The Transcendent Perfection of Wisdom
in Eighteen Thousand Lines - 335
Daśasāhasrikāprajñāpāramitā
– Chapter 35 - Hard to believe –
Source: https://read.84000.co/translation/toh10.html
More Analysis of Mahayana Sutras : https://www.gilehtblog.com/2022/07/toc-400.html
[Note: The two truths are:
T1: conventionally dependently co-arisen (interdependent) relatively functional ever-changing impermanent appearances / tools / adapted skillful means, merely labeled / imputed / imagined / created by the mind in dependence of its conditioning / karma (in cycle), not completely non-existence;
T2: emptiness of inherent existence, not real existence;
U2T: those two truths, like any other pair of apparent opposites, are inseparable, interdependent, co-defined, co-relative, co-dependent, co-emergent, co-evolving, co-ceasing / co-transcended, in harmony, in 'Union' <==> thus empty of inherent existence.
They are tools to help us to get to the 'inconceivable' by refuting what 'Reality as it is' is not:
all extreme views like: existence / dharma / causality / functionality, non-existence / non-dharma / non-causality / non-functionality, both together, neither; difference / manyness / diversity / duality, identity / oneness / sameness / non-duality, both together, neither; permanence / continuity / eternity, impermanence / discontinuity / annihilation, both together, neither; individuality, collectivity, universality, a combination of those, none of those; subjectivity, relation / action / process, objectivity, a combination of those, none of those; the 1st truth alone / dependent origination [T1], the 2nd truth alone / mere-emptiness [T2], both two truths together as if different and in opposition [2T], neither of the two truths as if identical and one [1T,]; ‘this’, ‘non-this’, both together, neither – for whatever ‘this’ is.
-
The three spheres: ex.
i. The subject / actor / goer / perceiver / knower / acquirer / owner,
ii. The relation / action / going / perceiving / knowing / acquiring / having
iii. The object / result / destination / perceived / known / acquired / possessions / karma / 5 aggregates / body & speech & mind.
-
Generalisations:
Whenever it is possible the comments of each section are expressed into a more global context. So they always cover more than just what is said in the various translations. The goal is to make the Big Picture more evident.
-
Note: All comments within (i.e. …) or [...] are from the commentator (me), not the translators.)
[Back to Résumés of chapters 1-41]
35. HELLS – It is hard to believe in this perfection of wisdom.
(i.e. Résumé: For many, it is hard to believe in this perfection of wisdom – because it is indescribable / inconceivable.
-
Those persons who spoil the perfection of wisdom are those who spoil the Dharma …
They pass on from great hells to great hells …
-
"It is hard for those who do not work hard, who are without wholesome roots, and who have fallen into the clutches of bad friends to believe in this perfection of wisdom."
"Deep is this perfection of wisdom in which it is so hard for them to believe."
-
It is indescribable / inconceivable of our flawed dualistic conceptual conditioned ordinary mind(s); it is beyond all extremes & middle, beyond all dualistic conceptual proliferations, beyond all defining limitations, beyond all conditioning / karma..
-
"It is hard for those who do not work hard, have not planted wholesome roots, have fallen into the clutches of bad friends, are under the control of Māra, and are lazy, deficient in perseverance, forgetful, and without introspection to believe in this perfection of wisdom."
–
Everything is primordially equal, pure, perfect, divine, complete, free, enlightened, the inseparable three kayas, the true Buddha – in the non-dual sense of those terms: not 'this', not 'non-this', not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth – for whatever 'this' is.
-
-
============================================
-
-
i.101 – "There is no saṃsāra or nirvāṇa. Everything is pure.
The purity of the final result, the knowledge of all aspects, and the purity of the suffering aggregates is the same purity."
-
-
i.102 – Purity is deep, illuminating, does not go from one form of life to the next, is undefiled, knows no attainment or clear realization, does not come into being anywhere, and does not help or hinder anything or take hold of any truth. Some apprehend this Perfection of Wisdom through a causal sign and make it into an absolute truth. They are far from the Perfection of Wisdom. If they apprehend even the finest qualities of a buddha, they have attachment. The attachment happens when they perceive the thought of awakening, the path, what knowledge comprehends, the results of the training — all the buddhas of the three time periods and their qualities — and, rejoicing in it for the sake of all beings, turn it over to the knowledge of all aspects. It is attachment because all these have no basic nature. To teach others the Perfection of Wisdom they must practice the Perfection of Wisdom [T1] without any perception of it [T2] [U2T]. To entertain any notion of tathāgatas, wholesome roots growing into awakening, or complete nirvāṇa is to have attachment.
-
-
-
From Chapter 9: Causal Signs
The purity of all dharmas:
Because of the state of absolute purity bodhisattvas do not apprehend (reify, objectify) any dharma [T2] [U2T].
Not being produced, not stopping, not being defilement, not being purification, not appearing, not being apprehended, and not occasioning anything [in absolute terms] is called the purity of all dharmas.
-
-
From Chapter 21: Subhūti
Because of absolute purity bodhisattvas then view the non [real] production [T2] of all dharmas [T1] [U2T].
-
-
-
From Chapter 14: Neither Bound nor Freed
-
i.48 – "Everything is in the state of absolute natural purity where there is no production or defilement, where nothing appears or is enacted."
-
All dharmas are not bound (tainted / samsara) and are not freed (purified / nirvana).
And why? Because all dharmas do not exist inherently [T2] [do not exist objectively / independently of the subject / mind].
That is why they are not bound and are not freed. [not 'this', not 'non-this', not both together, not neither – for whatever 'this' is.]
Similarly, because they are isolated and so on, they are not bound and are not freed.
.
Because all dharmas are like illusions, reflections, mirages, dreams, magical tricks: 'There, but not there.',
then they are not bound and are not freed.
Because all dharmas do not exist inherently, all dharmas are not bound and are not freed.
It is because all dharmas are isolated (from the words and signs for things?), calm, empty, signless, wishless, do not occasion anything, and are not produced that they are not bound and are not freed. (see 10.30)
A form… that is wholesome, unwholesome, with afflictions, without afflictions, with basic immorality, without basic immorality, with outflows, without outflows, ordinary, extraordinary, defiled, and purified is not bound and is not freed. Because form… does not exist inherently.
-
Logic: Because of being empty of inherent existence <==> because dependently co-arisen / interdependent, then all dharmas – including the Great Vehicle and Suchness – are not 'this', not 'non-this', not both together, not neither – for whatever 'this' is; and vice versa. Meaning not describable / conceivable / understood by our flawed dualistic conceptual conditioned ordinary mind(s), not indescribable / inconceivable / misunderstood, not both together, not neither.
-
Résumé of Madhyamaka Logic: Because all dharmas – physical, conceptual, mental; pure or impure; including the three spheres of any type of relation / action, the apparent opposites of any duality / triad / quad, even the two truths themselves – are conventionally dependently co-arise (interdependent) relatively functional ever-changing impermanent appearances / tools / adapted skillful means [T1], merely labeled / imputed by the mind [U3S] in dependence of its conditioning / karma, not completely non-existent / non-caused / non-functional / useless / meaningless, <==> Then all dharmas are empty of inherent existence [T2], not really existent / caused / functional <==> then all dharmas are like illusions, reflections, mirages, dreams, echos, magical tricks: 'There, but not there.' [U2T] <==> Then there are no real three stages of becoming or three times, or complete absence of those – origination / beginning / birth / coming / before / past, duration / middle / life / during / present, cessation / ending / death / going / after / future -- for any dharma; and there are no real relation or non-relation / opposition or non-opposition / separation or union / differentiation or identity … between dharmas <==> Then all dharmas are not existent / caused / functional, not non-existent / non-caused / non-functional, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth; not different / separate / multiple / dual, not identical / united / one / non-dual, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth; not permanent / continuous / eternal, not impermanent / discontinuous / annihilated, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth; not dependent / related / caused / produced, not independent / unrelated / non-caused / non-produced / spontaneous, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth; not empty, not non-empty, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth; not dependently co-arisen [T1-only], not empty of inherent existence [T2-only], not both truths together as if different and opposite [2T], not neither of the two truths as if the same and one [1T]; not equal / pure / perfect / divine / complete / free / enlightened, not unequal / impure / imperfect / ordinary / incomplete / bounded / unenlightened, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth; not isolated / calm / empty / signless / wishness / unoriginated / unarisen / unproduced / unconditioned / unchanging / unceasing, not non-isolated / non-calm / non-empty / non-signless / non-wishless / originated / arisen / produced / conditioned / changing / ceasing, not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth; not bound (tainted / samsara), not free (purified / nirvana), not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth; not 'this', not 'non-this', not both together, not neither, and there is no fifth– for whatever 'this is'. Meaning the true nature & dynamic of all dharmas is indescribable / inconceivable for our flawed dualistic conceptual conditioned ordinary mind(s); beyond all extremes & middle, beyond all dualistic conceptual proliferations, beyond all defining limitations, beyond all conditioning / karma; beyond causality, matter-energy, space & time, beyond being describable or indescribable, beyond being conceivable or inconceivable. <==> Then there is no independent / universal / absolute / inherently existing basis for anything, for any judgment, for any discrimination / differentiation / ranking, for any activity in absolute terms, just conventionally / relatively / intersubjectively. <==> Then there is nothing to accept / affirm / seek / add / do in absolute terms, nothing to reject / negate / abandon / eliminate / subtract / not-do in absolute terms, just conventionally / relatively / inter-subjectively if it help someone to get closer to the inconceivable liberating Truth [U2T].)
Then venerable Śāriputra inquired of the Lord,
"Where did they die, Lord, bodhisattva great beings who have come here and believe in this perfection of wisdom?
How long has it been since a son of a good family or daughter of a good family believing in this perfection of wisdom as the meaning and method 453 set out for unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening?
On how many tathāgatas, worthy ones, perfectly complete buddhas have they attended?
For how long have they been practitioners of the perfection of giving?
For how long have they been practitioners of the perfection of morality, patience, perseverance, and concentration?
For how long have they been practitioners of the perfection of wisdom?"
Venerable Śāriputra having thus inquired, the Lord said to him,
"Śāriputra, those bodhisattva great beings have come here and have been reborn here after attending on tathāgatas, worthy ones, perfectly complete buddhas in the ten directions.
Śāriputra, it has been an infinite, countless hundred thousand one hundred million billion eons since those bodhisattva great beings set out for unsurpassed, perfect, complete awakening.
After their first production of the thought, from then on they practiced the perfection of giving, practiced the perfection of morality, patience, perseverance, concentration, and wisdom, and took rebirth here;
from then on they attended on infinite, countless, immeasurable, inconceivable, imponderable tathāgatas, worthy ones, perfectly complete buddhas and came here.
Śāriputra, if those bodhisattva great beings even see or hear the perfection of wisdom, the thought arises, 'I am beholding the Teacher,' and the thought arises, 'I am hearing the Teacher.'
-
Śāriputra, those bodhisattva great beings, by way of no causal signs, non-duality, and not apprehending anything [T2], comprehend this perfection of wisdom as the meaning and method [T1] [U2T]."
Then venerable Subhūti asked the Lord,
"Lord, can you view or listen to the perfection of wisdom?"
"No, Subhūti," the Lord replied.
"Subhūti, because dharmas are in an inanimate material state 454 there is no viewer of, or listener to, the perfection of wisdom, so they do not see or hear the perfection of wisdom.
Similarly, because dharmas are in an inanimate material state they do not see or hear the perfection of concentration, perseverance, patience, morality, or giving;
because dharmas are in an inanimate material state they do not see or hear inner emptiness, up to the emptiness that is the non-existence of an intrinsic nature;
and similarly, because dharmas are in an inanimate material state they do not see or hear the applications of mindfulness;
because dharmas are in an inanimate material state they do not see or hear the right efforts, legs of miraculous power, faculties, powers, limbs of awakening, or paths;
because dharmas are in an inanimate material state they do not see or hear the ten tathāgata powers, four fearlessnesses, four detailed and thorough knowledges, or eighteen distinct attributes of a buddha;
and because dharmas are in an inanimate material state they do not see or hear awakening, and do not see and hear an awakened one."
Then venerable Subhūti asked the Lord,
"Lord, for how long have those bodhisattva great beings who do the yogic practice of this deep perfection of wisdom here been practicing?"
The Lord said,
"To pronounce on this you have to go into detail. 455
Subhūti, if bodhisattva great beings who, after their first production of the thought, from then on
_______________________________________________________________
do the yogic practice of this deep perfection of wisdom
and similarly do the yogic practice of the perfection of concentration,
perfection of perseverance, perfection of patience, perfection of morality, and perfection of giving —
doing it, furthermore, with skillful means, without any dharma at all,
and without seeing how there is increase or decrease 456 —
_________________________________________________________________
then they will never be separated from the six perfections and never be separated from the lord buddhas.
With whatever special offerings they want to respect, revere, honor, and worship the lord buddhas, immediately after their first production of the thought they obtain them and pass on from buddhafield to buddhafield.
They are never born in a mother's womb,
they are never separated from the clairvoyant knowledges,
they never entertain any afflictive emotion, they never entertain a śrāvaka thought or pratyekabuddha thought, and
they also bring beings to maturity,
purify a buddhafield, and
pass on from buddhafield to buddhafield.
Subhūti, those bodhisattva great beings do the yogic practice of this deep perfection of wisdom."Subhūti, there are those sons of a good family or daughters of a good family in the Bodhisattva Vehicle who have seen many hundreds of buddhas, many thousands of buddhas, many hundreds of thousands of one hundred million billion buddhas.
______________________________________________
When they were disciples in their presence,_____
they gave gifts and cultivated morality, patience,
perseverance, concentration, and wisdom______
by way of apprehending something.____________
______________________________________________
They leave the retinue when this deep perfection of wisdom is being taught.
Those sons of a good family or daughters of a good family
do not respect this deep perfection of wisdom when it is being taught,
and they walk out on those lord buddhas."Those sons of a good family or daughters of a good family in the Bodhisattva Vehicle are gathered right here.
They are those who leave when this deep perfection of wisdom is being taught.
And why?
Because those bodhisattva great beings walked out in the past when this deep perfection of wisdom was being taught, so they walk out again now when this deep perfection of wisdom is being taught.
They are not collected in body and mind, 457 so they amass the karma of those who act out of intellectual confusion.
Those who have made and amassed that karma of the intellectually confused, on account of that, reject this deep perfection of wisdom when it is being taught, and because of rejecting this deep perfection of wisdom they reject the knowledge of all aspects of past, future, and present lord buddhas as well.
Those who have made an enactment of, and amassed the karma that comes from, rejecting the knowledge of all aspects and those who have made and amassed the karma that leads to the loss of the Dharma roast in the hells 458 for many hundred years, many thousand years, many hundreds of thousands of one hundred million billion years.
They pass on from great hells to great hells, and as they are passing on from great hells to great hells the destruction by fire, destruction by water, and destruction by wind come about. 459
When the destruction is happening there, they are hurled into those great hells in other world systems.
After they are born there they again pass on from great hells to great hells, and as they are passing on from great hells to great hells again the destructions happen and they are hurled from those world systems into yet other world systems.
When the destructions come about in those as well, they are again hurled into the eastern direction and hurled into the great hells in the south, west, and north, the intermediate directions, and below and above.
And when the destructions also happen in those world systems, they are again hurled into the great hells in other world systems.
But even when the destructions happen in those world systems, still the karma for being deprived of the Dharma is not exhausted, so after they have died in those world systems they again take rebirth right here and again pass on from the great hells to the great hells.
And when they are born in those great hells they experience the sufferings of hell, and their experience of the sufferings of hell continues until the destructions again happen.
But even after the destructions happen, they die here and are again reborn in the great hells in other world systems.
Similarly, they are born over and over again in the animal worlds in all the ten directions, and they are born over and over again in the worlds of Yama in all the ten directions."Born there, the experience of those feelings of suffering uses up the karma.
When their experience of those many sufferings has used up the karma and they somehow or other gain a human rebirth, still, just because of amassing that karma that leads to the loss of the Dharma, wherever they are born they are born congenitally blind in congenitally blind families, in outcast families, in families of garbage workers, and in low-class families.
And when they are born, they are born such that they also become blind, or blind in one eye, or without a tongue, or without arms, or without legs, or without ears, or without a nose, or where the word Buddha is never heard, the word Dharma and the word Saṅgha are never heard, and the words bodhisattva and pratyekabuddha are never heard."
Then venerable Śāriputra said to the Lord,
"Lord, committing and amassing the five inexpiable sins does not rank with the karma that leads to the loss of the Dharma."
"Śāriputra," replied the Lord,
"when the perfection of wisdom is being taught there are those who think they have to put a stop to it and say, 'This is not the Dharma, this is not the Vinaya, these are not the Teacher's words; tathāgatas, worthy ones, perfectly complete buddhas did not say, do not say, and will not say this, so you should not train in it.'
They think, 'I too have to oppose this,' and they cause other beings to separate from it.
Having harmed their own mental continuums, they plot harm to the mental continuums of others;
having poisoned their own mental continuums they poison the mental continuums of others;
having ruined their own mental continuums, they want to ruin the mental continuums of others,
and they think, 'Since even I do not comprehend or understand the deep perfection of wisdom, I will put a stop to it,'
and they cause others to take it like that as well.
Since this is the case you have to say, 'Those who have committed the five inexpiable sins do not rank with those who have done and amassed the karma that leads to the loss of the Dharma.'
-
Śāriputra, I do not let such persons hear it, let alone look at it.
How could that ever possibly be?
And why?
Śāriputra, you should know that it is because such persons spoil the Dharma;
such persons are like rotten trees and have a wicked nature.
Śāriputra, those are the sort of persons who think they should have faith and listen but who do it in a wrong way, so calamity befalls them."Śāriputra, you should know that those persons who spoil my perfection of wisdom are those who spoil the Dharma."
Śāriputra said,
"Lord, the Lord has not yet explained the extent of the physical horrors 460 for a person born there who spoils the Dharma."
"Śāriputra," said the Lord,
"leave aside the extent of the physical horrors for that person born there who spoils the Dharma.
And why?
Because the consequences from hearing about the extent of the physical horrors for the person who spoils the Dharma are as bad as those physical horrors encountered by that person who spoils the Dharma, as much as that — vomiting warm blood from the mouth, or dying, or experiencing pain enough to die, or on hearing it being impaled on a shaft of pain, or drying out and shriveling into oneself like a severed blue green naḍa reed."
So the Lord did not make a space for venerable Śāriputra to know just how great an extent the physical horror there would be.
Śāriputra said,
"Lord, please explain so later generations will be given a glimpse of the fact that persons who spoil the Dharma will appropriate physical horrors like that on account of having done and amassed karma that leads to the loss of the Dharma."
"Śāriputra," replied the Lord,
"later generations, just from this, will also glimpse the fact that 'on account of having completely done and amassed karma that leads to the loss of the Dharma, they will experience suffering in the hells lasting that long, they will experience the immeasurability of that suffering — the amount of it and its duration — for that amount of time.' "
"Lord, sons of a good family or daughters of a good family who have a bright nature will, just from this, turn back from those actions that lead to the loss of the Dharma. And we too, thinking 'we will meet with such sufferings as those,' will not reject the good Dharma even at the cost of our lives," said Śāriputra.
Then venerable Subhūti said to the Lord,
"Those who have made and amassed speech karma that rejects the good Dharma make and amass karma that leads to the loss of the Dharma, so we sons of good family or daughters of good family will restrain well our actions of body, speech, and mind lest we meet with such suffering as that, or lest we not see the tathāgatas, or not hear the Dharma, or not provide service to the saṅgha, or be born in buddhafields where there are no buddhas, or be born as paupers, or become those whose words are not accepted." 461
"Subhūti," replied the Lord,
"those ignorant persons gone forth to homelessness in the well-spoken Dharma and Vinaya thinking they have to strongly object to this perfection of wisdom, through the karma they have made and amassed, make and amass karma that leads to the loss of the Dharma.
Subhūti, strongly objecting and putting a stop to the perfection of wisdom is strongly objecting and putting a stop to the awakening of the lord buddhas;
strongly objecting and putting a stop to the awakening of the lord buddhas is strongly objecting and putting a stop to the knowledge of all aspects of past, future, and present lord buddhas;
strongly objecting and putting a stop to the knowledge of all aspects is strongly objecting and putting a stop to the Dharma;
putting a stop to the Dharma is putting a stop to the Saṅgha;
putting a stop to the Saṅgha is putting a stop to ordinary right view and extraordinary right view,
and similarly putting a stop to the six perfections, thirty-seven dharmas on the side of awakening, ten powers, four fearlessnesses, four detailed and thorough knowledges, eighteen distinct attributes of a buddha, up to the knowledge of all aspects.
Those who put a stop to the knowledge of all aspects get saddled with an unbounded, infinite, incalculable mass of demerit, and those who are saddled with a mass of demerit get saddled with unbounded, infinite, incalculable suffering and mental anguish."
"Lord, what different things dispose those ignorant persons who put a stop to this deep perfection of wisdom to put a stop to this deep perfection of wisdom?" asked Subhūti.
"Subhūti," replied the Lord,
"four things dispose them to put a stop to this deep perfection of wisdom.
What four things?
Those ignorant persons are these, namely,
– they are possessed by Māra,
– they do not believe in and do not find faith in the deep Dharma,
– they fall into the clutches of bad friends, so they settle down on the five aggregates,
– and while those ignorant persons are doing wrong they praise themselves and disparage others.
Subhūti, ignorant persons beset by these four things put a stop to this deep perfection of wisdom."
Subhūti said,
"Lord, it is hard for those who do not work hard, who are without wholesome roots, and who have fallen into the clutches of bad friends to believe in this perfection of wisdom."
"Exactly so, Subhūti, exactly so," said the Lord.
"It is hard for those who do not work hard, who are without wholesome roots, and who have fallen into the clutches of bad friends to believe in this perfection of wisdom."
Subhūti then asked,
"Just how deep, Lord, is this perfection of wisdom in which it is so hard for them to believe?"
"Subhūti," said the Lord,
"form is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in form is form. 462Similarly, Subhūti, feeling . . . perception . . . volitional factors . . . and consciousness is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in consciousness is consciousness."Subhūti, the perfection of giving is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in the perfection of giving is the perfection of giving.Similarly, Subhūti, the perfection of morality . . . the perfection of patience . . . the perfection of perseverance . . . the perfection of concentration . . . and the perfection of wisdom is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in the perfection of wisdom is the perfection of wisdom."Subhūti, inner emptiness is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in inner emptiness is inner emptiness,up to Subhūti, the emptiness that is the non-existence of an intrinsic nature is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in the emptiness that is the non-existence of an intrinsic nature is the emptiness that is the non-existence of an intrinsic nature."Subhūti, the applications of mindfulness are not bound and they are not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in the applications of mindfulness is the applications of mindfulness.Similarly, Subhūti, the right efforts . . . the legs of miraculous power . . . the faculties . . . the powers . . . the limbs of awakening . . . and the path is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in the path is the path."Similarly, Subhūti, the ten tathāgata powers . . . the four fearlessnesses . . . the four detailed and thorough knowledges . . . the eighteen distinct attributes of a buddha . . . and the knowledge of all aspects is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in the knowledge of all aspects is the knowledge of all aspects."Subhūti, the prior limit of form is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in the prior limit is form.Similarly, Subhūti, the prior limit of feeling . . . perception . . . volitional factors . . . and consciousness, up to the knowledge of all aspects is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in the prior limit is the knowledge of all aspects."Subhūti, the later limit of form is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in the later limit is form.Similarly, Subhūti, the later limit of feeling . . . perception . . . volitional factors . . . and consciousness, up to the knowledge of all aspects is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in the later limit is the knowledge of all aspects."Subhūti, present form is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in the present is form.Similarly, Subhūti, present feeling . . . perception . . . volitional factors . . . and consciousness, up to knowledge of all aspects is not bound and is not freed.
And why?
Because the non-existence of an intrinsic nature in the present is the knowledge of all aspects."
Subhūti said,
"Lord, it is hard for those who do not work hard, have not planted wholesome roots, have fallen into the clutches of bad friends, are under the control of Māra, and are lazy, deficient in perseverance, forgetful, and without introspection to believe in this perfection of wisdom."
"Exactly so, Subhūti, exactly so," replied the Lord.
"Subhūti, it is hard for those who do not work hard, up to are without introspection to believe in this perfection of wisdom.
"Subhūti, that purity of form is just the purity of the result.
That purity of feeling . . . perception . . . volitional factors . . . and consciousness is just the purity of the result,
up to that purity of the knowledge of all aspects is just the purity of the result.""Furthermore, Subhūti, that purity of form is the purity of the result.
That purity of the result is the purity of the perfection of wisdom.
That purity of the perfection of wisdom is the purity of form.
That purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects is the purity of the result.
That purity of the result is the purity of the perfection of wisdom.
That purity of the perfection of wisdom is the purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects.
Thus, all of these — purity of form, purity of the result, purity of the perfection of wisdom, and purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects — are not two, are not divided, are not broken apart, and are not cut apart."Furthermore, Subhūti, that purity of form is the purity of the perfection of wisdom.
That purity of the perfection of wisdom is the purity of form.
That purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects is the purity of the perfection of wisdom.
That purity of the perfection of wisdom is the purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects.
Thus, this purity of form, purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects,
and purity of the perfection of wisdom are not two, are not divided, are not broken apart, and are not cut apart."Furthermore, Subhūti, that purity of self is the purity of form.
That purity of form is the purity of self.
Thus, this purity of self and purity of form are not two, are not divided, are not broken apart, and are not cut apart.This purity of a being, a living being, up to one who knows, and one who sees, and the purity of form, and the purity of feeling, perception, volitional factors, and consciousness, up to the knowledge of all aspects are not two, are not divided, are not broken apart, and are not cut apart.
"Furthermore, Subhūti, because of the purity of greed there is the purity of form, the purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects. Thus, this purity of greed, purity of form, purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects is not two, is not divided, is not broken apart, and is not cut apart.
Similarly, because of the purity of hatred and confusion there is the purity of form, the purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects. Thus, this purity of hatred and confusion, purity of form, purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects is not two, is not divided, is not broken apart, and is not cut apart.
"Furthermore, Subhūti, because of the purity of greed, hatred, and confusion there is the purity of form, the purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects. Thus this purity of greed, hatred, and confusion, the purity of form, this purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects is not two, is not divided, is not broken apart, and is not cut apart.
"Furthermore, Subhūti, because of the purity of ignorance there is the purity of volitional factors; because of the purity of volitional factors there is the purity of consciousness, and similarly, there is the purity of name and form, purity of the six sense fields, purity of contact, purity of feeling, purity of craving, purity of appropriation, purity of existence, purity of birth, and purity of old age and death.
"Because of the purity of old age and death there is the purity of the perfection of giving; because of the purity of the perfection of giving there is the purity of the perfection of morality; because of the purity of the perfection of morality there is the purity of the perfection of patience; because of the purity of the perfection of patience there is the purity of the perfection of perseverance; because of the purity of the perfection of perseverance there is the purity of the perfection of concentration; because of the purity of the perfection of concentration there is the purity of the perfection of wisdom; because of the purity of the perfection of wisdom there is the purity of inner emptiness; because of the purity of inner emptiness there is the purity of . . . up to the emptiness that is the non-existence of an intrinsic nature; and because of the purity of the emptiness that is the non-existence of an intrinsic nature there is the purity of the applications of mindfulness. Similarly, there is the purity of the right efforts, legs of miraculous power, faculties, powers, limbs of awakening, and path; because of the purity of the path there is the purity of all-knowledge; because of the purity of all-knowledge there is the purity of the ten powers; because of the purity of the ten powers there is the purity of the fearlessnesses; because of the purity of the fearlessnesses there is the purity of the detailed and thorough knowledges; because of the purity of the detailed and thorough knowledges there is the purity of the distinct attributes of a buddha; and because of the purity of the distinct attributes of a buddha there is the purity of the knowledge of all aspects. Thus, this purity of the knowledge of all aspects and purity of the distinct attributes of a buddha is not two, is not divided, is not broken apart, and is not cut apart.
"Furthermore, Subhūti, that purity of the perfection of wisdom is the purity of form. That purity of form is the purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects. Thus, this purity of the perfection of wisdom, purity of form, purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects is not two, is not divided, is not broken apart, and is not cut apart.
"Similarly, that purity of the perfection of concentration, purity of the perfection of perseverance, purity of the perfection of patience, purity of the perfection of morality, and purity of the perfection of giving is the purity of form. That purity of form is the purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects. Thus, this purity of the perfection of giving, purity of form, purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects is not two, is not divided, is not broken apart, and is not cut apart.
Because of the purity of inner emptiness, up to the purity of the emptiness that is the non-existence of an intrinsic nature there is the purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects; because of the purity of the thirty-seven dharmas on the side of awakening there is the purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects; because of the purity of the powers, fearlessnesses, detailed and thorough knowledges, and distinct attributes of a buddha there is the purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects. Thus, this purity of the aggregates, the constituents, the sense fields, the perfections, all the emptinesses, the dharmas on the side of awakening, the ten powers, the fearlessnesses, the detailed and thorough knowledges, the eighteen distinct attributes of a buddha, and the purity of the knowledge of all aspects is not two, is not divided, is not broken apart, and is not cut apart.
"Furthermore, Subhūti, because of the purity of the compounded there is the purity of the uncompounded; because of the purity of the uncompounded there is the purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects. Thus, this purity of the compounded, purity of the uncompounded, and purity of . . . up to the knowledge of all aspects is not two, is not divided, is not broken apart, and is not cut apart.
"Furthermore, Subhūti, because of the purity of the past there is the purity of the future; because of the purity of the future there is the purity of the past; because of the purity of the present there is purity of the past and future; and because of the purity of the past and future there is purity of the present. Thus, this purity of the past, purity of the future, and purity of the present is not two, is not divided, is not broken apart, and is not cut apart."
This was the thirty-fifth chapter, "Hells," of "The Perfection of Wisdom in Eighteen Thousand Lines."
Access to other chapters on the Blog:
(Work in progress. Empty files means they are not done yet.)
Chapter 0 – Introduction to the Sutra
Chapter 1 – Introduction / the Assembly
Chapter 2 – Production of the Thought
Chapter 3 – designation [U2T]
Chapter 4 – Equal to the Unequal
Chapter 5 – Tongue
Chapter 6 – Subhūti
Chapter 7 – Entry into flawlessness
Chapter 8 – The Religious Mendicant Śreṇika
Chapter 9 – Causal Signs
Chapter 10 – Illusion-like
Chapter 11 – Embarrassment
Chapter 12 – Elimination of Views
Chapter 13 – The Six Perfections
Chapter 14 – Neither Bound nor Freed
Chapter 15 – Meditative Stabilization
Chapter 16 – Dhāraṇī Gateway
Chapter 17 – Level Purification
Chapter 18 – The Exposition of Going Forth in the Great Vehicle [cause / path]
Chapter 19 – Surpassing
Chapter 20 – Not Two
Chapter 21 – Subhūti
Chapter 22 – Śatakratu
Chapter 23 – Hard to Understand
Chapter 24 – Unlimited
Chapter 25 – Second Śatakratu
Chapter 26 – Getting Old
Chapter 27 – Reliquary
Chapter 28 – Declaration of the Good Qualities of the Thought of Awakening
Chapter 29 – Different Tīrthika Religious Mendicants
Chapter 30 – The Benefits of Taking Up and Adoration
Chapter 31 – Physical Remains
Chapter 32 – The Superiority of Merit
Chapter 33 – Dedication
Chapter 34 – Perfect Praise of the Quality of Accomplishment
Chapter 35 – Hells
Chapter 36 – Teaching The Purity of all Dharmas
Chapter 37 – Nobody
Chapter 38 – Cannot Be Apprehended
Chapter 39 – The Northern Region
Chapter 40 – The Work of Māra
Chapter 41 – Not Complete Because of Māra
Chapter 42 – Revealing the World
Chapter 43 – Inconceivable
Chapter 44 – Made Up
Chapter 45 – A Boat
Chapter 46 – Teaching the Intrinsic Nature of All Dharmas
Chapter 47 – Taming Greed
Chapter 48 – A Presentation of the Bodhisattvas' Training
Chapter 49 – Irreversibility
Chapter 50 – Teaching the Signs of Irreversibility
Chapter 51 – Skillful means
Chapter 52 – Completion of the Means
Chapter 53 – The Prophecy about Gaṅgadevī
Chapter 54 – Teaching the Cultivation of Skillful Means
Chapter 55 – Teaching the Stopping of Thought Construction [in absolute terms]
Chapter 56 – Equal Training
Chapter 57 – Practice
Chapter 58 – Exposition of the Absence of Thought Construction [in absolute terms]
Chapter 59 – non-attachment
Chapter 60 – Entrusting
Chapter 61 – Inexhaustible
Chapter 62 – Leaping Above Absorption
Chapter 63 – Many Inquiries about the Two Dharmas
Chapter 64 – Perfectly Displayed
Chapter 65 – Worshiping, Serving, and Attending on Spiritual Friends as Skillful Means
Chapter 66 – A Demonstration of Skillful Means
Chapter 67 – Morality
Chapter 68 – Growing and Flourishing
Chapter 69 – An Explanation of Meditation on The Path
Chapter 70 – An Explanation of Serial Action, Training, and Practice
Chapter 71 – The True Nature of Dharmas That Cannot Be Apprehended
Chapter 72 – Teaching the Absence of Marks
Chapter 73 – Exposition of the Major Marks and Minor Signs and the Completion of Letters
Chapter 74 – Exposition of the Sameness of Dharmas
Chapter 75 – Exposition of non-complication –
Chapter 76 – The Armor for Bringing Beings to Maturity
Chapter 77 – Teaching the Purification of a Buddhafield
Chapter 78 – Teaching the Skillful Means for the Purification of a Buddhafield
Chapter 79 – Teaching the non- Existence of an Intrinsic Nature
Chapter 80 – Teaching that there is No Defilement or Purification
Chapter 81 – Yogic Practice of the Ultimate
Chapter 82 – The Unchanging True Nature of Dharmas
Chapter 83 – Categorization of a Bodhisattva's Training
Chapter 84 – Collection
Chapter 85 – Sadāprarudita
Chapter 86 – Dharmodgata
Chapter 87 – Entrusting
.
