names and paying homage, superior karma is initiated in an instant; relying on the mind to transform one another, the marvelous fruit is achieved across vast kalpas. Thus, the sounds of the fifty-three Buddhas benefited [beings] before the dust motes; the light of the three thousand consummate realities shone resplendently behind the sands of the Gaṅgā. The efficacy of the twenty-five Buddhas rescues from the distress of suffering; the seven treasures of the Sahā world do not equal the blessing of a single homage. Although the cause of joining one's palms seems remote, the retribution of the tree king gradually approaches. Therefore, we know that paying homage and singing praises never waste merit; sincerely presenting respect secretly yields welfare and benefit. Hence the Mahāprajñāpāramitā-śāstra states: “If a bodhisattva has not yet entered the stage of the Dharma, being far removed from the Buddha-Dharma destroys roots of goodness; if dwelling in defilements, they cannot even save themselves, how could they save others? Therefore, they should not be far removed from the Buddhas. Just as an infant does not leave its mother, a traveler on the road does not leave provisions, during heat one does not leave the cool breeze, during cold one does not leave a warm fire, crossing water one does not leave a sturdy boat, and suffering from illness one does not leave an excellent physician, so too a bodhisattva never leaves the Buddhas. Why is this? Parents, relatives, friends, gods, human kings, and the like cannot benefit me in crossing the sea of suffering; only the Buddha, the World-Honoured One, causes me to escape suffering. Therefore, one should constantly be mindful never to leave the Buddhas.”