無為福勝分第十一
須菩提！如恆河沙中所有沙數,如是沙等恆河,於意云 何？是諸恆河沙,寧為多不？
須菩提言:：甚多。世尊！但諸恆河,尚多無數,何況其沙？
須菩提！我今實言告汝,若有善男子,善女人,以七寶滿爾所恆河沙數三千大千世界,以用布施,得福多不？
須菩提言：甚多。世尊！
佛告須菩提！若善男子,善女人,於此經中,乃至受持四句偈等,為他人說,而此福德,勝前福德。
My rendition: The unconstrained always the greatest
“Subhuti, what do you think? If there were as many Ganges Rivers as the grains of sand in the Ganges, wouldn’t the amount of sand contained in all those Ganges Rivers be great?” Subhuti said, “Extremely great, World Honored One. If even the number of the Ganges Rivers is innumerable, how many more will their grains of sand be?” “Subhuti, now I tell you truthfully: If a good man or good woman filled as many trichiliocosms (三千大千世界) as the grains of sand in all those Ganges Rivers with the seven jewels, and gave them away in charity, wouldn’t this merit be great?” “Extremely great, World Honored One.” The Buddha said to Subhuti: “If a good man or good woman is takes vows on this Sutra like a four-line verse etc. and explain its teachings to others, his or her merit will be far greater.”
Paul's comment: No matter how wild one's imagination in expressing greatness, one can't top the greatness unconstrained by one's perception. The limited is always less than the unlimited.
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