The basic materials for learning Buddhism

The Sutra of Vajracchedika-Prajnaparamita

The Sutra of Diamond

EditorCHIANG CHAN-KAI


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The Sutra of Vajracchedika-Prajnaparamita
The Sutra of Diamond

preface...........................................................................................................7
...............................................................................................................................9
.............................................................................................................................10
.............................................................................................................................10

The Reasons for the Dharma Assembly.............................................11
.................................................................................................................12

Subhutis Request..............................................................................13
.....................................................................................................................15

The Orthodox Doctrine of the Great Vehicle....................................16
Wonderful Practices is to not Rely on Anything
.............................................................................................................19

Genuine Discernment of the Principle of Suchness..........................22

Proper Faith is Rare...........................................................................24
.....................................................................................25
.............................................................................................................25
.............................................................................................................26
.............................................................................................................27

Nothing Attained, Nothing Spoken.....................................................29

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They Arise from Dharma...................................................................31

The One Appearance Is Beyond Appearances...................................33
.............................................................................39

Adorning Pure Lands.........................................................................40
.............................................................................................................42

The Supremacy of Unconditioned Blessing..................................43
Revering the Proper Teaching........................................................44

Accepting and Upholding the Dharma of "Thusness"...................46

.............................................................................................................46
.............................................................................................................48
.............................................................................................................50
.....................................................................................................................51


Leaving Appearances and Still Cessation......................................52
.........................................................................................................54

.........................................................................................56
.............................................................................57
.........................................................................................................60
.....................................................................................................................61
The Merit and Virtue Gained from Upholding this Sutra..............62

.........................................................................................................64

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 .........................................................................................................67

Karmic Obstructions Can Be Purified...........................................68
.....................................................................................................................69
.............................................................................................................71

Ultimately There Is No The SelfEgo.....................................72

.........................................................................................................72
.........................................................................................................74
.........................................................................77
.............................................................................................................77
.............................................................................................................78


Contemplating the Oneness of Everything....................................79

Understanding and Transforming the Dharma Realm...................83

Leaving Both Form and Appearances...........................................84

What is Spoken is not Spoken...................................................86
.............................................................................................................87

No Dharma Can be Obtained....................................................88
A Pure Mind Does Wholesome Deeds......................................88

Blessings and Wisdom Beyond Compare..................................90

Transformung Without There BeingAnyone Transformed........91

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The Dharma Body is not Appearances.......................................92
Not Destroyed Nor Annihilated.................................................94

No Greed and Nothing Acquired...............................................96

The Quiescence of his Awesome Demeanor..............................97

The Principle of a Unity of Appearances.......................................98
.....................................................................................................................99

Knowledge and Views are not Produced..................................101

...............................................................................................102

Responses and Transformations are Unreal.............................103
...........................................................................................................105
...............................................................................................................106
..................................................................................................................................108

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preface

1983

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2012/01/16
2015/09/22

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The Sutra of Vajracchedika-Prajnaparamita

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The Reasons for the Dharma Assembly
Section One

Thus
I had heard, Once upon a time, Buddha dwelt/
livedat Shravasti in the Jeta Grove/ WoodsGarden of the
Benefactor of Orphans and the Forlorn/ Lonely, together with
a gathering of great bodies of Bhikshu, twelve hundred fifty
persons in all.

dwell: Shravasti: Jeta Grove: Garden of the Benefactor of

Orphans and the Forlorn: forlorn: benefactor: orphan:
Bhikshu: in all:

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At meal time the World Honored One put on his robe,

took up his bowl and entered the great city of Shravasti to collect
/ begalms. After he had finished his sequential/ continual
and orderly alms-round, he returned to his dwelling/ house.
When he had finished his meal, he put his robe and bowl away.
After he washed his feet, he arranged his seat and sat down.

the World Honored One: alms: sequential: orderly:

robe: bowl:

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Subhutis Request
Section Two

At
that time, the Elder Subhuti arose/ stood upfrom
his seat in the great assembly, uncovered his right shoulder,
placed his right knee on the ground, joined his two palms together
respectfully and bowed to Buddha addressing.He said:"How
rarely/ wonderfullyit is, the World Honored OneThe Thus
Come One protects and cares well for all bodies of Bodhisattva

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and favors well all bodies of Bodhisattva.The World Honored
OneA good man or a good woman resolves/ decides / makes
up his / her mindon Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, on what should
he rely/ dependHow should he subdue/ surrender / conquer
/ tame / breakin his/hermind"

Elder Subhuti: The Thus Come One: Bodhisattva: favor:

assembly: resolve: Anuttarasamyaksambodhi:
subdue:

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Buddha
said, "SubhutiIt is very good, very excellent
for your saying that. That is just like your words. The Thus Come
One protects/ careswell for all bodies of Bodhisattva and well
favors/ instructs / directs / entrustsand bids all bodies of
Bodhisattva. Now you just listen attentively/ carefully; I shall
tell you about it. A good man or a good woman who has resolved
/ made up his /her mind on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, should
thus rely/ dependon and thus subdue/ surrender / conquer /
tame / break inhis/hermind." "Yes, indeed, the World Honored
One. I am delighted/ pleased / pleasant / enjoyable / gratifying
to hear this, and I show my wish/ hopeto listen it carefully."

favor: subdue: bid:

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The Orthodox Doctrine of the Great Vehicle
Section Three

Buddha told Subhuti, "All bodies of Bodhisattva
Mahasattva, should subdue/make uptheir minds as thus that I
must cause all those living/ human beingswhether they are
born from eggs, wombs, moisture, by transformation, or they
have forms, they have not forms, or they have thought, or they
have not thought, or they are not totally endowed/ furnished
with thought, or they have not total endowed without thoughtto
enter Nirvana without residue/ remainingand be taken across to
Cessation. Those of the immeasurable, numberless, boundless
numbers of living/humanbeings, have been taken across to

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Cessation, yet there are actually not any living/ human beings
having been taken across to Cessation. What is the reason
SubhutiIf a body of Bodhisattva has an appearance of the self/
ego, others, living beings, or a life/ longevity / life span /
lifetime, he is not a man to be called a body of Bodhisattva."

orthodox: doctrine: endow: residue: cessation:

womb: moisture: transformation: totally:
immeasurable: numberless: boundless: take
across:

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1

a
b

2

a
b
3

a
b
c

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Wonderful Practices is not to Rely on Anything
Section Four

"Moreover, Subhuti As to dharmas, a body of
Bodhisattva should not rely/ dependon anything when giving
something as alms. That is to say, when giving something as alms,
he should neither rely on forms, nor sounds, nor smells, nor tastes,
nor tangible objects, nor dharmas. Subhuti A body of
Bodhisattva should give something as alms as thus: he should not

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rely on appearances. What is the reasonIf a body of Bodhisattva
does not rely on appearances when giving something as alms, his
blessings and virtues are inconceivable /unimaginable and
immeasurable. SubhutiWhat is your opinion about itIs the
space in the east conceivable/ imaginableor measurable" "No,
the World Honored One." "SubhutiIs the space in the south,
west, north, or in the intermediate four directions, or above or
below conceivable/ imaginableor measurable" "No, the
World Honored One." "SubhutiThe blessings and virtues of a
body of Bodhisattva who does not rely on appearances when
giving something as alms, are just as inconceivable
/unimaginable and immeasurable. Subhuti A body of
Bodhisattva should rely only on the teachings and being abided."

inconceivable: conceivable: immeasurable:

intermediate:

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Genuine Discernment of the Principle of
Section Five
Suchness

"SubhutiWhat
is your opinion about itIs it possible
to see the Thus Come One in his physical appearances" "No,
the World Honored One, it is impossible to see Thus Come One in
his physical appearances. What is the reasonIt is because that
the physical appearances mentioned by the Thus Come One is not
the physical appearances." Buddha said to Subhuti, "All the
appearances are empty and false. If one sees all appearances as no
appearances, then he does see the true Thus Come One.

genuine: discernment: principle:

suchness: physical: appearance:

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Proper Faith is Rare
Section Six

Subhuti addressed Buddha, "The World Honored One

In the future, will there be many human/ livingbeings who have
heard those words and verses and whether they produce thus true
belief in them or not"

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Buddha
told Subhuti, You do not say soIn the last
five hundred years after the Thus Come One's Cessation, there
will be those great human/ livingbeings, who holding the moral
precepts and cultivating blessings.They will believe in such
phrases and accept them as truth.

Thus Come One's: cessation: moral: precept: cultivate:

blessing:

You
should know that such people not only have
planted good roots with just one body of Buddha, two bodies of

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Buddha, three bodies of Buddha, four, or five bodies of Buddha,
but also they have planted many good roots at the places of
immeasurable tens of millions bodies of Buddha.

immeasurable:

Thus
Come One's knows and sees completely all these
people who have heard those phrases and belived in them
honestly, even a single thought of pure faith. SubhutiSuch
human/ livingbeings will thus obtain/ getimmeasurable
blessings and virtues.

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What
is the reason/ Why is itIt is because that
those human/ livingbeings neither cling to the appearances of
the ego/ self, others, living beings, a life/ longevity, nor cling
to the appearances of dharmas or non-dharmas. What is the
reasonIf those living/ humanbeings' minds cling/ stick
to appearances, they would be attached to the ego/ self, others,
living beings and a life/ longevity. If they cling to appearances
of dharmas, they would be attached to the ego/ self, others,
living beings and a life/ longevity. What is the reasonIf they
cling to the appearances of non-dharmas, that would be attached
to the ego/ self, others, living beings and a life/ longevity.
Therefore, he should not cling to dharmas; he should not cling to
non-dharmas. Because of this principle, the Thus Come One
always says, So called bodies of Bhikshu you areYou should

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all know that the Dharma I have spoken is like a raft. You must let
go of/ give upthem. Much less is the non-dharmas"

cling: appearance: ego: dharma: attach: principle:

raft: let go of:

1
2
3

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Nothing Attained, Nothing Spoken
Section Seven

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"SubhutiWhat
do you think/What is your opinion
about that whether the Thus Come One has attained
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi or not and whether the Thus Come One
have spoken any Dharma or not " Subhuti answered,"If
according to what I have understood that Buddha has said, there is
not any predetermined Dharma of which name is called
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, and there are also not any
predetermined Dharmas, which the Thus Come One can speak.
What is the reasonAll the Dharmas which the Thus Come One
has spoken can neither be clung to nor spoken of whether it is
Dharma or non-Dharma. Why is the reason to say thatAll
Worthy Ones and sages/ saintsare different from each other
because of the Unconditioned Dharmas."

predetermine: worthy: Unconditioned Dharma:

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They Arise from Dharma
Section Eight

"SubhutiWhat
do you think/ What is your opinion
about thatif a person would give such those gifts/ presents
as the seven different kinds of precious gems/ stonesin quantity
just enough to be filled with a Threefold Great Thousand World
System, so spcial a person as he, would he obtain much blessing
and virtue or not"Subhuti said, "Of course, it is very very much.
The World Honored OneWhat is the reason of itIt is these
blessings and virtues that do not refer to the essential nature of
blessings and virtues. Therefore, the Thus Come One says they

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can get lots of blessings and virtues from their cultivating."
"But if, on the other hand, there is a person who is to accept
/ uphold / support / approve / confirm / encouragethis sutra
and use even so a few of those four lines of verse/ version /
poetry / prosefrom this Sutra to tell other persons, this person's
blessing will surpass the blessing of the individual/ person
mentioned above. What is the reasonSubhutiIt is because all
bodies of Buddha and their Dharma of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi
come from this Sutra. Subhuti So called that Buddha and
Dharma are not Buddha and Dharma."

gem: quantity: Threefold Great Thousand World System:

refer: essential: uphold: verse: surpass:
individual:

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The One Appearance Is Beyond Appearances
Section Nine

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"SubhutiWhat
do you think/ What is your opinion
about thatwhether a body of Shrotaapana can have the thought
that I have attained the Fruition of a body of Shrotaapana or not
"Subhuti said, "No, the World Honored OneWhat is the reason
for/ Why is itA body of Shrotaapana is the meaning that
someone who has entered the flow/ current / rank / kind. And
yet, he has not ever entered anything. He has not entered forms,
sounds, smells, tastes,touches/tangible objectsor dharmas.
Therefore his name is called a body of Shrotaapana."

fruition: Shrotaapana: flow: tangible:

"SubhutiWhat
do you think/ What is your opinion
about thatwhether a body of Sakrdagamin is able to have the

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thought that I have attained the Fruition of the body of
Sakrdagamin or not" Subhuti said, "No, the World Honored
OneWhat is the reason forA body of Sakrdagamin means
that someone who returns once more to the earth and the heaven
again to continue practicing his merits and vitures, but actually he
does never return. Therefore his name is called a body of
Sakrdagamin."

Sakrdagamin:

SubhutiWhat
do you think whether a body of

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Anagamin can have the thought that I have attained the Fruition
of Anagamin or not Subhuti said, "No, the World Honored
OneWhat the reason is it/ Why is itA body of Anagamin
means that someone does not return, but actually he has not the
use of returning to the earth again to practice his merits and
virtues. He gains the fruition on the heaven. Therefore his name is
called a body of Anagamin."

Anagamin:

"SubhutiWhat
do you think whether a body of Arhat
have the thought that I have attained the Way of the Arhat or
not Subhuti answered, "No, the World Honored OneWhat
the reason is itWhy is itActually there is not Dharma called
a body of Arhat.The World Honored OneIf a body of Arhat has
the thought that I have attained the Way of the Arhat.Then he
would be attached by the ego/self, others, living beings and to

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a life/longevity.

Arhat: longevity:

The
World Honored OneBuddha has said that I am
one of the persons who get the first No Strife Samadhi .It is the
first body of Arhat that is free from desires.I do not have the
thought that I am the body of Arhat who is free from desires. The
World Honored OneIf I had the thought that I would have
attained the Way of the Arhat. Then the World Honored One
would not say that Subhuti is the one who delights in practicing
Aranya. Since I am Subhuti, I actually does not have practiced
anything. So I am called that Subhuti who delights in practicing
Aranya.

strife: Samadhi: Aranya:

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Buddha
said to Subhuti, "What do you think whether
the Thus Come One once obtained any Dharma, when he lived
together with the Burning Lamp Buddha or not" "No, the World
Honored One The Thus Come One did not have actually
obtained any Dharma, when he lived together with Burning Lamp
Buddha."

the Burning Lamp Buddha:

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Adorning Pure Lands
Section Ten

"SubhutiWhat
do you think whether a body of
Bodhisattva has ever adorned Buddhalands or not" "No, the
World Honored OneWhat is the reason for itOne who has
ever adorned Buddhalands does not adorn anything indeed.
Therefore this way is called adornment." "It is for the reason
SubhutiAll of the bodies of Bodhisattva Mahasattva should
thus produce a pure mind, which does not rely on forms, nor
sounds, nor smells, nor tastes, nor tangible objects, nor Dharmas.
He should produce a mind which does not rely on anything.

Buddhaland: adornment: Bodhisattva Mahasattva:

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SubhutiSupposing
a person had a human body like
Sumeru,the king of mountains, what is your opinion about it
Would that human body be very big" Subhuti addressed the
Buddha, "It is indeed very much biggest. The World Honored
OneWhat is the reason forBuddha says that it is not a human
body. But it is still called a big human body."

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The Supremacy of Unconditioned Blessing
Section Eleven

"SubhutiSupposing
there were so many Ganges
Rivers as there are grains of sand equal to them. What do you
think about itWhether the grains of sand in all those Ganges
Rivers would be very much more or not" Subhuti said, "It is
indeed very much more.The World Honored OneOnly that
many Ganges rivers would be uncountable. Then much less the
grains of sands contained in them " Subhuti Now I am
speaking truthfully to you, Supposing a good man or a good
woman had filled with many grains of sand as all the number of
the Ganges rivers with the seven kinds of precious gems as many
of Threefold Great Thousand World Systems, he or she gave them
as offerings. Would that person obtain many blessings" Subhuti
said, "It is indeed very much more. The World Honored One"

Supremacy: Ganges River: grain: Threefold Great

Thousand World Systems: offering:

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Buddha
told Subhuti, "If a good man or a good woman
is to accept and uphold even so a few as four lines of verse from
this Sutra, he or she speaks it for others. Those blessings and
virtues would surpass the previous blessings and virtues."

Revering the Proper Teaching
Section Twelve

"Moreover,
SubhutiYou just say even four lines of
verse from this Sutra You should know that all the heavenly
beings, humans and Asuras of the world should make offerings it

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as a body of Buddha, a stupa or a temple. Much less there are
people who can completely accept, uphold, read and recite this
Sutra. SubhutiYou should know that it is the man accomplishes
the supreme/ foremostand the first rare dharma. If it is the Sutra
is found that there is a body of Buddha and as if it is a reverent
disciple."

asura: stupa: temple: accomplish: supreme:

reverent:

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Accepting and Upholding the Dharma of
Section Thirteen
"Thusness"

Then
Subhuti addressed Buddha, "The World Honored
OneWhat name should we give this Sutra, and how should we
uphold it"

thusness:

Buddha
told Subhuti, "The name of this Sutra is called
Vajra -cchedika-Prajna Paramita. You should uphold it by that

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name. What the reason is itSubhutiBuddha said that Prajna
Paramita is not Prajna Paramita. Therefore it is called Prajna
Paramita. "SubhutiWhat do you think about itWhether the
Thus Come One has spoken any Dharma or not" Subhuti
addressed Buddha, "The World Honored OneThe Thus Come
One has not spoken any Dharma."

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,
,

"SubhutiWhat
do you think about itWhether there
are many of the particles of dust in a Threefold Great Thousand
World System or not" Subhuti said, "There are even very many,
the World Honored One" "SubhutiThe Thus Come One says
that particles of dust are particles of dust but not the real particles
of dust. Therefore they are called particles of dust. The Thus
Come One says that the world systems are the world systems but
not the real world systems. Therefore they are called the world
systems.

Threefold Great Thousand World System: The Thus Come One:

The World Honored One: the world systems:

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SubhutiWhat
is your opinion about itWhether it is
possible to see the Thus Come One in his Thirty-two Physical
Appearances or not" "No, the World Honored OneIt is
impossible to see the Thus Come One in his Thirty-two Physical
Appearances. What the reason is itThe Thus Come One says
that the Thirty-two Physical Appearances are not physical
appearances. Therefore they are called the Thirty-two Physical
Appearances."

physical: appearance:

123

4567

8
910
11121314
15161718
19202122
23242526

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272829 30

31 32

"SubhutiIf
there were a good man or a good woman,
might give away his body as alms so many times as there are
grains of sand in the Ganges River, on the other hand, if there is a
person, who can accept and uphold even as a few as four lines of
verse from this Sutra, and then he or she can explain its meaning
for other persons, then this person's blessings would be greater
than that."

alms: Ganges River: blessing:

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Leaving Appearances and Still Cessation
Section Fourteen

At that time, upon hearing this sutra and deeply
understanding its purport, Subhuti wept and felt remorse, and

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addressed Buddha, "What rare the World Honored One isThis
Sutra is so profoundly explained by Buddha. From the time on I
attained the eyes of wisdom until the present, I have never heard
such a Sutra.

purport: remorse: profoundly:

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The
World Honored OneMoreover if someone
listens to this Sutra with a mind of pure faith, he can bring forth
the Appearance of Reality. We know that such a person has
accomplished foremost and rare merit and virtue. The World
Honored OneIt is the Appearance of Reality that it is not
appearance. Therefore the Thus Come One calls it the Appearance
of Reality.

bring forth: the Appearance of Reality: accomplish:

merit and virtue:

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"The
World Honored OneNow I have the opportunity
to listen such Sutra. It is not difficult for me to believe,
understand accept and uphold it. But if it is in the future times, in
the five hundred years later, there are human/ livingbeings
hearing this Sutra, yet they can believe, understand, accept and
uphold it. It is those persons that they will be outstanding and the
most rarest beings. What the reason is itIt is because such
human beings will have neither the appearance of the ego/self,
nor the appearance of others,nor the appearance of living
/humanbeings, and nor the appearance of a life/longevity.
What the reason is itIt is because the appearance of the ego
/selfis actually no appearance,nor the appearance of others,nor
the appearance of living /humanbeings and nor the appearance
of a life/ longevity. What the reason is itThose who have
relinquished all those appearances are called bodies of Buddha."

outstanding: relinquish:

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Buddha
told Subhuti, "So it is, so it is. Moreover,if
someone has heard this Sutra, he is not frightened, nor alarmed, or
nor terrified.You should know that such a person is the most rarest
among people in the world. What the reason is itSubhutiIt is
because the foremost Paramita spoken by the Thus Come One is
not the foremost Paramita. Therefore it is called the foremost
Paramita.

frighten: alarm: terrify:

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"SubhutiThe
Paramita of patience spoken by the
Thus Come One is not the Paramita of patience. Therefore it is
called the Paramita of patience. What the reason is itSubhuti
Let me take an example to explain it, in the past,once upon a time
when the King Kaling, who dismembered my body, I had neither
the appearance of the ego/self, nor of others, nor of living
beings, nor of a life/longevityat the time. What the reason is
itIt is because in the past time when I was cut limb by limb, if I
had an appearance of the ego/self, or an appearance of others,

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or an appearance of living beings, or an appearance of a life
/longevity, I would have become outraged.

the King Kaling: dismember: outrage:

"Moreover,
SubhutiI recalled again that in the past
times it had been for five hundred lives ago, I became the Patient
Immortal. During all those lives, I had neither any the appearance
of the ego/self, nor others, nor living beings, nor a life
/longevity. For that reason, SubhutiTo be a body of
Bodhisattva should relinquish all appearances and bring forth the
mind of Anuttara-samyaksambodhi.

immortal: relinquish:

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He should bring forth thoughts that do not rely

/dependon forms, nor sounds, smells, tastes, tangible objects,
or dharmas. He should bring forth thoughts that do not rely on
anywhere. If his mind relys upon somewherethen it does not rely
on. Therefore Buddha says that the Bodhisattva's mind should not
rely on forms when he gives something as alms. SubhutiIt is
because the Bodhisattva wishes to benefit all living beings, he
should give alms in this way. The Thus Come One says that all
appearances are actually not appearances at all, and that all living
/ humanbeings are actually not living/ humanbeings at all.

rely on: tangible:

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SubhutiThe
Thus Come One is a man who always
speaks the truth. He speaks factually. He speaks of things as they
really are. He never deceives nor are his words peculiar.
SubhutiThe Dharma that the Thus Come One has obtained is
neither true nor false. SubhutiIf a body of Bodhisattva who
gives something as alms with a mind relying on dharmas is just
like a person coming into the dark room. He cannot see anything
in the room at all. If a body of Bodhisattva, who gives something

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as alms with a mind not relying on dharmas, then he is just like a
person with eyes, who can see all kinds of things in the room
during the bright sunlight.

factually: deceive: peculiar:

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"SubhutiIn
the future times, if there is a good man or
a good woman, who can accept, uphold, read or recite this Sutra,
then the Thus Come One using his Buddha-wisdom will
thoroughly know and thoroughly see such a person. That person
will obtain immeasurable and boundless merits and virtues."

thoroughly:

Section FifteenThe Merit and Virtue Gained from Upholding
this Sutra

SubhutiIf
there were a good man or a good woman,
who might in the morning give away/ sacrificeas many bodies
as there are grains of sand in the Ganges River, and again at noon
give away/ sacrificeas many bodies as there are grains of sand
in the Ganges River, and once again in the evening give away/

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sacrificeas many bodies as there are grains of sand in the Ganges
River, had given away/ sacrificedhis/ herbodies like that
throughout immeasurable hundreds of thousands of billions of
kalpas of time. But moreover if someone else were to hear this
Sutra and believe it without reservation, his blessings would
surpass the blessings of the former person. Much less/ Let alone
/ Besides / Furthmorethe blessings it would be if one could write,
accept, uphold, read, recite and explain this Sutra for others.

kalpas: reservation:

//

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"SubhutiTo
sum it up, the merits and virtues of this
Sutra is inconceivable / unimaginable , incalculable and
boundless. The Thus Come One speaks it for those who intent on
the Great Vehicle, for those who intent on the Foremost Vehicle.
The Thus Come One completely knows and sees if those people
who can accept, uphold, read, recite and extensively explain this
Sutra for others, that all of those people can get and perfect
immeasurable, incalculable, boundless and inconceivable merits

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and virtues.

inconceivable: incalculable: boundless: intent:

Great Vehicle: extensively: perfect: immeasurable:

It is so those persons that they can sustain,/ inherit /

succeed / undertake / continue / carry on / support / bear /

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shoulder / take the responsibity of the Thus Come One's
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi on his shoulders and backs. What the
reason is itSubhutiIt is because if anyone who delights in
lesser dharmas and he is attached to a view of the self/ ego, a
view of others, a view of living/ humanbeings, and a view of a
life/ longevity.Then he cannot hear, accept/ uphold, read or
recite this Sutra and explain its meaning to others.

sustain: inherit: delight:

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"Subhuti,
all of the heavenly beings, humans, and
Asuras of the world should make offerings wherever this Sutra is
found.They should know that the place has this Stupa thinking as
a temple or a tower. All of them should pay respect, worship,
circumambulate and decorate it with many kinds of incense and
flowers scattered at the place."

temple: tower: worship: circumambulate: decorate:

incense:

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Karmic Obstructions Can Be Purified
Section Sixteen

"Moreover
SubhutiIf a good man or a good woman,
who has accepted, upholded, read and recited this Sutra, is
ridiculed/ despised / disdained / looked down uponby others. It
is because that he/ shehas karmic offenses from past lives,

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which destine him/ herdown to the evil paths/ hells. But now
as a result of the ridicule he/ shereceives from others in his
present life, his/ herprevious karmic offenses are destroyed and
he/ shewill attain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi after all.

ridicule: despise: karmic: offense: destine:

evil path: previous:

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SubhutiI
recall that in the past, it is has been passed
for immeasurable asamkhyeya kalpas of time, prior to Dipankara
Buddha, I encountered eighty-four trillion nayutas bodies of
Buddha. I made offerings to them and served all of them without
exception. But if there are other persons in the Final Period of
times, who can accept, uphold, read or recite this Sutra, then his/
hermerits and virtues which they obtain are a hundred times
more, a thousand times more, ten thousand times more, or a
million times more than the merits and virtues I gained from
making offerings to all those bodies of Buddha. It is so much the
greatest that it exceeds all calculations and comparisons.

asamkhyeya: kalpas: prior: Dipankara Buddha:

encounter: trillion: nayutas: exception: exceed:
calculation: comparison:

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"Subhuti,
if I am to explain the merits and virtues of a
good man or a good woman in detail, who in the Final Period of
times, accepts, upholds, reads or recites this Sutra, then perhaps
someone has heard that, he/ shemight go/ becomeinsane
/mad,suspicious or unbelievable. SubhutiYou should know
that the principles in this Sutra are inconceivable/ unimaginable.
So are too the rewards it generates/ produces."

insane: inconceivable: reward: generate:

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Ultimately There Is No The Self
Section Seventeen / Ego

At that time, Subhuti addressed Buddha, The World

Honored OneA good man or a good woman who has resolved/
decided / made uphis/hermind on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi,
on what should he rely/ dependAnd how should he/ she
subdue/ surrender / conquer / break inhis/ hermind"

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Buddha
told Subhuti, "If a good man or a good
woman,who has resolved/ made up / decidedhis/ hermind
on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, he/ sheshould have produced
thus thought that I will take all living/ humanbeings across to
Cessation. Yet when all living/humanbeings have been taken
across to Cessation, actually there are not any living/ human
being has been taken across to Cessation by me.

What
the reason is itIt is because that if a body of
Bodhisattva has an appearance of the self/ ego, or others, or
living/ humanbeings, or a life/ longevity, then he/ she
himself/ herselfis not a body of Bodhisattva. For what the
reason is itSubhutiIt is true that there is no such dharma as
resolving one's mind on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.

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"SubhutiWhat
is yur opinion about thatThe Thus
Come One was living together with the Burning Lamp Buddha,
whether he attained the dharma of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi or
not" "No, the World Honored OneAs I understand what the
Buddha has said, when Buddha was living together with the
Burning Lamp Buddha, he did not attain the dharma of
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi." Buddha said, "So is it, so is it.
SubhutiIt is true that The Thus Come One does not actually
attain the dharma of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. SubhutiBut if
the Thus Come One has actually attained the dharma of

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Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, then the Burning Lamp Buddha will
not have given me the prediction that I will become a body of
Buddha with the name called Shakyamuni in the future times.

prediction:

Since I did not actually attain the dharma of
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, the Burning Lamp Buddha gave me
the prediction saying these words that you will become a body of
Buddha with the name called Shakyamuni in the future times.

What
the reason is itThus Come One's means all

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dharmas are "thus". If someone might say that the Thus Come
One had had attained Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, SubhutiBut
actually Buddha had not attained the dharma of
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. SubhutiThere is nothing true nor
false in the Anuttarasamyaksambodhi which the Thus Come One
has attained. Therefore, the Thus Come One says that all the
dharmas are Buddhadharma. SubhutiWhat are spoken of as all
the dharmas, are not all the dharmas at all. Therefore they are
called 'all dharmas.

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"SubhutiLet
me take an example to explain that if
there is a person, who has a big physical body." Subhuti said,
"The World Honored One, the Thus Come One speaks that a big
physical body is not a big physical body. Therefore it is called a
big physical body."

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SubhutiA
body of Bodhisattva is also like this. If he
says that as this I should take across immeasurable living/
human beings to Cessation, then he can not be called a
Bodhisattva. What the reason is itSubhutiIt is because that
there is really no dharma called a body of Bodhisattva. Therefore
Buddha says that all dharmas have not any the self/ ego, nor
others, nor living/ humanbeings, nor a life/longevity.

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"SubhutiIf
a body of Bodhisattva had said that I
should have adorned Buddhalands, then he/ shecan not be
called a body of Bodhisattva. What the reason is itIt is because
that the Thus Come One speaks of as adorning Buddhalands is not
really adorning Buddhalands. Therefore it is called the adornment
of Buddhalands. SubhutiThen if a body of Bodhisattva who
comprehends the dharma of no the self/ ego, the Thus Come
One may call him as a body of true Bodhisattva."

Contemplating the Oneness of Everything
Section Eighteen

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"SubhutiWhat
is your opinion about itWhether the
Thus Come One has the Flesh Eye or not" "So is it, the World
Honored One The Thus Come One has the Flesh Eye."
"SubhutiWhat is your opinion about itWhether the Thus
Come One has the Heavenly Eye or not" "So is it, the World
Honored OneThe Thus Come One has the Heavenly Eye."
"SubhutiWhat is your opinion about itWhether the Thus
Come One has the Wisdom Eye or not" "So is it, the World
Honored OneThe Thus Come One has the Wisdom Eye."
"SubhutWhat is your opinion about itWhether the Thus
Come One has the Dharma Eye or not" "So is it, the World
Honored One. The Thus Come One has the Dharma Eye."
"SubhutiWhat is your opinion about itWhether the Thus
Come One has the Buddha Eye or not" "So is it, the World
Honored One. The Thus Come One has the Buddha Eye."

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"SubhutiWhat
is your opinion about itWhether the
Thus Come One has said that all the grains of sand in the Ganges
River are sand or not" "So is it, the World Honored OneThe
Thus Come One has said that all the grains of sand are sand."
"SubhutiWhat is your opinion about itWhether there are as
many Ganges rivers as there are grains of sand in one Ganges
River, and there are as many Buddhalands as there are grains of
sand in all those Ganges rivers would be many Buddhalands or
not" "There are very many indeed, the World Honored One"
Buddha told Subhuti that The Thus Come One thoroughly knows
that all the various thoughts which occur to every living/
humanbeing in each of those Buddhalands. What the reason is
itThe Thus Come One says that all the various thoughts are not
thoughts themselves. Therefore they are called thoughts. For what
reason is itSubhutYou cannot recover past thoughts, and you
cannot hold on the present thoughts, and you cannot obtain the
future thoughts."

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Understanding and Transforming the
Section Nineteen
Dharma Realm

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"SubhutiWhat
is your opinion about itIf there is a
person, because of the causes and conditions, filling a threefold
great thousand world system with the seven kinds of precious
gems/ stonesand giving them as offerings, would he obtains
many blessings or not" "So is it, the World Honored OneThat
person, on account of his giving as alms, would obtain very many
blessings." "SubhutiIf these blessings and virtues are real, the
Thus Come One would not speak about obtaining many blessings.
But it is because these blessings and virtues do not exist, the Thus
Come One speaks of obtaining many blessings."

Leaving Both Form and Appearances
Section Twenty

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"SubhutiWhat
is your opinion about itWhether one
may look for a body of Buddha in his perfect physical body or
not" "No, the World Honored OneOne should not look for
Thus Come One in his perfect physical body himself. What the
reason is itThe Thus Come One has said that the perfect
physical body is not the perfect physical body itself. Therefore it
is called the perfect physical body." "SubhutiWhat is your
opinion about itWhether one should look for Thus Come One
in all his perfect appearances or not" "No, the World Honored
OneOne should not look for Thus Come One in all his perfect
appearances itself. What the reason is itIt is because that the
Thus Come One has said perfect appearances are not perfect
appearances themselves. Therefore they are called perfect
appearances."

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What is Spoken is not Spoken
Section Twenty-one

SubhutiYou
should not maintain that the Thus Come
One has so this thought that I should have spoken Dharma. You
should not have the thought with that way. What the reason is it
It is because that if someone says that the Thus Come One has
spoken Dharma, he is slandering Buddha, due to his inability to
understand what I have taught. SubhutiAs to speaking Dharma,
there is not any Dharma spoken by me. Therefore it is called
speaking Dharma.

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At
that time, Subhuti, the wise elder, addressed Buddha,
"The World Honored One, will there be many living/ human
beings in the future times, who believe in this Sutrain in their
minds when they have heard it" Buddha said, SubhutiThose
living/ humanbeings to whom you refer are neither living/
humanbeings nor not living/ humanbeings. What the reason
is itSubhutiIt is because that all the different kinds of living/
humanbeings themselves whom the Thus Come One speaks of
are not real living/ humanbeings. Therefore they are called
living/ humanbeings."

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No Dharma Can be Obtained
Section Twenty-Two

Subhuti addressed Buddha, "The World Honored One

Is it true that Buddha has attained Anuttarasamyaksambodhi
And he does not have attained anything" Buddha said, "So it is,
so it is, SubhutiAs to Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, there is not the
slightest dharma which I could attain. Therefore it is called
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi."

A Pure Mind Does Wholesome Deeds
Section Twenty-three

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"Moreover,
SubhutiIt is the Dharma that it is equal;
there is nothing higher or lower than it. Therefore it is called
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. A person who is free from the self/
ego, others, living/humanbeings and a life/longevity, is
cultivating/ practisingall wholesome dharmas.It is the name
that it is called Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. SubhutiWhat are so
called wholesome dharmas, The Thus Come One says that they
are not wholesome dharmas. Therefore they are so called
wholesome dharmas."

wholesome dharmas:

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Blessings and Wisdom Beyond Compare
Twenty-four

"SubhutiSupposing
someone were to take mounds of
the seven precious gems/ stonespiled as high as all the Sumerus,
kings of mountains, in a threefold great thousand world system
and gives them as offerings. And further supposing someone else
are to accept, uphold, read or recite and speak for others as a few
as four lines of verse from this Prajna Paramita Sutra. The former
person's blessings and virtues would not equal to one percent of
the other person's blessings and virtues, neither one tenth of a
percent, nor one hundredth of a percent, nor one thousandth of a
percent, nor any fraction that could be calculated or expressed by
any analogy."

mound: fraction: analogy:

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Transformung Without There Being
Section Twenty-five
Anyone Transformed

"SubhutiWhat
is your opinion about thatAll of you
should not maintain the opinion that the Thus Come One has this
thought that I should cross over all those living/ humanbeings.
SubhutiYou should not have the thought in that way. What the
reason is itIt is because that it is true that the Thus Come One
does not cross over any living/ humanbeings after all. If the
Thus Come One has crossed over any living/ humanbeings,
then the Thus Come One will have had a sense of the self/ ego,
or others, or living beings,or and a life/ longevity.

maintain:

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"SubhutiAlthough
the Thus Come One once speaks
/ ego, there is really no the self
of the existence of the self /ego
that exists. However, the common people think that they have the
self/ ego. SubhutiThe common people that the Thus Come
One speaks about are not the common people. Therefore they are
called the common people."

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 The Dharma Body is not Appearances
Section Twenty-six

"SubhutiWhat
is your opinion about itIs it possible
to contemplate the Thus Come One in his Thirty-two Physical
Appearances" Subhuti said, "So it is, so it is. It is possible to
contemplate the Thus Come One in his Thirty-two Physical
Appearances." The Buddha said, "Subhuti If anyone can
contemplate the Thus Come One in his Thirty-two Physical
Appearances, then a Wheel Turning Sage King could be the Thus
Come One." Subhuti addressed Buddha, "The World Honored
One, as I understand what Buddha has said, anyone should not
contemplate the Thus Come One in his Thirty-two Physical
Appearances."

contemplate:

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At
that time, the World Honored One spoke a verse by
saying if anyone who looks for me in forms, or seeks me in
sounds. Then that person is practicing a deviant/ evil / wicked,
mean / viciouspath, and he will never see the Thus Come One.

deviant:

Not purified Nor Annihilated
Section Twenty-seven

SubhutiIf
you might have the thought that the Thus
Come One would have attained Anuttarasamyaksambodhi not by
his perfect Physical Appearances, SubhutiYou should not have
the thought that the Thus Come One would have attained
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi not by his perfect Physical
Appearances.

purify: annihilate:

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SubhutiIf
you have the thought in that way, then
those who have resolved/ decided / made uptheir minds on
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi would affirm the destruction of all
dharmas. You should not have the thought like that. What the
reason is itIt is because that those who have resolved their
minds on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi do not affirm the destruction
of the appearances of all dharmas."

affirm:

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No Greed and Nothing Acquired
Twenty-eight

"SubhutiIf
a body of Bodhisattva might be filled with
world systems equal in number to the grains of sand in the
Ganges River with the seven kinds of precious gems/ stonesand
give them as alms. Moreover, if another person was to realize that
all dharmas are devoid of the self/egoand attain patience, then
that body of Bodhisattva's merits and virtues would surpass the
merits and virtues of the previous body of Bodhisattva. What the
reason is itSubhutiIt is because the bodies of Bodhisattva do
not acquire blessings and virtues." Subhuti addressed Buddha,
"The World Honored OneWhat is the reason that the body of
Bodhisattva would not acquire those blessings and virtues"
"SubhutiA body of Bodhisattva should neither be greedy for,
nor be attached to the blessings and virtues which he has fostered.
Therefore I say they do not acquire blessings and virtues."

devoid: foster:

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The Quiescence of his Awesome
Section Twenty-nine
Demeanor

"SubhutiIf
someone ever says that it seems as if the
Thus Come One has come, gone, sat, or lain down, then such a
person does not really understand what the meaning of my
teaching is. What the reason is itIt is because that The Thus
Come One does not come from anywhere nor does he go
anywhere indeed. Therefore he is called the Thus Come One."

quiescence: awesome: demeanor:

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The Principle of a Unity of Appearances
Section Thirty

"SubhutiIf
a good man or a good woman were to
pulverize a threefold great thousand world system into fine
particles of dust, what is your opinion about itWhether those
fine particles of dust would be many or not" Subhuti said,
"There are very much more indeed. The World Honored One
What the reason is itIt is because that if those fine particles of
dust would exist, Buddha would not have called them fine
particles of dust. Therefore,why is itIt is because that what

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Buddha has spoken of as fine particles of dust are not fine
particles of dust itself. Therefore they are called fine particles of
dust.

pulverize:

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"The
World Honored OneWhat The Thus Come One
has spoken of as a threefold great thousand world system is not a
world system. Therefore it is called a world system. What the
reason is itIt is because that if the world systems actually
existed, then that world would constitute a unity of appearances.
What the Thus Come One speaks of as a unity of appearances is
not a unity of appearances. Therefore it is called a unity of
appearances." "SubhutiA unity of appearances cannot really be
expressed, but the common people become greedily attached to
such things."

constitute:

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Knowledge and Views are not Produced
Section Thirty-one

"SubhutiIf
someone is to say that Buddha has spoken
of the view of the self/ ego, the view of others, the view of
living/humanbeings and the view of a life/longevity.
SubhutiWhat is your opinion about itWhether that person
understands what the meaning of my teachings or not" "No, the
World Honored OneThat person does not understand what the
meaning of the Thus Come One's teachings. What the reason is
itIt is because that What the World Honored One has spoken of
as the view of the self/ ego, the view of others, the view of
living/ humanbeings and the view of a life/ longevityis really
not the view of self/ ego, the view of others, the view of living
/ humanbeings and the view of a life/ longevity. Therefore
they are called the view of self/ ego, the view of others, the
view of living/ humanbeings and the view of a life/
longevity."

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"SubhutiThose
who have resolved/ made uptheir
minds on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi should, in regards to all
dharmas, thus know, thus perceive, and thus believe and thus

- 102 -
understand and not set up appearances of dharmas. Subhuti
What the Thus Come One has spoken of as appearances of
dharmas is not appearances of dharmas. Therefore they are called
appearances of dharmas."

perceive: set up:

Responses and Transformations are
Section Thirty-two
Unreal

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"Subhuti If someone were to fill measureless
asamkhyeyas of world systems with the seven precious jewels/
stonesand give them as offerings. Further, if a good man or a
good woman who has resolved/ made uphis/ hermind on
Bodhi is to receive, uphold, read or recite and extensively explain
it for others even as a few as four lines of verse from this Sutra,
the latter person's blessings would surpass those of the former
persons. How should this Sutra be explained for othersIt is by
the means not grasping at appearances and being in unmoving
thusness.

thusness:

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What the reason is it It is because that all
conditioned dharmas are just like a dream, an illusion, a bubble or
a shadow, also like dew or like a lightning flash. We should
contemplate them as thus."

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After
Buddha had spoken this Sutra, the Elder Subhuti,
all bodies of Bhikshu, Bhikshuni, Upasaka and Upasika, and all
the other heavenly beings, humans, and Asuras, and others from
all the worlds, had heard what Buddha said. They were all
extremely happy, faithfully accepted it, and put it into practice.

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2012
2015/09/25
2016/01/26

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Three Refuges

Since I take refuge in the Buddha, may all sentient beings and I
have understood the Great Way profoundly,
and brought forth the superior Bodhi mind.

Since I take refuge in the Dharma, may all sentient beings and I
have deeply entered the sutra treasury, and got wisdom
as vast as the ocean.

Since I take refuge in the Sangha, may all sentient beings and I
have formed together a great assembly, one and all in harmony.

Four Great Vows

Countless are sentient beings, do I vow to liberate;
endless are afflictions, do I vow to eradicate;

Measureless are the Dharmas, do I vow to master;
supreme is the Buddha Way, do I vow to attain.

Repentance

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All the past harms that I have ever done, all from time
immemorial
were caused by greed, anger, and ignorance,

And all of those sins produced through my body, speech, and will,
now these sins I confess and amend all.

Reaction and repayment of Merits

May the merits of our deeds
have reached every part of the world;

I and other sentient beings large and small
all have attained enlightenment.

Maha-Prajna-Paramita

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mayawaz@gmail.com

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