How much will you contribute to support yourself?  How much more would you contribute to support your family?  How much more will you contribute for your community, country and the world?   If we contribute 10 dollars, we can buy someone a meal; if we contribute 10 million dollars,   we can perhaps build a school; if we contribute 10 billion dollars, maybe we can establish a fund which feeds an organization or a small country.  What if we contribute the wealth of the entire world, in all potential worlds and  universes?  We would imagine that a lot could be done, which leads to infinite merit… Yet, according to the all knowing Buddha (who possesses 5 eyes which penetrate all truths in this universe), the merit of contribute all wealth of all universes, is not even comparable to the merit of studying, following, practicing, and sharing this Sutra.  Do you know why?  Do you believe?

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福智无比分第二十四

BLESSINGS AND WISDOM BEYOND COMPARE, TWENTY-FOUR

须菩提！若三千大千世界中所有诸须弥山王，如是等七宝聚，有人持用布施；若人以此《般若波罗蜜经》，乃至四句偈等，受持读诵、为他人说，于前福德百分不及一，百千万亿分，乃至算数譬喻所不能及。
“Subhuti, if (on the one hand) a man, in his practice of charity (dana) gives away the seven treasures piled up in a heap as great as all the Mounts Sumeru in the Universe put together, and (on the other hand) another man receives, holds (in mind) reads and recites even a four-line stanza of this Prajna-paramita Sutra, and expounds it to others, the merit resulting from the former’s dana will not be worth one-hundredth, one-thousandth, one-ten-thousandth and one-hundred thousandth part of that obtained by the latter, as no conceivable comparison can be made between the two.”

When one align to the truth of this Sutra, either through reading, reciting, or sharing, celestial beings will offer their protection and blessings, and one is at one with all Buddhas and their disciples.  How can it be so?  It is because all Buddhas and teachings arise from the truth of this Sutra, therefore when we align ourselves with this same truth, we are at one with all Buddhas, and their disciples and celestial beings.  From author’s own experience, even the writing of the name of the Sutra on a white board would radiate the light of truth and power.  Such is the wonder of this Sutra.

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尊重正教分第十二

REVERING THE PROPER TEACHING, TWELVE

复次，须菩提！随说是经，乃至四句偈等，当知此处，一切世间、天、人、阿修罗，皆应供养，如佛塔庙，何况有人尽能受持读诵。
“Furthermore, Subhuti, wheresoever this sutra or even one of its four-line stanzas is expounded, you should know that all devas, men and asuras should make their offerings there as if the place was a Buddha stupa or a Buddha temple. How much more so if someone is able to receive, hold (in mind), read and recite the whole sutra!

须菩提！当知是人成就最上第一希有之法，若是经典所在之处，则为有佛，若尊重弟子。
“Subhuti, you should know that such a person will achieve the highest and rarest Dharma. Wheresoever this sutra may be found the Buddha and His respected disciples will be there also.”