16. Purgation of Bad Karma
“Furthermore, Subhuti, if there are good men or women who recite, remember, comprehend, and follow this sutra, but are belittled by others, it is because of their previous evil karma, which would cause them to be reborn in the wretched destinies. But now, by enduring the disparagement of others, this previous bad karma is eradicated, and they will eventually attain unsurpassed complete enlightenment. Subhuti, I remember that countless kalpas ago, before the time of Dipankara Buddha, I have encountered 84,000 billion nayutas of buddhas, made offerings to, and served all of them without fail. However, if someone in the Dharma-ending age can recite, remember, comprehend, and follow this sutra, this person’s virtue will be one hundred times, even a hundred trillion times greater than mine when I made offerings to all these buddhas. In fact, no such comparison either by calculation or analogy is possible. Subhuti, if I fully reveal the virtue attained by good men and good women in the Dharma-ending age who recite, remember, comprehend, and follow this sutra, some people, upon hearing it, would become suspicious, skeptical, even bewildered. Subhuti, you should know that the underlying meaning of this sutra is inconceivable, and its rewards are also inconceivable.”
能 淨 業 障 分 第 十 六
復次須菩提•若善男子善女人•受持讀誦此經•若為 人輕賤•是人先世罪業•應墮惡道•以今世人輕賤 故•先世罪業•即為消滅•當得阿耨多羅三藐三菩 提•須菩提•我念過去•無量阿僧祇劫•於然燈佛 前•得值八百四千萬億那由他諸佛•悉皆供養承事• 無空過者•若復有人•於後末世•能受持讀誦此經• 所得功德•於我所供養諸佛功德•百分不及一•千萬 億分•乃至算數譬喻所不能及•須菩提•若善男子善 女人•於後末世•有受持讀誦此經•所得功德•我若 具說者•或有人聞•心即狂亂•狐疑不信•須菩提• 當知是經義不可思議•果報亦不可思議•
