Cultivating Trust in the Great Vehicle
The Benefits of Trust

At this point, the bodhisattva Great Skillful Trust said, “Blessed One, what are the benefits of possessing the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle?”

The Blessed One replied, “Noble son, there are limitless benefits of having the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle. However, I shall indicate only a fraction of them here.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle causes them to evolve by increasing their roots of virtue.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle protects everyone because it safeguards the mind of awakening from the attitudes of hearers, solitary buddhas, and other beings of lesser fortune.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle is deeply meaningful because it leads straight to one’s own welfare and the welfare of others.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle is profound because it creates interest in all aspects of the teaching on the profound realm of phenomena.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle is powerful because it leads to the accomplishment of the bodhisattvas’ great supernatural abilities.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle is majestic because it leads to the ripening of limitless beings.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle is far reaching because it leads to the purification of buddha realms [F.28.b] and the attainment of all buddha qualities.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle is immutable because it does not waver when facing the work of demons and the challenges to the Great Vehicle caused by non-Buddhists.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle is potent because it leads to eliminating the doubts of all beings by means of great learning.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle causes accomplishment because it leads to all perfect and pure endeavors of the bodhisattvas.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle is caring because it leads to the attainment of great practices for oneself and others and because it tames the activities of body, speech, and mind.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle accords with the fulfillment of the perfection of generosity because it leads to the fulfillment of the wishes of all beings.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle accords with the fulfillment of the perfection of discipline because it promotes physical and verbal nonviolence among all beings.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle accords with the fulfillment of the perfection of patience because it enables one to patiently accept all misguided beings and all the hardships and sufferings of saṃsāra.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle accords with the fulfillment of the perfection of diligence because it causes one to tirelessly increase the factors of virtue for endless eons.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle [F.29.a] accords with the fulfillment of the perfection of concentration because it leads to the attainment of the absorption that achieves the welfare of all beings.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle accords with the fulfillment of the perfection of knowledge because it makes one accomplish the Dharma of the Buddha by abiding in the exalted and unsurpassed wisdom that transcends the world.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle accords with gathering the accumulations because it leads to the genuine teaching that brings liberation to limitless groups of beings through the three vehicles.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle accords with offering homage and service to the Thus-Gone One because it leads to the growth of limitless merit and to accruing the merit of the extraordinary buddha realms.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle accords with full comprehension because it leads one to meet the Buddha, the bodhisattvas, and the spiritual friend.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle pierces one with loving compassion because it solidifies the wish that limitless beings may be happy, free from suffering, and without affliction.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle is a great encouragement because it leads bodhisattvas to abstain from all types of confused and negative behavior.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle is stable because it prevents one from being disheartened by any misguided being or any hardship and suffering in saṃsāra.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle makes one become familiar with the practice because it leads one to untiringly and diligently accrue vast amounts of merit day and night. [F.29.b]

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle makes one learned because it fosters expertise in the five fields of learning.

“Noble son, the bodhisattvas’ trust in the Great Vehicle that allows them to accomplish the Great Vehicle is pleasant because it always gives rise to a smiling face and honest speech.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as a jewel because it is without any stains of harm, distrust, fear, doubt, or trouble.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as the moon because it soothes both the body and mind with its vastness, wholesomeness, joy, and perfect happiness.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as the sky because it thoroughly pervades the whole of the Dharma of the Buddha.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as a ship filled with many types of jewels because it contains limitless merit and wisdom.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as a great elixir because it is the main factor that brings about the happiness of all beings.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as a bridge because it takes beings beyond the lower realms and all unfortunate existences.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as a seed because it is the source from which the crop of the entire Dharma of the Buddha and roots of virtue of beings spring forth.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as armor because it protects from, and is unharmed by, all weapons of the enemies of disturbing emotions and subsidiary disturbing emotions.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as a great treasure because it gathers, accumulates, and contains all perfect jewels of both worldly and supramundane roots of virtue. [F.30.a]

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as a king because it has the power to surpass all other forms of trust.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as a panacea because it functions as an antidote to the poisons that have long been linked with the lower realms, ill will, unwholesome and negative actions, and disturbing emotions.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as a vajra because it overcomes all the weapons aimed at trust that otherwise threaten to cut the roots of virtue.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as water because it counteracts the fires of wailing, suffering, unhappiness, conflict, torment, and sorrow.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as a fine tool because it is an antidote to the enemies of disturbing emotions that create unwanted situations.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as the moon because it continuously increases the entirety of the wholesome Dharma.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as the sun because it brings light to endless beings through limitless wisdom.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as a great cloud because it leads to the endless rain of Dharma.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as a lightning because it destroys all attacks from non-Buddhists and opposing forces.

“Trust in the Great Vehicle of the bodhisattvas should be viewed as a bountiful harvest because it leads to conquering the obscurations of all beings.

“Noble son, I clearly see that in the past, [F.30.b] at the time of the perfect buddha Kāśyapa, right here in Rājagṛha, there lived an unfortunate woman who, being a sweeper, was the lowest in the village. One day she heard that the Buddha and his assembly of monks had been requested to visit a certain householder’s property. Since she was tormented by hunger and thirst, she also went to where the householder lived. In the courtyard, she saw the Buddha and his assembly of monks sitting peacefully as their meals were being offered. As the woman beheld their perfect behavior and saw the Buddha sitting so beautifully, surrounded by his followers, she exclaimed, ‘Oh, the Blessed One, the perfect Buddha Kāśyapa is so beautiful to behold; he has such serene conduct and his followers are so graceful!’ Then, with this intense feeling of trust, she passed away. Now, because of this she was born in the Heaven of the Thirty-Three, and by this very cause she eventually achieved liberation in unsurpassed and completely perfect awakening.

“Noble son, I clearly see that in the past, at the time of the perfect buddha Vipaśyin, right here in Rājagṛha, there lived a brahmin known as Hungry One. Hungry One had a natural distrust in the precious Buddha, Dharma, and Saṅgha, so he certainly had no interest in serving them either. At that time the Blessed One, the perfect buddha Vipaśyin, arrived in Rājagṛha to collect alms. Since the brahmin also had some affairs to attend to in Rājagṛha, he also went there. When he arrived, he saw for himself the Thus-Gone One, the Blessed Vipaśyin. As he beheld him, he noticed his beautiful appearance and said, ‘Oh, the body of the Blessed Vipaśyin is beautifully adorned with the excellent signs and marks of a thus-gone one, a worthy one, a perfect buddha!’ Having in this way gained a moment of trust, he passed away. [F.31.a] As a result of that trust he was born among the gods in the Yāma Heaven, and through that very cause he gradually progressed toward the liberation of unexcelled and completely perfect awakening.

“Noble son, I clearly see that in the past, at the time of the perfect buddha Kāśyapa, right here in Rājagṛha, there lived five hundred non-Buddhists. With the thought of looking for opportunities, they went to see the perfect buddha Kāśyapa. At that time the Blessed One, the perfect buddha Kāśyapa was with a retinue of several hundreds of thousands of people who sat before him as he taught the Dharma. At that time the five hundred non-Buddhists said, ‘Oh my! The perfect buddha Kāśyapa speaks so pleasantly!’ After attaining a moment of trust in this way, they passed away. As a result of that trust they were born into the class of gods that live in the Heaven of Joy, and through that very cause they gradually became ordained within my teaching and eventually attained the exhaustion of defilements.

“Noble son, I clearly see that the Thus-Gone One sends forth light rays to free those beings who are born in hell from their hellish states. As the light touches those beings who have been born in hell, it interrupts all the suffering that pains those beings in hell and brings them happiness. This causes them to think, ‘Whose strength has interrupted all the suffering that pains us beings in hell and instead brought us happiness?’ Then, through the blessing of the Buddha, they become able to see the Thus-Gone One’s body. As they behold the Buddha, they say, ‘This is the one whose strength has interrupted all the suffering that pains us beings in hell and brought us happiness! His power is indeed great!’ After attaining a moment of trust in this way, they pass away and transmigrate. In accord with this cause they are born as gods and gradually obtain trust in my teaching. [F.31.b] Some of them attain nirvāṇa through the vehicle of the hearers, some through the vehicle of the solitary buddhas, and some become destined for unsurpassed and completely perfect awakening through the Great Vehicle.

“Noble son, again, I clearly see that when beings, who are beyond count, feel just a single moment of weak and inferior trust in the Great Vehicle of the Thus-Gone One, some of them will be turned away from the lower realms, while some of them will be turned away from the body of defilement. When they relinquish that, they also attain mundane excellence. A weak and diminutive mind that trusts the Great Vehicle will also obtain all the excellence that is beyond the world.

“Noble son, even a single benefit‍—however weak and diminutive‍—of trust in the vehicle of the bodhisattvas can become limitless in this way. So what need is there to mention the benefits of a continuous and river-like trust in the vehicle of the bodhisattvas? They could hardly be listed, even if one had a trillion eons.”