諸經要集 2.51

2.51

Furthermore, the Nirvāṇa-sūtra says: 'After my nirvāṇa, if there are those who get to hear such subtle and wondrous Mahāyāna sūtras and give rise to faith and reverence, you should know that they will not fall into evil destinies for hundreds of thousands of koṭis of kalpas in future ages.' It also says: 'If there are those who have brought forth the mind [for bodhi] in the presence of one Gaṅgā['s sands] of Buddhas, only then in an evil age will they be able not to slander this Dharma, but to cherish and delight in this scripture, though they cannot distinguish and broadly explain it for others. If there are those who have brought forth the mind in the presence of two Gaṅgā['s sands] of Buddhas, only then in an evil age will they be able not to slander this Dharma, but with correct understanding, faith, and joy uphold, embrace, read, and recite it, though they cannot broadly explain it for others. If there are those who have brought forth the mind in the presence of three Gaṅgā['s sands] of Buddhas, only then in an evil age will they be able not to slander this Dharma, and even copy the scrolls of the sūtra; although they speak it for others, they do not yet understand the profound meaning. If there are those who have brought forth the mind in the presence of four Gaṅgā['s sands] of Buddhas, only then in an evil age will they be able not to slander this scripture, and even copy the scrolls of the sūtra, and broadly explain for others the meaning of one part out of sixteen parts. If there are those who have brought forth the mind in the presence of five Gaṅgā['s sands] of Buddhas, then even in an evil age they will broadly explain for others the meaning of eight parts out of sixteen parts. If there are those who have brought forth the mind in the presence of six Gaṅgā['s sands] of Buddhas, then even in an evil age they will broadly explain for others the meaning of twelve parts out of sixteen parts. If there are those who have brought forth the mind in the presence of seven Gaṅgā['s sands] of Buddhas, then even in an evil age they will broadly explain for others the meaning of fourteen parts out of sixteen parts. If there are those who have brought forth the mind in the presence of eight Gaṅgā['s sands] of Buddhas, then even in an evil age they will copy the scrolls of the sūtra and also encourage others to copy them; they will themselves be able to listen and receive it, and also encourage others to understand, listen, and receive it, practicing in accordance with what is taught, fully able to understand and exhaust its meaning and flavour.'