sutra of the past vows of earth store bodhisattva - Dharma Realm ...

Sutra of Past Vows of Earth Store Bodhisattva
who had already traveled a long distance and who had not eaten for
three days. By adding that extra weight, that person’s burden would
become even more unbearable.
“World Honored One, I see that beings of Jambudvipa will themselves
receive the benefit of any good deeds they are able to do within the
Buddha’s teaching. That holds true even when the deeds are as small
as a strand of hair, a drop of water, a grain of sand, or a mote of dust.”
After that had been said, an elder named Great Eloquence arose in
the assembly. He had long since been certified to non-production and
was only appearing in the body of an elder to teach and transform
those in the ten directions. Placing his palms together respectfully, he
asked Earth Store Bodhisattva, ”Great Lord, after people in
Jambudvipa die and their close and distant relatives generate merit
by making meal offerings and doing other such good deeds, will the
deceased obtain merit and virtue significant enough to bring about
their liberation?
Earth Store replied, “Elder, based on the awesome power of the
Buddhas, I will now proclaim this principle for the sake of beings of the
present and future. Elder, if beings of the present and future when on
the verge of dying hear the name of one Buddha, one Bodhisattva, or
one Pratyekabuddha, they will attain liberation whether they have
offenses or not.
“When men or women laden with offenses who failed to plant good
causes die, even they can receive one seventh of any merit dedicated
to them by relatives who do good deeds on their behalves. The other
six sevenths of the merit will return to the living relatives who did the
good deeds. It follows that men and women of the present and future
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