When they related this to Buddha, he poured water into a little vessel and asked, “Will this water remain without evaporating?” Because India is very hot, the Hearers thought, “In a few days the water will evaporate. This must mean that our virtue will not remain at all.” They were extremely worried. Then Buddha asked, “If this water is poured into the ocean, how long will it stay? It will remain until the ocean itself evaporates.”

Therefore, if you do not just leave this virtue, but dedicate it, making a prayer petition that it becomes a cause of help and happiness for limitless sentient beings, then until that actually occurs, the virtue will not be lost. Like a small amount of water poured into the ocean, which will last until the ocean itself dries up, so the fruit of your virtue will remain until it has ripened. The benefit of hearing, thinking, and meditating, in terms of causing all persons to possess happiness and the causes of happiness, is inconceivable, but if it is not dedicated, then when anger arises, it will be destroyed. This benefit cannot be seen with the eye, but it is inconceivable.

-- Kensur Lekden