“Venerable Pūrṇa, moreover, imagine the merit that would be created if all beings were to perform acts of generosity toward the Buddha and the assembly of monks for as many eons as there are grains of sand in the Ganges. If you compare that with the merit that comes from a bodhisattva great being offering the Buddha and the assembly of monks a single meal, the merit of the former would not constitute even one percent of the merit of offering the meal. Nor would it measure a thousandth, a hundred thousandth, a millionth, or a trillionth of that. In fact, no number, fraction, enumeration, analogy, or comparison would suffice. And why? Because of the dedication of merit.

“Venerable Pūrṇa, the recipient of the generosity of that bodhisattva and of those beings is the same here. Yet, although the recipient is no different, the generosity of beings lacks a dedication and therefore it does not constitute even one percent of the merit of the bodhisattva. Nor would it measure a thousandth, a hundred thousandth, a millionth, or a trillionth of that. In fact, no number, fraction, enumeration, analogy, or comparison would suffice.

“Venerable Pūrṇa, moreover, when bodhisattva great beings practice generosity, they should make the aspiration, ‘Now that I have given this gift in this manner, may the virtue that has been created—the merit and the goodness that have been created—be the cause of all beings in hell being freed from their hellish states; may all those beings who have been born as animals be freed from the animal realm; may all beings living in the realm of the Lord of Death be freed from it; may all bodhisattva great beings in all the limitless and endless worlds who have newly entered this vehicle reach the state of nonregression; and may all nonregressing bodhisattvas quickly perfect the state of omniscience!’ The more bodhisattvas create roots of virtue, the more they will master the perfection of generosity and increase the roots of virtue limitlessly, and that much closer will they be to the state of omniscience. You should understand that such is the bodhisattvas’ skill in means. The more they avoid thinking of the roots of virtue as their own, the more they increase the merit limitlessly. And why? Because the state of omniscience is limitless.

“Venerable Pūrṇa, this is how bodhisattva great beings give away all of their possessions. Since they give away their roots of virtue, which are immaterial, what need is there to mention material things? Therefore, bodhisattva great beings give away everything, both material and immaterial. And since they give away everything, they achieve omniscience. Such bodhisattvas proclaim, ‘I do not see anything, whether internal or external, whether material or immaterial, that I will not relinquish, give away, or make an offering of. I do not see any such thing.’ With this lion’s roar they cause joy.

“Venerable Pūrṇa, once bodhisattva great beings awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood, they perceive by means of the wisdom of omniscience. At that point they let out a lion’s roar, proclaiming, ‘I do not see anything, whether internal or external, whether material or immaterial, that I have not relinquished, given away, or offered. Because I do not see any such thing, I have awakened to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and now I do not see anything that I have not awakened to or that I do not understand. Just as I do not see any such thing, so have I awakened to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and obtained the sacred perfection of all phenomena. Now there is nothing whatsoever that I have not awakened to or that I do not understand. Just as there is nothing whatsoever that I have not relinquished or given away, so also do I not see anything that I have not awakened to or that I do not understand.’

“Venerable Pūrṇa, since bodhisattva great beings relinquish all inner and outer things in this way, they see that, among all inner and outer phenomena, there is nothing whatsoever that they do not awaken to or that they do not understand. Venerable Pūrṇa, this is how bodhisattva great beings should train in the perfection of generosity. When bodhisattvas train in this manner, they receive the name ‘bodhisattva’ and become inseparable from the mind of omniscience. Whenever bodhisattva great beings become inseparable from the mind of omniscience, the evil Māra will have no opportunity to cause harm, let alone the yakṣas and piśācas—it would be impossible for them to cause any harm.

“Venerable Pūrṇa, anywhere bodhisattvas go while bringing to mind the properties of omniscience, no human or nonhuman being will find an opportunity to cause them harm. And why? Because such considerations possess that much power. Thus, bringing omniscience to mind in this way has such inconceivable and vast benefits. Venerable Pūrṇa, the actions performed by bodhisattva great beings for the sake of awakening benefit beings in this way and take care of them.

“Venerable Pūrṇa, in this way, bodhisattva great beings surpass all childish and ordinary beings as well as all the hearers and solitary buddhas. Awakening to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood, they benefit and take care of these beings. In order to eradicate the disturbing emotions of beings, they also teach the Dharma. They also bring to nirvāṇa limitless beings within the three groups of beings.

“Venerable Pūrṇa, that is how bodhisattva great beings awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood. Then, compared to all childish and ordinary beings as well as all the hearers and solitary buddhas, they are known as ‘the supreme, foremost, superior, preeminent, sublime, unsurpassed, and unexcelled beings.’ Even after they pass into nirvāṇa, they continue to benefit beings and take care of them. Whoever venerates, respects, honors, and pays homage to the stūpa of a thus-gone one by offering incense, flowers, garlands, ointments, powders, garments, parasols, flags, and banners to it produces roots of virtue that make them destined for nirvāṇa. Whoever offers a single flower to the stūpa of a thus-gone one without any feelings of attachment has been prophesied by the Blessed One to be destined for nirvāṇa.

“Venerable Pūrṇa, this is how bodhisattva great beings benefit and take care of others while they are present. Likewise, even as they awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and pass into nirvāṇa, they benefit and take care of beings. There is, in fact, no time at all when bodhisattva great beings do not take care of others. Apart from a thus-gone one, there is no other being that can be seen to possess the qualities of a bodhisattva. It would be impossible for anyone else to have such qualities.

“Venerable Pūrṇa, think of gold. Whether it is heated or not, it can still provide for beings’ livelihood. Whether it is melted or not, or beaten or not, it can still provide for beings’ livelihood. Venerable Pūrṇa, the actions of bodhisattva great beings for the sake of awakening can provide for beings’ livelihood in the same way. Moreover, as they awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and pass into nirvāṇa, they continue to provide for beings.

“Venerable Pūrṇa, think of the moon and the sun and how they sustain the four continents, and how because of them the beings on all four continents can carry out their activities. Whenever the moon and the sun are out, they shine brightly and beings are able to distinguish night and day, the fortnights, the seasons, and the years. Venerable Pūrṇa, in the same way, bodhisattva great beings take care of beings when they are present. Moreover, as they awaken to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and pass into nirvāṇa, they continue to take care of beings. Venerable Pūrṇa, since bodhisattva great beings possess such vast qualities, there is no time at all when they do not take care of beings.

“Venerable Pūrṇa, if a merchant were to make a profit worth hundreds of thousands of gold coins, he would secure the well-being of a limitless number of beings, who could then enjoy his amassed wealth. Venerable Pūrṇa, likewise, if bodhisattva great beings secure the well-being of numerous beings even when they remain seated or stationary, then clearly they also secure the hearers’ well-being by the power of awakening to unsurpassed and perfect buddhahood and passing into nirvāṇa. Therefore, Venerable Pūrṇa, whether they act, awaken, or pass into nirvāṇa, there is no time at all when bodhisattva great beings do not take care of others. The characteristic of a holy being is to be well oneself while ensuring the well-being of others.

“Venerable Pūrṇa, consider the analogy of a king from the ruling class who has been anointed. Such a king ensures the well-being of all brahmins and householders when he is alive. Even after he passes away, by means of his past magnificence, his realm remains free from harm by robbers and bandits. Venerable Pūrṇa, likewise, when bodhisattva great beings are present, they ensure the well-being of others. Even when they awaken and pass into nirvāṇa, they continue to ensure the well-being of limitless others. They ensure the well-being of anyone who recollects their discipline and recollects their absorption, insight, liberation, and vision of liberated wisdom. No terror by any human or nonhuman being will frighten such beings.”

Then the Blessed One said to Venerable Śāradvatīputra, “Śāradvatīputra, excellent, excellent! Śāradvatīputra, that is how it is. Such beings will not be frightened by any kind of terror. Whoever recollects the discipline, absorption, insight, liberation, and vision of liberated wisdom of the Thus-Gone One will not be frightened by any terror whatsoever.”

Venerable Śāradvatīputra said to the Blessed One, “Blessed One, it is wonderful that the Blessed Buddha possesses such vast qualities!

The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, the bodhisattvas should also be seen to possess vast qualities.”

Śāradvatīputra said, “Blessed One, what are the vast qualities that the bodhisattva great beings possess?”

The Blessed One said, “Śāradvatīputra, arousing the mind set upon unsurpassed and perfect awakening—that is vast. And why? Because the state of a thus-gone one—the state of a buddha—is a vast state.”