須菩提 於意云何 若人滿三千大千世界七寶以用布施 是人所得福德寧為多不 須菩提言 甚多 世尊 何以故 是福德即非福德性 是故如來說福德多 若復有人於此經中受持乃至四句偈等為他人說 其福勝彼 何以故 須菩提 一切諸佛及諸佛阿耨多羅三藐三菩提法皆從此經出 須菩提 所謂佛法者 即非佛法
Xū pútí, yú yì yún hé? Ruò rén mǎn sānqiān dàqiān shìjiè qī bǎo yǐ yòng bùshī, shì rén suǒ dé fúdé nìng wéi duō fǒu? Xū pútí yán: Shèn duō, Shì zūn. Hé yǐ gù? Shì fúdé jí fēi fúdé xìng, shì gù Rúlái shuō fúdé duō. Ruò fù yǒu rén yú cǐ jīng zhōng shòu chí nǎi zhì sìjù jì děng, wèi tārén shuō, qí fú shèng bǐ. Hé yǐ gù? Xū pútí, yīqiē zhū Fó jí zhū Fó ānòuduōluó sānmiǎo sānpútí fǎ, jiē cóng cǐ jīng chū. Xū pútí, suǒwèi Fófǎ zhě, jí fēi Fófǎ.
Key Message
No matter how vast material giving may be, it cannot compare to transmitting even a single verse of truth. All Buddhas arise from the wisdom of this sutra.
▸Section 8 compares material giving with the gift of the Dharma, and declares that all Buddhas and the teaching of supreme enlightenment issue forth from this very sutra.
Section 8 compares material giving with the gift of the Dharma, and declares that all Buddhas and the teaching of supreme enlightenment issue forth from this very sutra. Although the merit of filling the trichiliocosm (三千大千世界) with the seven treasures (七寶) and giving them all away is great, to receive and retain even a four-line verse (四句偈) from this sutra and explain it to others brings merit exceeding even that. The reason is: 'All Buddhas and the teaching of supreme enlightenment proceed from this sutra.' The text then adds the paradox: 'What is called the Buddha-Dharma is not in reality the Buddha-Dharma.'