本帖最后由 henry余 于 2012-10-11 03:04 编辑
在《倚天屠龙记》厄劫难渡的大高潮,谢逊,作为 “已经盲目的江湖之祖” 的象征,厄劫难到来,被陷进水深火热之中。
然后,耳听张无忌被厄劫难的表象表相迷惑:
——被留美生活领悟圣火令,以致过分自信
——信任 “拥有封建3000年伟大成功史” 的周芷若,妄图倚赖封建力量解脱解难
同时,被寿者厄劫难三僧强大黑索,无忌产生焦躁
终于,张无忌渐入魔道:开始迷惘前路,急于摆脱。
何物四相,鸠摩罗什????
谢逊念出金刚经:无我相、无人相、无众生相、无寿者相
我曾写下我对四相的解读:不被自己的观念僵化,不被别人的声誉误导,不盲从任何出名机构单位的看法,不迷信前辈、历史的成就。(所有这些,全部需要具体审视成败、具体评价:金庸是伟大的作家。查良镛是个爱钱的生意人、过分忙碌的父亲、不能保护婚姻的丈夫、被抗拒和攻击的政客。)
因为,鸠摩罗什的翻译,含义模糊,极具误导性:我不敢相信但无法阅读梵文。
终于,昨天想到:根据梵文的英译本!!!
虽然无法知道英译的准确度,最少,我是多了一个角度来理解。
现在我知道,鸠摩罗什翻译有非常非常重大的缺陷,但我的理解也不能说是对........
全文先放进这里,以作范本。
无四相的梵文转英语
有关四相的英文翻译,我把英语在翻译成现代中文如下:
“(Because) if a Bodhisattva (still) clings to the false notion (laksana) of
an ego, a personality, a being and a life, he is not ( a true) Bodhisattva.
假如菩萨仍然墨守虚假观念(false notion - laksana)的自尊心(ego),某人虚假的人物(a personality),虚假的存在现象(a being),或者虚假的生活经历(life),他不是真正菩萨。
简单说: 菩萨如僵化于虚假自尊、僵化于虚假外在个性、僵化于虚假的表面现象、僵化于虚假的生命,他不是菩萨。
(英语和梵文,都属印欧语系有机会字对字翻译,和中文语法相距较远,英文原意包含更深远的概念,一时难以透彻。更不是鸠摩罗什几个字可以涵盖)
(鸠摩罗什翻译:若菩萨有我相、人相、众生相、寿者相,即非菩萨。)
可以看出,鸠摩罗什的翻译,离开英语甚远,竟然连概念都不一样。
离开梵文多远?
哪一个可信?
(请各位自选)
TheDiamond Perfection of Wisdom Såtra (T235.8.748c-752c) Translatedinto Chinese by Kumàrajãva Translatedinto English by Charles Patton
1. Thus have I heard. One time the Buddha wasstaying at the Anàthapiõóada retreat in theJeta Grove near øràvastã, with a great congregation of 1,250 monks (bhikùu). At meantime,the World Honored One put on his robes and took his alms bowl into the great city of øràvastã to beg for alms. In the midst of that city, he begged successivelyand then returned to his personal dwelling toeat his meal. Having put away his robes and bowl,he washed his feet, prepared his seat, and sat. 2. Atthat time, the venerable Subhåti was amidst the great congregation. He thenrose from his seat, adjusted his robes, andkneeled his right knee to the ground. With his palmsjoined together respectfully, he addressed the Buddha, saying,"Extraordinary, WorldHonored One, is the Tathàgata’s skillful mindfulness of the bodhisattvas and his skillfulentrustment to the bodhisattvas. World Honored One, in what should good sons file:///C:\Users\henry\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtml1\01\clip_image004.gifand good daughters engendering thesupremely unexcelled bodhicitta1 dwell? How shouldthey subdue their minds?" TheBuddha replied, "Excellent, excellent! Subhåti, as you have said, theTathàgata is skillfully mindful of the bodhisattvas, and skillful is his entrustment to the bodhisattvas. If younow listen closely, I shall explain for you in what good sons and gooddaughters engendering the supremely unexcelled bodhicittashould thus abide,and how thus they shouldsubdue their minds." "Yes,World Honored One. Gladly, I shall listen." 3. TheBuddha addressed Subhåti, saying佛告诉须菩提, "Bodhisattva-mahàsattvas should thus subduetheir minds菩萨应该克服内心: 'Where there is every single sort of sentient being; whether eggborn,womb-born,water-born, or born of transformation; whether having form or formless任何方式诞生的众生; whether having thought or no thought; whether neither having thought norno thought有意识或无意识,有思维或无思维; I will cause all to enter the non-residual Nirvàõa,liberating them我都竭尽所能以无迹涅磐之力释放他们的能力成为菩萨。. Thus liberating the measureless, countless, andboundless sentient beings这个释放不可量不可数不可囿感知能力的个体, in reality there are no sentient beingsattaining that liberation但实际上并无任何有感众生曾经达到此境界。.' And why为何如此? Subhåti, if a bodhisattvahas the image of aself, the image of a person, the image of beings, or the image of a soul; thenheis not a bodhisattva2.因为,任何人固守于自我的形象、固守于某人的形象,固守于某集体的形象,固守于神灵(soul)的形象,则不能成为菩萨。 (形象:外在、表面的感觉和认知。) 1 The full Sanskrit term is anuttara-samyak-sa§bodhicitta. Anuttara-samyak-sa§bodhiwasusually transliterated by translators of Buddhist texts when rendering it intoChinese, even though the term could have been easily translated. In the interest of making the term lesscumbersome and more comprehensible, I am translating anuttara-samyak-sa§('supremelyunexcelled') and leaving bodhi and bodhicitta untranslated. 2 The Chinese reads hsiang, which means "appearance, mark, characteristic, sign". Thecharacter usually refers to the external environment, but Kumàrajãva here uses it ina way that seems to refer to mental images or notions. The later translations of the Såtra usedifferent characters that are Diamond Perfection ofWisdom Såtra 3
4. "Furthermore,Subhåti, a bodhisattva in the Dharma should not dwell in the practice ofcharity (dàna)3. I.e., he does not dwell in the forms of charity; does not dwell in the sounds,odors, tastes, tactile sensations, or ideas of charity. Subhåti, a bodhisattva shouldthus be charitable, not dwelling in such images. And why? If a bodhisattvadoes notdwell in the images of charity, his blessed virtue is incalculable. "Subhåti,what do you think? To the East, the space can be calculated, no?" "No,World Honored One." "Subhåti,to the South, West, North, the four directions between, the Zenith and Nadir,the space can be calculated, no?" "No,World Honored One." "Subhåti,the blessed virtue of a bodhisattva who does not dwell in the images of charityis also so. It cannot be calculated. Subhåti, bodhisattvas should only dwell accordingto this teaching." 5. "Subhåti,what do you think? One can see the Tathàgata by his bodily signs4, no?" "No,World Honored One. One cannot see the Tathàgata by his bodily signs. And why isthat? The Tathàgata has explained that the bodily signs are not bodilysigns." TheBuddha addressed Subhåti, saying, "The signs ordinary people possess are signsthat are all empty and mistaken. If one sees that these signs are not signs,then onesees the Tathàgata."5 6. Subhåtisaid to the Buddha, "World Honored One, isn't it doubtful that there are sentientbeings who will hear thus the words spoken in this discourse and become genuinelyfaithful?" TheBuddha addressed Subhåti, saying, "Do not say this. In the final fivehundred yearera after the Tathàgata’s death6, those who uphold the precepts and cultivate the blessedwill be able to give rise to the faithful mind from these passages because they more appropriate for internal images, notions, and views. I've translated hsiang as "image" in this context, but the reader should understand that it is a mental image ornotion. 3 Charity is one of the six pàramitàs, or perfections, that are cultivated by the bodhisattvas. 4 I.e., the thirty-two marks of a Buddha. 5 This is one of the more meaningful passages of thisSåtra, though it is not obvious. The unspoken reference here is to the essential body (dharmakàya) of the Buddha, which is thebody devoid of characteristics that resides in ultimate reality. This passage, then, ispushing the reader towards seeing what lies beneath sensory appearances and images, rather than thesurface of things. 6 In expressing the impermanenceof the practice of the Dharma in the world, the Buddha described in other scriptures how it would progressively become superficial as theoriginal intent of his teachings was forgotten. He broke the period of the Dharma's decay intofive hundred year periods, the practice becoming more corrupted as time wore on. Once theDharma had completely disappeared there would be a long period without it, and then a new Buddhawould appear in the world to reestablish it.
Diamond Perfection of Wisdom Såtra 4 aretrue. It should be known that these people would not have been with one Buddha, twoBuddhas, three, four, or five Buddhas and sown the good roots. They will have sownthe good roots with a measureless hundreds of thousands of Buddhas.7 Hearing thesepassages, even for a single recitation, they shall give rise to a pure faith.Subhåti, theTathàgata fully knows and fully sees that these sentient beings will attainthus such measurelessblessed virtue. And why? These sentient beings will not return to the imagesof a self, images of a person, images of sentient beings, or images of a soul. Theywould have no images of the Dharma and also no images of the non-Dharma. And why?If these sentient beings' minds were to grasp such images, they would become attachedto a self, a person, sentient beings, and a soul. If they were to grasp the imagesof the Dharma, they would become attached to a self, a person, sentient beings, and asoul. And why? If they were to grasp the images of the non-Dharma, they would becomeattached to a self, a person, sentient beings, and a soul. This is why oneshould notgrasp the Dharma and why one should not grasp the non-Dharma. It is because of thismeaning that the Tathàgata always says, 'You monks! Know that my spoken Dharmais like the bamboo raft. The Dharma that is honored must be relinquished. How muchmore so is it with what is not the Dharma?' 7. "Subhåti,what do you think? The Tathàgata has attained the supremely unexcelled bodhi, no? The Tathàgata has a teaching of the Dharma,no?" Subhåtireplied, "As I have understood the meaning of the Buddha's discourse,there is nocertain Dharma called 'the supremely unexcelled bodhi'. Also, there is no certain Dharmathat the Tathàgata can expound. And why? The Dharmas expounded by the Tathàgataare intangible and inexpressible. They are neither Dharmas nor non- Dharmas.And why is that? All of the Sages make discriminations from the unconditionedDharma."8 8. "Subhåti,what do you think? If a person filled the trichiliocosm9 with the seven treasures10 for the purpose of charity, this person'sblessed virtue would become plentiful,no?" 7 I.e., over the course of numerous past livesas bodhisattvas. 8 This is another important passage. Theunconditioned Dharma is Nirvàõa. Thus, this passage is saying that the particular spoken doctrines expounded by the Buddhas arenot absolutes, but relative expressions discriminated out of the unconditioned. Theunconditioned is their source and they point those who hear them back towards the unconditioned, if followedproperly. 9 A 'trichiliocosm' is a termcoined to translate trisahasra-mahàsahasra-lokadhàtu, which is a world system consisting of a billion worlds. This is arrived at through acomplex of nested small, medium, and large world-systems. I.e., a thousand worlds make a smallchiliocosm, a thousand small chiliocosms make a medium chiliocosm, and a thousand mediumchiliocosms make a large chiliocosm. Thus, a large chiliocosm is 10003 worlds. This is called a'trichiliocosm' to remind us of the nested chiliocosms. 10 The seven treasures are: gold, silver, lapislazuli, crystal, agate, rubies, and carnelian. Diamond Perfection ofWisdom Såtra 5
Subhåtireplied, "Very plentiful, World Honored One. And why? This blessed virtue thenwould not be of a blessed nature. This is why the Tathàgata has said that his blessedvirtue would be plentiful." "If,again, there is a person who receives and upholds just four lines of verse thatis inthis Såtra and explains it to another person, that person's blessedness would overcomethe other's. And why? Subhåti, the Dharmas of all the Buddhas who have reachedthe Buddhas' supremely unexcelled bodhi are produced from this Såtra. Subhåti,that is, those Buddhas' Dharmas, then, are not the Buddha's Dharma. 9. "Subhåti,what do you think? The stream entrant (÷rota-àpanna) is able to think, 'I haveattained the stream entrant's reward', no?" Subhåtireplied, "No, World Honored One. And why? 'Stream entrant' is the name forentering the stream and for entering nowhere else: not entering forms, sounds,odors, tastes,tactile sensations, or ideas. This is called a 'stream entrant'." "Subhåti,what do you think? The Once-returner (sakçdàgàmin) is able to think, 'I haveattained the Once-returner's reward', no?" Subhåtireplied, "No, World Honored One. And why? 'Once-returner' is the name forone more arrival and really is without future arrival11. This is called a 'Once-returner'." "Subhåti,what do you think? The Non-returner (anàgàmin) is able to think, 'I have attainedthe Non-returner's reward', no?" Subhåtireplied, "No, World Honored One. And why? 'Non-returner' is the name for nofurther arrival, and really has no non-arrival. This is why he is called'Non-returner'." "Subhåti,what do you think? The Worthy (arhat) is able to think, 'I have attained the Worthy'senlightenment', no?" Subhåtireplied, "No, World Honored One. And why? Really, there is nothing called a'Worthy'.12 "WorldHonored One, if a Worthy were to think, 'I have attained the Worthy's enlightenment',then it would be because of attachment to a self, a person, sentient beings,and a soul. World Honored One, the Buddha has said that I have attained the samàdhi of non-dispute that among others is the best. It is thebest because I am free of thedesire to be a Worthy. I do not think, 'I am free of the desire to be aWorthy'. World HonoredOne, if I were to think, 'I have attained the Worthy's enlightenment', then the WorldHonored One would not have said that Subhåti is a happy woodland practitioner13, becauseSubhåti really practices nowhere. And so he is called 'Subhåti, the happy woodlandpractitioner'." 10. TheBuddha addressed Subhåti, saying, "What do you think? When the Tathàgata 11 I.e., one more arrival in Sa§sàra. 12 These are the four levels of spiritualattainment found in the early Buddhist Såtras, such as those of the modern Theravàda canon. 13 'Happy woodland practitioner' is another name for anascetic, as asceticism often involves taking up residences in the wilderness away from cities and people for extendedmeditation retreats.
Diamond Perfection ofWisdom Såtra 6 wasformerly staying with the Buddha Dãpa§kara14, he had attained the Dharma that thatBuddha possessed, no?" "No,World Honored One. When the Tathàgata was staying with the Buddha Dãpa§kara,really he did not attain that Dharma." "Subhåti,what do you think? The bodhisattvas adorn the Buddha lands, no?"15 "No,World Honored One. And why? The adorning of the Buddha lands is not an adornment.It is called an 'adornment'." "Thisis why, Subhåti, the bodhisattva-mahàsattva should thus give rise to the pure mind.He should not dwell in forms when giving rise to that mind; nor should he dwellin sounds,odors, tastes, tactile sensations, or ideas when giving rise to that mind. They shoulddwell in no abode when giving rise to that mind. "Subhåti,it is just like a person whose body is like Mount Sumeru.What do you think?This body would be great, no?" Subhåtireplied, "Very great, World Honored One. And why? The Buddha has said thatit is not a body that is called a great body." 11. "Subhåti,suppose there were Ganges rivers equal innumbers to that of all the sandsin the Ganges river. What do you think? Thesands of all those Ganges Rivers wouldbe many, no?" "Verymany, World Honored One. Merely all of those Ganges Rivers would be so manyas to be countless. How much more so would be their sands?" "Subhåti,I now will truthfully tell you, if there were good sons and good daughters, whothemselves number like the sands of those Ganges Rivers and who filled the trichiliocosmwith the seven treasures for the purpose of charity, they would attain many merits,no?" Subhåtireplied, "Very many, World Honored One." TheBuddha addressed Subhåti, "If a good son or good daughter receive anduphold justfour lines of verse from within this Sutra and for explain it another person,their blessedvirtue would surpass the blessed virtue of the others'. 12. "Furthermore,Subhåti, where what is said in this Såtra is followed, even if it is just fourlines of verse, it should be known that the gods, men, or asuras in all the worlds, shouldgive offerings of support to that place as though it were a Buddhist pagoda or temple.How much more so if there is someone who is able to receive, keep, read, and reciteit in its entirety? Subhåti, it should be known that this person consummate the 14 Gautama's encounter with the BuddhaDãpa§kara, who gave him prediction of his future birth as a Buddha, is one of the major milestones found in the Jataka literaturethat purports to present stories from selected past lives of the Buddha as a bodhisattva. This literature actually predated the Mahàyàna movement and was the inspiration for the bodhisattva vehicle. 15 I.e., the bodhisattvas purify the Buddha land withtheir pure deeds that benefit sentient beings and improve the environment in general.
Diamond Perfection ofWisdom Såtra 7 supreme,best, most extraordinary Dharma. If this Såtra resides in his abode, then it wouldbe as though the Buddha were present there, if it is honored by thedisciples." 13. Atthat time, Subhåti said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, what shall bethe nameof this Såtra? How are we to transmit and uphold it?" TheBuddha addressed Subhåti, "This Såtra's name is the Diamond[Cutting] Perfection of Wisdom16. With the words of this title, you shouldtransmit and uphold it. Andwhy is that? Subhåti, the Buddha says that it is the perfection of wisdom (praj¤àpàramità), so it is not the perfection of wisdom. "Subhåti,what do you think? The Tathàgata has an exposition of the Dharma, no?" Subhåtisaid to the Buddha, "World Honored One, the Tathàgata has noexposition." "Subhåti,what do you think? The atoms of the trichiliocosm are many, no?" Subhåtireplied, "Very many, World Honored One." "Subhåti,the Tathàgata has said that atoms are not atoms. They are called 'atoms'. TheTathàgata has explained that the worlds are not worlds. They are called'worlds'. Subhåti,what do you think? One can see the Tathàgata by the thirty-two signs, no?" "No,World Honored One. One cannot see of the Tathàgata by the thirty-two signs. Andwhy? The Tathàgata has explained that the thirty-two signs are not signs. Theyare calledthe 'thirty-two signs'." "Subhåti,suppose there are good sons and good daughters that give charity and whoselives are equal to the sands of the Ganges River. And suppose againthere is a personwho receives and keeps four lines of verse from within this Såtra and explainsit foranother person. His merit would be much more." 14. At thattime Subhåti, having heard this Såtra expounded, deeply understood its meaningsuddenly. He wept and lamented, and then addressed the Buddha, saying, "It isextraordinary, World Honored One, that the Buddha expounds such a profoundSåtra asthis. Since the time I have had the wisdom-eye, I have never before heard sucha Såtra.World Honored One, if again there is a person who hears this Såtra with afaithful mindthat is pure, then in them will arise the sign of the real. It should be knownthat this personwill have consummated the best, most extraordinary virtue. World Honored One, thissign of the real then is the a non-sign. This is why the Tathàgata has saidthat it is calledthe 'sign of the real'. World Honored One, thus having heard this Såtra and faithfullyunderstood it, receiving and upholding it is no longer difficult for me. If the sentientbeings who come into the world in the last five hundred year era hear thisSåtra withfaithful understanding, receive and uphold it, they then would be made most extraordinary.And why? These people would not have the images of a self, images of a person,images of sentient beings, or images of a soul. And why is that? The images of theself then are non-signs. The images of a person, images of sentient beings, and 16 Kumàrajãva translated the title 'Vajracchedikà-praj¤àpàramità Såtra' as simply 'Vajrapraj¤ àpàramità Såtra'. I have adjusted his renderingfor accuracy.
Diamond Perfection ofWisdom Såtra 8 imagesof a soul then are non-signs. And why? Being free of all images therefore is whatis called a Buddha." TheBuddha addressed Subhåti, saying, "So it is, so it is. If again there is aperson whohears this Såtra, and is not astonished, not alarmed, and not fearful; itshould be knownthat this person would be most extraordinary. And why? Subhåti, the Tathàgata'sexposition of the first perfection is not the first perfection17. It is called the firstperfection. Subhåti, the perfection of tolerance (kùànti-pàramità), that Tathàgata has explained,is not the perfection of tolerance. And why? Subhåti, I had formerly had my bodycut to pieces by King Kaliïga and at that time was without the images of aself, withoutthe images of a person, without the images of sentient beings, and without the imagesof a soul. And why? in that former time I had been cut apart limb from limb. IfI hadhad the images of a self, images of a person, images of sentient beings, andthe imagesof a soul, I would have become angry and indignant. "Furthermore,Subhåti, I recall that in the past five hundred incarnations I had been anascetic practicing tolerance. In that incarnation, I was without the image of aself, withoutthe image of a person, without the image of sentient beings, and without the imageof a soul. This is why, Subhåti, the bodhisattva should be free of all images when engenderingthe supremely unexcelled bodhicitta. He should not dwell in forms when givingrise to that mind. He should not dwell in sounds, odors, tastes, tactilesensations, orideas when giving rise to that mind. He should dwell nowhere when giving riseto that mind.If in that mind he has an abode, then it would be the non-abode. This is whythe Buddhahas said that the bodhisattva's mind should not dwell in the forms of charity. Subhåti,the bodhisattva who bestows blessings on all the sentient beings shouldthus be charitable.The Tathàgata has said that all images then are the non-images. Further, he hassaid that all sentient beings, therefore, are not sentient beings. Subhåti, the Tathàgataspeaks truly, really, thus, not with trickery, and no with contradiction.Subhåti, theDharma that the Tathàgata has attained is neither true nor false. Subhåti, if a bodhisattva's mind dwells in the Dharma while practicing charity, itwould be like a personentering darkness and who sees nothing. If a bodhisattva's mind does not dwell in theDharma while practicing charity, it would be like a person who has eyes to seethe sunlightthat illuminates all the various forms. Subhåti, in the future era there willbe goodsons and good daughters able to receive, uphold, read, and recite what is inthis Såtra.For the Tathàgata fully knows and fully sees these people with the Buddha's wisdom.I can say that they all shall attain the consummation of that measureless and boundlessvirtue. 15. "Subhåti,suppose there are good sons and good daughters who, in the morning, in numbersequaling that of the sands of the Ganges, givethemselves in charity; who, in theafternoon, in numbers equaling that of the sands of the Ganges,give themselves in charity;who, in the evening, in numbers equaling that of the sands of the Ganges, give themselvesin charity; and thus for measureless billions of aeons (kalpas) give themselvesin charity. Suppose, again, that there is a person who hears this Såtra with afaithful mind that is not contrary, his blessedness would overcome theirs. Howmuch moreso would it be if he copies, receives, upholds, reads, and recites it, and then 17 The first perfection is that of charity.
Diamond Perfection ofWisdom Såtra 9 explainsit for another person? Subhåti, essentially speaking, this Såtra has a meaning thatis inconceivable, inexpressible, and boundless in virtue. The Tathàgataexpounds it for thoseof setting forth the great vehicle and expounds it for those setting forth the supremevehicle. If there is a person who is able to receive, uphold, read, and recitethis Såtraand widely explain it to another person, the Tathàgata fully knows and fullysees thatsuch a person will attain the consummation of an unfathomable, inexpressible, boundless,and inconceivable virtue. Thus such a person therefore carries on the Tathàgata’s supremely unexcelled bodhi. And why? Subhåti, if there issatisfaction foundin the lesser Dharma, that is an attachment to the image of a self, the imageof a person,the image of sentient beings, and the image of a soul. Therefore, there couldnot be theability to receive, uphold, recite, or explain it for another person what is inthis Såtra.Subhåti, wherever it resides, in whatever place, if therein is this Såtra, thegods, humans,and asuras of all of the worlds should give offerings there. It should be known thatthis place then is a pagoda. All should pay respect to it by circumambulatingand scatteringflowers and incense around it. 16. "Furthermore,Subhåti, if good sons and good daughters who receive, uphold, read, andrecite this Såtra should be slighted or insulted, they would have committedevil deedsin prior lives and as a result fallen into that unpleasant path. Because ofthat, they areslighted and insulted in the present life by others. When the prior life's evildeeds thenhave been extirpated, they shall attain the supremely unexcelled bodhi. Subhåti, I recallthat in the past, a measureless asaïkhya aeons ago, before I was with the Buddha Dãpa§kara,I had met eighty-four quintillions of Buddhas, had given offerings to all of them,and had received their work without needless error. Suppose, again, there is someonein the later superficial era who is able to receive, uphold, read, and recitethis Såtra,and attain the merit of it. The merit of my giving offerings to all of thoseBuddhas wouldnot compare to a hundredth of his merit. Even a trillionth of the his meritcould not compareto it. Subhåti, if I were to fully enunciate the extent of the merit attainedby that goodson or good daughter in the later superficial era who shall receive, uphold,read, andrecite this Såtra, some of the people's minds in this audience would beconfounded, becomedoubtful, and not believe it. Subhåti, it should be known that this Såtra's meaningis inconceivable. The fruit of its reward is also inconceivable. 17. Atthat time, Subhåti said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, in what shouldgood sonsand good daughters dwell when engendering the supremely unexcelled bodhicitta? Howshould they subdue their minds?"18 TheBuddha addressed Subhåti, saying, "Goods sons and good daughters engenderingthe supremely unexcelled bodhicitta will give rise to this thought, 'I shall liberateall sentient beings. Having liberated all of the sentient beings, there arereally no 18 At this point, the Såtra repeats the topicsfound in section 2, etc. According to Conze, large sections of the Sanskrit version of the Såtra is verbatim repetition ofearlier sections. Kumàrajãva seems to have dealt with this by glossing the repetitious material so thatthe latter sections would be more interesting to the Chinese reader.
Diamond Perfection ofWisdom Såtra 10 sentientbeings who are liberated.' And why? Subhåti, if a bodhisattva has the image of aself, the image of a person, the image of sentient beings, or the image of asoul, then he isnot a bodhisattva. And why is that? Subhåti, really there is no one whohas the supremelyunexcelled bodhicitta. Subhåti, what do you think? When the Tathàgata was withthe Buddha Dãpa§kara, he possessed the Dharma and could attain the supremely unexcelledbodhi, no?" "No,World Honored One. As I have understood the meaning of the Buddha's discourse,when the Buddha was with the Buddha Dãpa§kara he did not possess the Dharmathat could attain the supremely unexcelled bodhi." TheBuddha replied, "So it is, so it is. Subhåti, really there is no existentDharma thatthe Tathàgata has attained in the supremely unexcelled bodhi. Subhåti, if there were aDharma that the Tathàgata has attained in the supremely unexcelled bodhi, the Buddha Dãpa§kara,then, would not have given me prediction, saying, 'You shall appear in a futurelife as a Buddha named øàkyamuni.' Since in reality there is no existent Dharma in theattainment of supremely unexcelled bodhi, the Buddha Dãpa§kara bestowed onto meprediction, saying, 'You shall appear in a future life as a Buddha namedøàkyamuni.' Andwhy? 'Tathàgata' then is the thusness of things.19 Suppose there is a person who saysthe Tathàgata has attained the supremely unexcelled bodhi. Subhåti, really there is noDharma in the Buddha's attainment of the supremely unexcelled bodhi. Subhåti, in theTathàgata’s attainment of the supremely unexcelled bodhi there is no truth or falsehood.This is why the Tathàgata says that all of the Dharmas are the Buddha's Dharma.Subhåti, that which is called 'all of the Dharmas,' then, is not all of the Dharmas.This is why it is called 'all of the Dharmas.' Subhåti, for example, take the personwhose body is huge." Subhåtireplied, "World Honored One, the Tathàgata has said that the person who has abody which is huge, then, does not have a great body. It is called a greatbody." "Subhåti,the bodhisattva is also so. If one should say, 'I shall liberate the measurelesssentient beings' then he is not called a bodhisattva. And why? Subhåti, reallythere is nothing thing is called is 'bodhisattva'. This is why the Buddha has said thatall things are devoid of self, devoid of person, devoid of sentient beings, anddevoid of asoul. Subhåti, if a bodhisattva were to say, 'I shall adorn the Buddhaland'; he is not to becalled a bodhisattva. And why? The Tathàgata has said that the adornment ofthe Buddhaland, then, not an adornment. It is called 'adornment'. Subhåti, if a bodhisattva penetratesinto the selflessness of things, the Tathàgata has said that he is genuinely calleda bodhisattva." 18. "Subhåti,what do you think? The Tathàgata possesses the flesh eye, no?" "Soit is, World Honored One. The Tathàgata possesses the flesh eye." "Subhåti,what do you think? The Tathàgata possesses the heavenly eye, no?" "Soit is, World Honored One. The Tathàgata possesses the heavenly eye." "Subhåti,what do you think? The Tathàgata possesses the wisdom eye, no?" "Soit is, World Honored One. The Tathàgata possesses the wisdom eye." 19 Kumàrajãva's Chinese is not clear here.Hsuan-tsang's translation reads, "The term 'Tathàgata' then is the expression of the real, absolute, and superior." (T220.7.983c) Bodhiruci's translation reads, "The term 'Tathàgata' then is the realand absolute." (T236.8.755b)
Diamond Perfection ofWisdom Såtra 11 "Subhåti,what do you think? The Tathàgata possesses the Dharma eye, no?" "Soit is, World Honored One. The Tathàgata possesses the Dharma eye." "Subhåti,what do you think? The Tathàgata possesses the Buddha eye, no?" "Soit is, World Honored One. The Tathàgata possesses the Buddha eye." "Subhåti,what do you think? Regarding the sands possessed by the Ganges River, theBuddha has spoken of these sands, no?" "Soit is, World Honored One. The Tathàgata has spoken of these sands." "Subhåti,what do you think? As there are sands in a single Ganges River,suppose thereare Ganges Rivers equal in number to those sands, and that there are Buddha worldsnumbering like those sands in each of those rivers. These worlds would be many,no?" "Verymany, World Honored One." TheBuddha addressed Subhåti, saying, "In those lands there are sentientbeings possessingvarious kinds of minds, which the Tathàgata fully knows. And why? The Tathàgatahas said that minds are not minds, and so are called 'minds'. And why is that?Subhåti, the past mind is unobtainable, the present mind is unobtainable, andthe futuremind is unobtainable." 19. "Subhåti,what do you think? Suppose there is a person who filled the trichiliocosm withthe seven treasures for the purpose of charity. This person, with these causesand conditions,would obtain many merits, no?" "Soit is, World Honored One. This person, with these causes and conditions, would obtainvery many merits." "Subhåti,if that blessed deed were real, the Tathàgata would not have said that this personwould obtain many merits. Since the blessed deed is non-existent, the Tathàgata saysthat the person would obtain many merits." 20. "Subhåti,what do you think? The Buddha can be seen by the perfect form of his body,no?" "No,World Honored One. The Tathàgata should not be seen by the perfect form of hisbody. And why? The Tathàgata has said that the perfect form of his body is nota perfectform of body. It is called a perfect form of body." "Subhåti,what do you think? The Tathàgata can be seen by the perfect signs, no?" "No,World Honored One. The Tathàgata should not be seen by the perfect signs. Andwhy? The Tathàgata has said that the signs' perfection is not perfect. It iscalled thesigns' perfection." 21. "Subhåti,do not say that the Tathàgata composes this thought, 'I shall have an expositionof the Dharma.' Do not compose that thought. And why? If a person says thatthe Tathàgata has an exposition of the Dharma, then they have slandered the Buddhabecause they are unable to understand the reason for my speaking. Subhåti,
Diamond Perfection of Wisdom Såtra 12 thespoken Dharma lacks a Dharma which can be spoken. It is called a spoken Dharma." Atthat time, the Venerable Subhåti said to the Buddha, "World Honored One,isn't it doubtfulthat there will be sentient beings in future eras yet to come who will giverise to thefaithful mind upon hearing of this Dharma?" TheBuddha replied, "Subhåti, they are not sentient beings, nor are they notsentient beings.And why? Subhåti, the 'sentient being' of a sentient being, the Tathàgata has said,is not a sentient being. It is called a sentient being." 22. Subhåtisaid to the Buddha, "World Honored One, the Buddha's attainment of the supremelyunexcelled bodhi is the attainment of nothing?" TheBuddha replied, "So it is, so it is. Subhåti, in my supremely unexcelled bodhi, thereis not the slightest thing that can be attained. This is called the supremely unexcelledbodhi." 23. "Furthermore,Subhåti, the Dharma is equanimous, lacking high or low. This is calledthe supremely unexcelled bodhi. By having no self, having no person, having no sentientbeings, and having no soul, and cultivating of all the good things, therefore, attainsthe supremely unexcelled bodhi. Subhåti, the words 'good things', the Tathàgata hassaid, are not good things. They are called good things. 24. "Subhåti,suppose that a person has accumulated mounds like the Mount Sumerus of thetrichiliocosm of the seven treasures of such size and numbers as those Mount Sumerusfor the purpose of charity. If a person receives, upholds, reads, and recites justfour lines of verse in this Perfection of Wisdom Såtra, and explains it foranother person,the former's merit would not compare to a hundredth of his own. A trillionthpart of hisown, even, would be not be comparable to it. 25. "Subhåti,what do you think? Would you say that the Tathàgata has this thought, 'I shallsave the sentient beings'? Subhåti, he does not have that thought. And why? Really,there are no sentient beings for the Tathàgata to save. If there were sentient beingsfor the Tathàgata to save, the Tathàgata then would have a self, a person, sentientbeings, and a soul. Subhåti, the Tathàgata has said that having a self then isnot havinga self. Yet, ordinary men take themselves as having a self.20 Subhåti, the Tathàgatahas explained that ordinary men, then, are not mortal men. They are called 'ordinarymen'." 20 Hsuan-tsang: "Yet, deluded men [see]different beings and are compelled to have this attachment [to a self]." (T220.7.756a)
Diamond Perfection ofWisdom Såtra 13 26. "Subhåti,what do you think? One can examine the Tathàgata by the thirty-two marks,no?" Subhåtireplied, "So it is, so it is. One examines the Tathàgata by the thirty-two marks." TheBuddha said, "Subhåti, if one examines the Tathàgata by the thirty-twomarks, then awheel-turning noble king is this Tathàgata."21 Subhåtisaid to the Buddha, "World Honored One, as I understand the meaning of theBuddha's discourse, the Tathàgata should not be examined by the thirty-twosigns." Atthat time, the World Honored One proclaimed this verse (gàthà), "Ifby form one looks for the Tathàgata Or bythe sound of the voice seeks me, Thisperson walks the wrong path And isunable to see the Tathàgata. 27. "Subhåti,suppose you were to compose this thought, 'It is not by the perfect signs thatthe Tathàgata has attained the supremely unexcelled bodhi'. Subhåti, do not composethat thought, 'It is not by the perfect signs that the Tathàgata has attainedthe supremelyunexcelled bodhi'. Subhåti, suppose you were to compose this thought, 'Engenderingthe supremely unexcelled bodhicitta is said to be the Dharma of cessation'. Do notform that thought. And why? Engendering the supremely unexcelled bodhicitta cannotbe said to be the Dharma of cessation. 28. "Subhåti,suppose a bodhisattva filled worlds numbering like the sands of the Ganges River with the seven treasures for the purposeof charity. Suppose, again, there is aperson who knows every thing is selfless and so attains the complete toleranceof them.This bodhisattva would overcome the former bodhisattva's attainment of virtue. Subhåti,it is because bodhisattvas do not receive blessed virtue." Subhåtiaddressed the Buddha, saying, "World Honored One, how is it bodhisattvas do notreceive blessed virtue?" "Subhåti,the bodhisattva's performance of blessed deeds should not be subject to cravingor attachment. This is why I say they do not receive blessed virtue. 29. "Subhåti,if there is a person who says the Tathàgata comes, goes, sits, or lies down.This person does not understand the meaning of my discourse. And why? A 'Tathàgata'is without a place from whence to come and also is without a place to which to go.That is why he is called a Tathàgata." 21 I.e., the physical body of the Tathàgata.
Diamond Perfection ofWisdom Såtra 14 30. "Subhåti,suppose a good son or good daughter were to grind a trichiliocosm to atoms.What do you think? These atoms would be many, no?" "Verymany, World Honored One. And why? If these atoms were really existent, theBuddha then would not say the atoms are myriad. And why is that? The Buddha hassaid the atoms then are not atoms. These are called atoms. World Honored One, theTathàgata has said that the trichiliocosm of worlds then is not worlds. Theseare calledworlds. And why? If the worlds were really existent, then these would appear as asingle entity. The Tathàgata has said that the appearance of a single entity isnot the appearanceof a single entity. This is called a single entity."22 "Subhåti,the appearance of a single entity, then, is inexpressible.23 Only ordinary mencrave and are attached to their own doings. 31. "Subhåti,suppose someone says the Buddha has spoken of a view of self, a view of aperson, the view of sentient beings, or the view of a soul. Subhåti, what doyou think?This person understands the meaning of my discourse, no?" "No,World Honored One. This person would not understand the meaning of the Tathàgata’s discourse. And why? The World HonoredOne has said the view of a self, theview of a person, the view of sentient beings, and the view of a soul; then,are not the viewsof a self, view of a person, view of sentient beings, and the view of a soul.These arecalled the view of a self, the view of a person, the view of sentient beings,and the viewof a soul." "Subhåti,in the supremely unexcelled bodhi all things thus should be known, thus be viewed,and thus be faithfully understood as the marks of the unarisen Dharma. Subhåti, theTathàgata has said the words 'mark of the Dharma,' then, are not mark of the Dharma.This is called the mark of the Dharma. 32. "Subhåti,suppose there is a person who fills the measureless asaïkhya of worlds withthe seven treasures for the purpose of charity. And suppose there is a good sonor gooddaughter who engenders the bodhicitta, upholding just four lines of verse in this Såtra;receiving, upholding, reading, reciting, and giving extensive explanations ofit for others.That blessed virtue would overcome the other's. And how would they give extensiveexplanations for other people? By not taking up the images of the absolute, theunmoving. And why? "Allconditioned things Arelike dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows; Likedew and also like lightning. Thusshould they be contemplated." 22 I.e., they are not single objects, butcollections of components given the label 'world'. 23 The unconditioned might be called a 'singleentity' insofar as it is not composed of component parts; but then it has no characteristics to sense, so it isinexpressible.
Diamond Perfection ofWisdom Såtra 15 Oncethe Buddha had expounded this Såtra, the venerable Subhåti, the monks, nuns (bhikùuõãs), laymen (upàsakas), and laywomen (upàsikàs), and the gods, humans, and asuras in all the worlds who had heard theBuddha's discourse were all greatly elated.Faithfully did they accept and hand down the practice of the Diamond Perfection of Wisdom Såtra.
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