19 - Absolute Reality Is the Only Foundation

Subhūti, what do you think? If anyone filled three thousand galaxies of worlds with the seven treasures and gave all away in fights of alms, would he gain great merit?

Yes, indeed, World-Honored One, he would gain great merit!

Subhūti, if such merit was real, the Tathāgata would not have declared it to be great, but because it is without a foundation the Tathāgata characterized it as "great."