The Profound Consciousness-Only Meaning of the Diamond Sutra (68)

After attaining realization through receiving and holding the Diamond Sutra, one's wisdom grows ever greater, and one gains the ability to expound the Dharma for others, enabling them to attain realization as well. The merit of the Dharma-giving itself is very great, and when sentient beings benefit from it, the merit becomes even greater. Throughout the three incalculable kalpas required to achieve Buddhahood, by liberating sentient beings from the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death, and forming karmic connections with immeasurable sentient beings, one will in the future have numerous disciples who follow and learn from one, and upon this foundation one can establish one's own Buddha-land. The establishment of a land must be composed of disciples at various levels; without disciples, one cannot establish a land, much less achieve Buddhahood. Only by leading disciples in cultivation, and only when the disciples have achieved accomplishment, can one's own cultivation advance to a higher stage and attain a higher fruit. Therefore, receiving, holding, reading, and reciting the Diamond Sutra, and realizing the vajra mind (vajra-citta)—this merit is immeasurably vast.

The vajra mind (vajra-citta) is also an unconditioned mind, without mental activity belonging to the three realms, doing nothing. Precisely because it does nothing, it can do everything and accomplish all dharmas. The merit contained within the unconditioned mind is extremely great; it can never be erased, can be destroyed by no one, and can be taken away by no one. How supremely excellent, then, is this unconditioned merit—it is beyond words, far more excellent than the conditioned merit of giving the seven treasures; it cannot be compared, cannot be spoken of.