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Chapter 23: What Merits the Greatest Field of Blessings?
I recall a joke that goes like this:
A student said to a math teacher, ''My father would like to listen to your lecture. Is it okay?''
The math teacher replied, ''Certainly, is he interested in math?''
The student answered, ''No! My father thinks that sleeping is the greatest blessing!''
The math teacher asked, ''What does sleeping have to do with mathematics?''
The student answered, ''My father is a chronic insomniac. All treatments have been useless. After hearing how I can easily fall asleep in your math class, he wants to come and try!''
Ha ha ha!
The greatest field of blessings for the father is sleep!
What bears the greatest field of blessings for practitioners?
I believe it is:
To pray for buddhas to remain in the saha world.
To pray for buddhas to turn the dharma wheel.
This yields the greatest field of blessings.
Some people think that giving produces the greatest field of blessings. This is also correct, as one can receive the karmic merits of the Heavens through giving.
Some people think that providing offerings to the Sangha will produce the greatest field of blessings. This is also correct, as providing offerings to the Sangha, one will gather a great field of blessings, and easily receive the blessings of buddhas and bodhisattvas.
Some people think that taking care of sick people will produce the greatest field of blessings. This is also correct, as sickness is the most painful thing. If one can remove the sufferings of patients, the virtues and merits are naturally great.
However, for one to truly earn the greatest field of blessings is:
To pray for buddhas to remain in the saha world.
To pray for buddhas to turn the dharma wheel.
This occurs because only by so doing, the Buddhadharma will exist in the saha world.
The Buddhadharma benefits both human and celestial realms, therefore producing the greatest merits and field of blessings.
If there is no Buddhadharma, what is the field of blessings?
I remember that:
When Shakyamuni Buddha was about to enter nirvana, there was a layman named Cunda who prayed for the Buddha to remain in the saha world.
The Buddha delayed his entering into nirvana for three months and discoursed one more significant sutra.
Moreover:
Immediately after achieving enlightenment under the bodhi tree for forty-nine days, Shakyamuni Buddha only wanted to liberate himself into nirvana without teaching the Buddhadharma or saving sentient beings.
Then, Maha Brahma and Indra descended.
They offered the Buddha a right spiral conch and a golden wheel.
They beseeched the Buddha to expound the dharma.
The Buddha then spoke the dharma and turned the dharma wheel.
In this way, Buddhism was able to spread throughout the world.
This really merits the greatest field of blessings!
Which one is greater, a worldly field of blessings or a supramundane field of blessings?
My key formula on the field of blessings is:
To pray for buddhas to remain in the saha world.
To pray for buddhas to turn the dharma wheel.
This is the greatest formula for the perfect accomplishment of provisions.
I composed two verses:
Field of blessings, field of blessings
Chased by everyone diligently
Accumulation of gold, silver and treasures
None can be carried away from the world
Additionally?
Field of blessings, field of blessings
Is not as good as having karmic affinity with a buddha
Pray for buddhas to turn the dharma wheel
Merits will manifest before one's eyes
This is the true formula for the greatest field of blessings!
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