THE REASONS FOR THE DHARMA ASSEMBLY, ONE

Thus I have heard, at one time the Buddha dwelt at Shravasti in the Jeta Grove in the
Garden of the Benefactor of Orphans and the Forlorn, together with a gathering of
great Bhikshus, twelve hundred fifty in all. At meal time the World Honored One put
on his robe, took up his bowl and entered the great city of Shravasti to collect alms.
After he had finished his sequential alms-round, he returned to his dwelling. When
his meal was completed, he put his robe and bowl away. After he washed his feet, he
arranged his seat and sat down.

SUBHUTI'S REQUEST, TWO

At that time the Elder Subhuti arose from his seat in the great assembly, uncovered
his right shoulder, placed his right knee on the ground, joined his palms together
respectfully and addressed the Buddha, "How rare, World Honored One, is the Thus
Come One who protects and cares well for all Bodhisattvas and well favors all
Bodhisattvas. World Honored One, if a good man or good woman resolves his mind
on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, on what should he rely? How should he subdue his
mind?" The Buddha said, "Very good, very good Subhuti. It is as you say. The Thus
Come One protects and cares well for all Bodhisattvas and well favors all
Bodhisattvas. Now listen attentively; I shall tell you. A good man or good woman
who resolves his mind on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi should thus rely and thus subdue
his mind." "Yes indeed, World Honored One. I am delighted and wish to listen."

THE ORTHODOX DOCTRINE OF THE GREAT VEHICLE, THREE

The Buddha told Subhuti, "All Bodhisattvas, Mahasattvas, should subdue their minds
thus: 'I must cause all living beings--those born from eggs, wombs, moisture, by
transformation; those with form, those without form, those with thought, those
without thought, those not totally endowed with thought, and those not totally
without thought--to enter Nirvana without residue and be taken across to Cessation.
Yet of the immeasurable, numberless, boundless numbers of living beings thus taken
across to Cessation, there is actually no living being taken across to Cessation.' Why?
Subhuti, if a Bodhisattva has an appearance of self, others, living beings, or a life, he
is not a Bodhisattva."

WONDERFUL PRACTICE IS TO NOT RELY ON ANYTHING, FOUR

"Moreover, Subhuti, as to dharmas, a Bodhisattva should not rely on anything when
giving. That is to say, when giving, he should neither rely on forms, nor sounds,
smells, tastes, tangible objects or dharmas. Subhuti, a Bodhisattva should give thus:
he should not rely on appearances. Why? If a Bodhisattva does not rely on
appearances when giving, his blessings and virtues are inconceivable and
immeasurable. "Subhuti, what do you think, is space in the east conceivable or
measurable?" "No World Honored One." "Subhuti, is space in the south, west, north,
or in the intermediate directions, above or below conceivable or measurable?" "No,
World Honored One." "Subhuti, the blessings and virtues of a Bodhisattva who does
not rely on appearances when giving, are just as inconceivable and immeasurable.
Subhuti, a Bodhisattva should rely only on the teachings."

GENUINE DISCERNMENT OF THE PRINCIPLE OF SUCHNESS, FIVE

"Subhuti, what do you think, is it possible to see the Thus Come One in his physical
appearances?" "No World Honored One, it is not possible to see Thus Come One in
his physical appearances. Why? Because the physical appearances mentioned by the
Thus Come One are not physical appearances." The Buddha said to Subhuti, "All
appearances are empty and false. If one sees all appearances as no appearances, then
one sees the Thus Come One."

PROPER FAITH IS RARE, SIX

Subhuti addressed the Buddha, "World Honored One, in the future will there be living
beings who truly believe upon hearing such phrases?" The Buddha told Subhuti, "Do
not say that! In the last five hundred years after the Thus Come One's Cessation, there
will be those who, holding the moral precepts and cultivating blessings, will believe
such phrases and accept them as true. You should know that such people have not
planted good roots with just one Buddha, two Buddhas, three Buddhas, four, or five
Buddhas, but they have planted good roots at the places of immeasurable tens of
millions of Buddhas. The Thus Come One knows and sees all people who hear these
phrases, Subhuti, and have even a single thought of pure faith. Such living beings will
thus obtain immeasurable blessings and virtues. Why? Because those living beings no
longer cling to the appearances of self, others, living beings, or a life, nor to the
appearances of dharmas or non-dharmas. Why? If those living beings' minds cling to
appearances, that would be attachment to a self, others, living beings and a life. If
they cling to appearances of dharmas, that would be attachment to a self, others,
living beings and a life. Why? If they cling to the appearances of non-dharmas, that
would be attachment to a self, others, living beings and a life. Therefore, you should
not cling to dharmas; you should not cling to non-dharmas. Because of this principle
the Thus Come One always says, 'Bhikshus, you should all know that the Dharma I
speak is like a raft. You must let go of dharmas. Even more so let go of non-
dharmas.'"

NOTHING ATTAINED, NOTHING SPOKEN, SEVEN

"Subhuti, what do you think, did the Thus Come One attain
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi? Did the Thus Come One speak any Dharma?" Subhuti
answered, "As I understand what the Buddha has said, there is no predetermined
Dharma called Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, and there are not any predetermined
Dharmas which the Thus Come One could speak. Why? All the Dharma which the
Thus Come One has spoken can neither be clung to nor spoken of. It is neither
Dharma nor non-dharma. Why is that so? All Worthy Ones and Sages are different
because of Unconditioned Dharmas."
THEY ARISE FROM DHARMA, EIGHT
"Subhuti, what do you think, if a person gave as a gift the seven kinds of precious
gems in quantity enough to fill up a Threefold Great Thousand World System, would
such a person obtain many blessings and virtues?" Subhuti said, "Very many World
Honored One. Why? These blessings and virtues do not refer to the essential nature
of blessings and virtues. Therefore, the Thus Come One says they are many blessings
and virtues." "If on the other hand, a person were to accept and uphold even so few as
four lines of verse from this Sutra and speak them for others, this person's blessings
would surpass the blessings of the individual mentioned above. Why? Subhuti, all
Buddhas and their Dharma of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi come from this Sutra.
Subhuti, by this I mean the Buddha and the Dharma are not the Buddha and the
Dharma."

THE ONE APPEARANCE IS BEYOND APPEARANCES, NINE

"Subhuti, what do you think, can a Shrotaapana have the thought, 'Have I attained the
Fruition of Shrotaapana'?" Subhuti said, "No World Honored One. Why? Shrotaapana
means 'one who has entered the flow.' And yet, he has not entered anything. He has
not entered forms, sounds, smells, tastes, tangible objects or dharmas. Therefore he is
called a Shrotaapana." "Subhuti, what do you think, can a Sakrdagamin have the
thought, 'Have I attained the Fruition of Sakrdagamin'?" Subhuti said, "No World
Honored One. Why? Sakrdagamin means 'one who returns once more,' but actually
he does not return. Therefore he is called a Sakrdagamin." "Subhuti, what do you
think, can an Anagamin have the thought, 'Have I attained the Fruition of
Anagamin?'" Subhuti said, "No World Honored One. Why? Anagamin means 'one
who does not return,' but actually he is without not returning. Therefore he is called
an Anagamin." "Subhuti, what do you think, can an Arhat have the thought, 'Have I
attained the Way of the Arhat?'" Subhuti said, "No World Honored One. Why?
Actually there is no dharma called 'Arhat.' World Honored One, if an Arhat had the
thought, 'I have attained the Way of the Arhat,' that would be an attachment to self,
others, living beings and to a life. World Honored One, the Buddha has said that I am
foremost in the attainment of the No Strife Samadhi, and I am the foremost Arhat free
from desire. Yet, World Honored One, I do not have the thought, 'I am an Arhat free
from desire.' If I had the thought, 'I have attained the Way of the Arhat,' then the
World Honored One would not say, 'Subhuti is foremost of those who delight in
practicing Aranya.' Since Subhuti actually does not practice anything, he is called,
'Subhuti who delights in practicing Aranya.'"

ADORNING PURE LANDS, TEN

The Buddha said to Subhuti, "What do you think? Did the Thus Come One obtain
any Dharma when he was with Burning Lamp Buddha in the past?" "No World
Honored One, the Thus Come One did not actually obtain any Dharma when he was
with Burning Lamp Buddha." "Subhuti what do you think? Does a Bodhisattva adorn
Buddhalands?" "No World Honored One. Why? One who adorns Buddhalands does
not adorn anything. Therefore it is called adorning." "Therefore Subhuti, all
Bodhisattvas Mahasattvas should thus produce a pure mind which does not rely on
forms, sounds, smells, tastes, tangible objects or dharmas. He should produce a mind
which does not rely on anything. Subhuti, suppose a person had a body like Sumeru,
king of mountains. What do you think? Would that body be big?" Subhuti addressed
the Buddha, "Very big World Honored One. Why? The Buddha says it is not a body.
Therefore it is called a big body."

THE SUPREMACY OF UNCONDITIONED BLESSINGS, ELEVEN

"Subhuti, suppose there were as many Ganges Rivers as there are grains of sand in
the Ganges River. What do you think, would the grains of sand in all those Ganges
Rivers be many?" Subhuti said, "Very many World Honored One. That many Ganges
rivers alone would be uncountable, how much the more so the grains of sands
contained in them. "Subhuti, I am speaking truthfully. Suppose a good man or good
woman had filled with the Seven Kinds of Precious Gems as many Threefold Great
Thousand World Systems as there are grains of sand in all those Ganges Rivers and
gave them as an offering. Would that person obtain many blessings?" Subhuti said,
"Very many World Honored One." The Buddha told Subhuti, "If a good man or good
woman were to accept and uphold even so few as four lines of verse from this Sutra
and speak them for others, those blessings and virtues would surpass the previous
blessings and virtues."

REVERING THE PROPER TEACHING, TWELVE

"Moreover, Subhuti, know that all the gods, humans and asuras of the world should
make offerings to any place where even as few as four lines of verse from this Sutra
have been spoken, just as they would make offerings to a Buddha, a stupa or a
temple. How much the more should they make offerings to any place where there are
people who can completely accept, uphold, read and recite this Sutra. Subhuti you
should know that such people accomplish the supreme, foremost and most rare of
dharmas. Wherever this Sutra is found, there is a Buddha or reverent disciple."

ACCEPTING AND UPHOLDING THE DHARMA OF "THUSNESS",

THIRTEEN
Then Subhuti addressed the Buddha, "World Honored One, what name should we
give this Sutra, and how should we uphold it?" The Buddha told Subhuti, "The name
of this Sutra is Vajra Prajna Paramita. You should uphold it by that name. Why? The
Buddha said that Prajna Paramita is not Prajna Paramita. Therefore it is called Prajna
Paramita. "Subhuti, what do you think, has the Thus Come One spoken any
Dharma?" Subhuti addressed the Buddha, "The Thus Come One has not spoken any
Dharma." "Subhuti, what do you think, are there many particles of dust in a Threefold
Great Thousand World System?" Subhuti said, "Very many World Honored One."
"Subhuti, the Thus Come One says that particles of dust are not particles of dust.
Therefore they are called particles of dust. The Thus Come One says that world
systems are not world systems. Therefore they are called world systems. "Subhuti,
what do you think, is it possible to see the Thus Come One in his Thirty-two Physical
Appearances?" "No World Honored One, it is not possible see the Thus Come One in
his Thirty-two Physical Appearances. Why? The Thus Come One says that the
Thirty-two Physical Appearances are not physical appearances. Therefore they are
called the Thirty-two Physical Appearances." "Subhuti, a good man or good woman
might give away his body as many times as there are grains of sand in the Ganges
River, but if another person were to accept and uphold even as few as four lines of
verse of this Sutra and explain them for others, that person's blessings would be
greater."

LEAVING APPEARANCES AND STILL CESSATION, FOURTEEN

At that time, upon hearing this sutra and deeply understanding its purport, Subhuti
wept and felt remorse, and addressed the Buddha, "How rare, World Honored One, is
this Sutra so profoundly explained by the Buddha. From the time I attained the eye of
wisdom until the present, I have never heard such a Sutra. World Honored One, if
someone listens to this Sutra with a mind of pure faith and can bring forth the
Appearance of Reality, know that such a person has accomplished foremost and rare
merit and virtue. "World Honored One, the Appearance of Reality is without
appearance. Therefore the Thus Come One calls it the Appearance of Reality. "World
Honored One, now as I listen to this Sutra, I believe, understand, accept and uphold it
without difficulty. In the future, in the last five hundred years, if there are living
beings who when they hear this Sutra, believe, understand, accept and uphold it, they
will be outstanding and most rare. Why? Such people will be without the appearance
of a self, the appearance of others, the appearance of living beings, and the
appearance of a life. Why? The appearance of self is actually no appearance. The
appearance of others, the appearance of living beings and the appearance of a life are
actually not appearances. Why? All those who are called Buddhas have relinquished
all appearances." The Buddha told Subhuti, "So it is, so it is. If someone hears this
Sutra and is not frightened, alarmed, or terrified, you should know such a person is
most rare. Why? Subhuti, the foremost Paramita spoken of by the Thus Come One is
not the foremost Paramita. Therefore it is called the foremost Paramita. "Subhuti, the
Paramita of patience spoken of by the Thus Come One is not the Paramita of
patience. Therefore it is called the Paramita of patience. Why? Subhuti, in the past
when the King of Kalinga dismembered my body, I had no appearance of a self, of
others, of living beings or of a life. Why? When I was cut limb from limb, if I had an
appearance of a self, an appearance of others, an appearance of living beings or an
appearance of a life, I would have been outraged. "Moreover Subhuti, I recall that in
the past, for five hundred lives, I was the Patient Immortal. During all those lives I
was without the appearance of a self, others, living beings or a life. For that reason,
Subhuti, a Bodhisattva should relinquish all appearances and bring forth the mind of
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. He should bring forth thoughts which do not rely on forms
or which do not rely on sounds, smells, tastes, tangible objects, or dharmas. He
should bring forth thoughts which do not rely on anything. Any relying of the mind is
not relying. Therefore the Buddha says, 'The Bodhisattva's mind should not rely on
forms when he gives.' Subhuti, because the Bodhisattva wishes to benefit all living
beings, he should give in this way. "The Thus Come One says that all appearances are
actually not appearances, and that all living beings are actually not living beings.
Subhuti, the Thus Come One speaks the truth. He speaks factually. He speaks of
things as they really are. He never deceives nor are his words peculiar. Subhuti, the
Dharma the Thus Come One obtained is neither true nor false. "Subhuti, a
Bodhisattva who gives with a mind relying on dharmas is like a person in the dark
who sees nothing at all. A Bodhisattva who gives with a mind that does not rely on
dharmas is like a person with eyes who can see all kinds of things in the bright
sunlight. "Subhuti, if in the future there is a good man or 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 merit and virtue."

THE MERIT AND VIRTUE GAINED FROM UPHOLDING THIS SUTRA,

FIFTEEN
"Subhuti, a good man or good woman might in the morning give away as many
bodies as there are grains of sand in the Ganges River, and again at noon give away
as many bodies as there are grains of sand in the Ganges River, and again in the
evening give away as many bodies as there are grains of sand in the Ganges River,
giving away bodies like that throughout immeasurable hundreds of thousands of
billions of kalpas. But if someone else were to hear this Sutra and believe it without
reservation, his blessings would surpass the blessings of the former person. How
much greater the blessings would be if one could write out, accept, uphold, read,
recite and explain this Sutra for others. "Subhuti, to sum it up, the merit and virtue of
this Sutra is inconceivable, incalculable and boundless. The Thus Come One spoke it
for those intent on the Great Vehicle, for those intent on the foremost vehicle. The
Thus Come One knows and sees all people who can accept, uphold, read, recite and
extensively explain this Sutra for others. Such people perfect immeasurable,
incalculable, boundless and inconceivable merit and virtue and sustain the Thus
Come One's Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Why? Subhuti, one who delights in lesser
dharmas is attached to a view of a self, a view of others, a view of living beings and a
view of a life. This person cannot hear, accept, uphold, read or recite this Sutra or
explain it for others. "Subhuti, the gods, humans, and asuras of the world should
make offerings wherever this Sutra is found. Know that this place is a Stupa. All
beings should pay respect, worship, circumambulate and decorate it with incense and
flowers."

KARMIC OBSTRUCTIONS CAN BE PURIFIED, SIXTEEN

"Moreover Subhuti, if a good man or good woman who accepts, upholds, reads or
recites this Sutra, is ridiculed, that is because that person has karmic offenses from
past lives which destine him for the evil paths. But as a result of the ridicule he
receives from others in his present life, his previous karmic offenses are destroyed
and he will attain Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. "Subhuti, I recall that in the past, for
immeasurable asamkhyeya kalpas, prior to Dipankara Buddha, I encountered eighty-
four trillion nayutas of Buddhas. I made offerings to and served them all without
exception. If there are others in the Final Period who can accept, uphold, read or
recite this Sutra, the merit and virtue they obtain is a hundred times more, a thousand
times more, ten thousand times more, or a million times more than the merit and
virtue I gained from making offerings to all those Buddhas. It is so great that it
exceeds all calculations and comparisons. "Subhuti, if I were to explain in detail the
merit and virtue of a good man or good woman, who in the Final Period, accepts,
upholds, reads or recites this Sutra, then those who hear might go insane or
disbelieve. Subhuti, you should know that the principles in this Sutra are
inconceivable. So too are the rewards it generates."

ULTIMATELY THERE IS NO SELF, SEVENTEEN

Then Subhuti addressed the Buddha, "World Honored One, if a good man or good
woman resolves his mind on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, on what should he rely? How
should he subdue his mind?" The Buddha told Subhuti, "A good man or good woman
who resolves his mind on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi should think thus: 'I should take
all living beings across to Cessation. Yet when all living beings have been taken
across to Cessation, actually not one living being has been taken across to Cessation.'
Why? Subhuti, if a Bodhisattva has an appearance of self, others, living beings or a
life, he is not a Bodhisattva. For what reason? Subhuti, actually there is no such
dharma as resolving one's mind on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. "Subhuti, what do you
think, when the Thus Come One was with Burning Lamp Buddha, did he attain the
dharma of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi?" "No World Honored One. As I understand
what the Buddha has said, when the Buddha was with Burning Lamp Buddha, he did
not attain the dharma of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi." The Buddha said, "So it is, so it
is Subhuti. The Thus Come One did not actually attain the dharma of
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Subhuti, if the Thus Come One had actually attained the
dharma of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, then Burning Lamp Buddha would not have
given me the prediction: 'You will in the future become a Buddha with the name
Shakyamuni.' Since I did not actually attain the dharma of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi,
Burning Lamp Buddha gave me the prediction saying these words, 'You will in the
future become a Buddha with the name Shakyamuni.' Why? 'Thus Come One' means
'all dharmas are "thus".' Someone might say the Thus Come One attained
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, Subhuti, but actually the Buddha did not attain the dharma
of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Subhuti, there is nothing true nor false in the
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi the Thus Come One attains. Therefore, the Thus Come
One says that all dharmas are Buddhadharma. Subhuti, what are spoken of as 'all
dharmas', are not all dharmas. Therefore they are called 'all dharmas.' "Subhuti,
suppose there is a person with a big body." Subhuti said, "World Honored One, the
Thus Come One speaks of a big body as not being a big body. Therefore it is called a
big body." "Subhuti, a Bodhisattva is also like this. If he said, 'I should take across
immeasurable living beings to Cessation,' then he could not be called a Bodhisattva.
Why? Subhuti, there is really no dharma called a Bodhisattva. Therefore the Buddha
says that all dharmas are without self, others, living beings or a life. "Subhuti, if a
Bodhisattva said, 'I should adorn Buddhalands,' he could not be called a Bodhisattva.
Why? What the Thus Come One speaks of as adorning Buddhalands is not adorning
Buddhalands. Therefore it is called adorning Buddhalands. Subhuti, if a Bodhisattva
comprehends the dharma of no self, the Thus Come One calls him a true
Bodhisattva."

CONTEMPLATING THE ONENESS OF EVERYTHING, EIGHTEEN

"Subhuti, what do you think, does the Thus Come One have the Flesh Eye?" "So it is
World Honored One. The Thus Come One has the Flesh Eye." "Subhuti, what do you
think, does the Thus Come One have the Heavenly Eye?" "So it is World Honored
One. The Thus Come One has the Heavenly Eye." "Subhuti, what do you think, does
the Thus Come One have the Wisdom Eye?" "So it is World Honored One. The Thus
Come One has the Wisdom Eye." "Subhuti, what do you think, does the Thus Come
One have the Dharma Eye?" "So it is World Honored One. The Thus Come One has
the Dharma Eye." "Subhuti, what do you think, does the Thus Come One have the
Buddha Eye?" "So it is World Honored One. The Thus Come One has the Buddha
Eye." "Subhuti, what do you think, has the Thus Come One said that all the sand of
the Ganges River is sand?" "So it is World Honored One. The Thus Come One has
said that all that sand is sand." "Subhuti, what do you think, if there were as many
Ganges rivers as there are grains of sand in one Ganges River, and there were as
many Buddhalands as there were grains of sand in all those Ganges rivers, would that
be many Buddhalands?" "Very many, World Honored One." The Buddha told
Subhuti, "The Thus Come One thoroughly knows all the various thoughts that occur
to every living being in each of those Buddhalands. Why? The Thus Come One says
that all thoughts are not thoughts. Therefore they are called thoughts. For what
reason? Subhuti, you cannot recover past thoughts, you cannot hold on to present
thoughts, and you cannot obtain future thoughts."

UNDERSTANDING AND TRANSFORMING THE DHARMA REALM,

NINETEEN
"Subhuti, what do you think, would a person because of the causes and conditions of
filling a threefold great thousand world system with the seven kinds of precious gems
and giving them as an offering, obtain many blessings?" "So it is World Honored
One. That person on account of his giving would obtain very many blessings."
"Subhuti, if these blessings and virtues are real, the Thus Come One would not speak
about obtaining many blessings. But because these blessings and virtues do not exist,
the Thus Come One speaks of obtaining many blessings."

LEAVING BOTH FORM AND APPEARANCES, TWENTY

"Subhuti, what do you think, should one look for Buddha in his perfect physical
body?" "No, World Honored One, one should not look for Thus Come One in his
perfect physical body. Why? The Thus Come One has said that the perfect physical
body is not the perfect physical body. Therefore it is called the perfect physical
body." "Subhuti, what do you think, should one look for Thus Come One in all his
perfect appearances?" "No World Honored One, one should not look for Thus Come
One in all his perfect appearances. Why? The Thus Come One has said perfect
appearances are not perfect appearances. Therefore they are called perfect
appearances."

WHAT IS SPOKEN IS NOT SPOKEN, TWENTY-ONE

"Subhuti, do not maintain that the Thus Come One has this thought: 'I have spoken
Dharma.' Do not think that way. Why? If someone says the Thus Come One has
spoken Dharma, he slanders the Buddha due to his inability to understand what I
teach. Subhuti, as to speaking Dharma, no Dharma can be spoken. Therefore it is
called 'speaking Dharma'." At that time Subhuti, the wise elder, addressed the
Buddha, "World Honored One, will there be living beings in the future who believe in
this Sutra when they hear it?" The Buddha said, "The living beings to whom you refer
are neither living beings nor not living beings. Why? Subhuti, all the different kinds
of living beings the Thus Come One speaks of are not living beings. Therefore they
are called living beings."

NO DHARMA CAN BE OBTAINED, TWENTY-TWO

Subhuti addressed the Buddha, "World Honored One, is it true that the Thus Come
One, in attaining Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, did not attain anything?" The Buddha
said, "So it is, so it is, Subhuti. As to Anuttarasamyaksambodhi, there is not the
slightest dharma which I could attain. Therefore it is called
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi."

A PURE MIND DOES WHOLESOME DEEDS, TWENTY-THREE

"Moreover, Subhuti, this Dharma is the common denominator; nothing is higher or
lower. Therefore it is called Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. A person free of self, others,
living beings and a life, who cultivates all wholesome dharmas, attains
Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. Subhuti, what are called wholesome dharmas, the Thus
Come One says are not wholesome dharmas. Therefore they are called wholesome
dharmas."
BLESSINGS AND WISDOM BEYOND COMPARE, TWENTY-FOUR
"Subhuti, suppose someone were to take mounds of the seven precious gems piled as
high as all the Sumerus, kings of mountains, in a threefold great thousand world
system and give them as an offering. And further suppose someone else were to
accept, uphold, read or recite and speak for others as few as four lines of verse from
this Prajna Paramita Sutra . The former person's blessings and virtues would not
equal 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 analogy."

TRANSFORMING WITHOUT THERE BEING ANYONE TRANSFORMED,

TWENTY-FIVE
"Subhuti, what do you think? None of you should maintain that the Thus Come One
has this thought: 'I shall save living beings.' Subhuti, do not think that way. Why? In
fact the Thus Come One does not save any living beings. If the Thus Come One
saved living beings, then the Thus Come One would have a sense of a self, others,
living beings, and a life. "Subhuti, although the Thus Come One speaks of the
existence of a self, there is really no self that exists. However, common people think
they have a self. Subhuti, the common people that the Thus Come One speaks of are
not common people. Therefore they are called common people."

THE DHARMA BODY IS NOT APPEARANCES, TWENTY-SIX

"Subhuti, what do you think, is 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 one could contemplate the Thus Come One in his Thirty-
two Physical Appearances, then a Wheel Turning Sage King would be the Thus Come
One." Subhuti addressed the Buddha, "World Honored One, as I understand what the
Buddha has said, one should not contemplate the Thus Come One in his Thirty-two
Physical Appearances." At that time the World Honored One spoke a verse saying,
One who looks for me in forms, Or seeks me in sounds, Practices a deviant path And
will never see the Thus Come One.

NOT DESTROYED NOR ANNIHILATED, TWENTY-SEVEN

"Subhuti, you might have the thought, 'It was not because he perfected his Physical
Appearances that the Thus Come One attained Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.' Subhuti,
do not think, 'It was not because he perfected his Physical Appearances that the Thus
Come One attained Anuttarasamyaksambodhi.' Subhuti, if you think in that way, then
those who have resolved their minds on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi would affirm the
destruction of all dharmas. Do not think like that. Why? Those who have resolved
their minds on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi do not affirm the destruction of the
appearances of all dharmas."

NO GREED AND NOTHING ACQUIRED, TWENTY EIGHT

"Subhuti, a Bodhisattva might fill up world systems equal in number to the grains of
sand in the Ganges River with the seven kinds of precious gems and give them as
gift. But if another person were to realize that all dharmas are devoid of self and
attain patience, that Bodhisattva's merit and virtues would surpass the merit and
virtues of the previous Bodhisattva. Why, Subhuti? Because Bodhisattvas do not
acquire blessings and virtues." Subhuti addressed the Buddha, "World Honored One,
how is it that Bodhisattvas do not acquire blessings and virtues?" "Subhuti,
Bodhisattvas should neither be greedy for, nor be attached to the blessings and virtues
which they foster. Therefore I say they do not acquire blessings and virtues."

THE QUIESCENCE OF HIS AWESOME DEMEANOR, TWENTY-NINE

"Subhuti, if someone says that it seems as if the Thus Come One comes and goes, sits
or lies down, such a person does not understand the meaning of my teaching. Why?
The Thus Come One does not come from anywhere nor does he go anywhere.
Therefore he is called the Thus Come One."

THE PRINCIPLE OF A UNITY OF APPEARANCES, THIRTY

"Subhuti, suppose a good man or good woman were to pulverize a threefold great
thousand world system into fine particles of dust. What do you think, would those
fine particles of dust be many?" Subhuti said, "Very many World Honored One.
Why? If those fine particles of dust did exist, the Buddha would not have called them
fine particles of dust. Why is this? What the Buddha speaks of as fine particles of
dust are not fine particles of dust. Therefore they are called fine particles of dust.
"World Honored One, what the Buddha spoke of as a threefold great thousand world
system is not a world system. Therefore it is called a world system. Why? If world
systems actually existed, that 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." "Subhuti, a unity of appearances cannot
really be expressed, but common people become greedily attached to such things."

KNOWLEDGE AND VIEWS ARE NOT PRODUCED, THIRTY-ONE

"Subhuti, suppose someone were to say that the Buddha spoke of the view of self, the
view of others, the view of living beings and the view of a life. Subhuti, what do you
think, does that person understand the meaning of my teachings?" "No, World
Honored One, that person does not understand the meaning of the Thus Come One's
teachings. Why? What the World Honored One spoke of as the view of self, view of
others, view of living beings and view of a life is not the view of self, view of others,
view of living beings and view of a life. Therefore they are called the view of self,
view of others, view of living beings and the view of a life." "Subhuti, those who
have resolved their minds on Anuttarasamyaksambodhi should, in regards to all
dharmas, thus know, thus perceive, and thus believe and understand and not set up
appearances of dharmas. Subhuti, what the Thus Come One speaks of as appearances
of dharmas are not appearances of dharmas. Therefore they are called appearances of
dharmas."

RESPONSES AND TRANSFORMATIONS ARE UNREAL, THIRTY-TWO

"Subhuti, suppose someone were to fill measureless asamkhyeyas of world systems
with the seven precious jewels and give them as an offering. Further, if a good man or
good woman who has resolved his mind on Bodhi were to receive, uphold, read or
recite and extensively explain for others as little as four lines of verse from this Sutra,
the latter person's blessings would surpass those of the former person. "How should
this Sutra be explained for others? By not grasping at appearances and being in
unmoving thusness. Why? All conditioned dharmas Are like a dream, an illusion, a
bubble or a shadow, Like dew or like a lightning flash. Contemplate them thus." After
the Buddha spoke this Sutra, the Elder Subhuti, all the Bhikshus, Bhikshunis,
upasakas and upasikas, and all the gods, humans, and asuras, and others from all the
worlds, having heard what the Buddha had said, were extremely happy, faithfully
accepted it, and put it into practice.
End of the Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra