Merit of building temples
A simple explanation given by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua 1. Earth Store Sutra The Conditions and Comparative Merit and Virtue of Giving - Chapter 10 - sutra - “Moreover, Earth Store, in the future, leaders of nations, Brahmans, and others may, upon encountering ancient Buddhist stupas and monasteries or sutras and images that are damaged, decaying, or broken, resolve to restore them. Those leaders and good people may then do so themselves or encourage others, as many as hundreds of thousands of people, to help and thereby establish affinities. Those leaders and good people will become Wheel-Turning Kings for hundreds of thousands of successive lives and those who made offerings with them will later be leaders of small nations for as many lives. If they resolve to dedicate that merit before the stupas or monasteries, then, based on that limitless and unbounded reward, those leaders, good people, and their helpers will all eventually complete the path to Buddhahood. Commtary: “Moreover, let me make it a bit more clear, Earth Store Bodhisattva, in the future, leaders of nations, Brahmans, and others may, upon encountering ancient Buddhist stupas and monasteries or sutras and images that are damaged, decaying, or broken, resolve to restore them, volunteer to repair or reconstruct Buddha images and temples. Those leaders and good people may then do so themselves or encourage others. When he cannot make it happen himself, he will gather the strength of as many as hundreds of thousands of people so that everyone repairs the temple together...To help and thereby establish affinities… You donate a little and he donates a little. Everyone develops affinities with the Dharma. Those leaders and good people will become Wheel-Turning Kings…if the Wheel-Turning Kings took a step further to cultivate, he will achieve Buddhahood…for hundreds of thousands of successive lives and those who made offerings with them will later be leaders of small nations for as many lives. If they resolve to dedicate that merit toward others, the Dharma Realm and living beings before the stupas or monasteries, then, based on that limitless and unbounded future reward, those leaders, good people, and their helpers will all eventually complete the path to Buddhahood. 2. The Dharma Flower Sutra Expedient Devices – Chapter 2 - Sutra - Or should there be those who have built temples Out of stone, chandana, or aloeswood, Hovenia, or other timbers, Bricks, clay, and the like, Or those who, in the barren waste, Have piled up earth into a Buddha-shrine, Or even children who, at play, Have piled up sand to make a stupa, All persons such as these, Have realized the Buddha Way. Commtary: Or should there be those who have built temples or Buddha images out of stone, chandana, or aloeswood. Hovenia is also a scented tree. Other timbers could have been used too. They could use bricks or clay to build temples. Or those who, in the barren wastes have piled up earth into a Buddha-shrine. This is very simple. Or even children who, at play have piled up sand to make a stupa. All persons such as these, have realized the Buddha way. People like these who accumulated a vast amount of merit and virtue have now become Buddhas. |