法苑珠林 21.9

21.9

Also, the Saṅghāṭa-sūtra says: The Buddha addressed the Bodhisattva Sarvanīvaraṇaviṣkambhin, saying, 'If the trichiliocosm were filled with sesame seeds, and there were as many cakravartins as that number, if someone were to practice giving to such cakravartins, it would not equal giving to a single srotāpanna. The merit obtained from giving to all the srotāpannas in the trichiliocosm would not equal giving to a single sakṛdāgāmin. Giving to all the sakṛdāgāmins in the trichiliocosm would not equal giving to a single anāgāmin. Giving to all the anāgāmins in the trichiliocosm would not equal giving to a single arhat. Giving to all the arhats in the trichiliocosm would not equal giving to a single pratyekabuddha. Giving to all the pratyekabuddhas in the trichiliocosm would not equal giving to a single bodhisattva. Giving to all the bodhisattvas in the trichiliocosm would not equal giving with a pure mind aroused toward a single Tathāgata. The merit of giving with a pure mind aroused toward all the Tathāgatas in the trichiliocosm would not surpass the merit of an ordinary person hearing this Dharma-gate, let alone copying, reciting, and upholding it.' At that time, the entire great assembly addressed the Buddha, saying, 'World-Honoured One, what is the measure of the merit of a single Buddha?' The Buddha said, 'Even if all beings as numerous as the dust particles of the great earth and the sands of the Ganges were to become bodhisattvas of the tenth bhūmi, all the merit of such bodhisattvas of the tenth bhūmi would not equal the power of the merit of a single Buddha.'