..續本文上一頁erus for the purpose of charity. If a person receives, upholds, reads, and recites

　　just four lines of verse in this Perfection of Wisdom Såtra, and explains it for another

　　person, the former”s merit would not compare to a hundredth of his own. A trillionth part

　　of his own, even, would be not be comparable to it.

　　25.

　　"Subhåti, what do you think

　　 Would you say that the Tathàgata has this thought, ”I

　　shall save 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

　　beings for the Tathàgata to save, the Tathàgata then would have a self, a person,

　　sentient beings, and a soul. Subhåti, the Tathàgata has said that having a self then is not

　　having a self. Yet, ordinary men take themselves as having a self.20 Subhåti, the

　　Tathàgata has explained that ordinary men, then, are not mortal men. They are called

　　”ordinary men”."

　　20 Hsuan-tsang: "Yet, deluded men [see] different beings and are compelled to have this

　　attachment [to a self]." (T220.7.756a)

　　Diamond Perfection of Wisdom Såtra 13

　　26.

　　"Subhåti, what do you think

　　 One can examine the Tathàgata by the thirty-two

　　marks, no

　　"

　　Subhåti replied, "So it is, so it is. One examines the Tathàgata by the thirty-two

　　marks."

　　The Buddha said, "Subhåti, if one examines the Tathàgata by the thirty-two marks,

　　then a wheel-turning noble king is this Tathàgata."21

　　Subhåti said to the Buddha, "World Honored One, as I understand the meaning of

　　the Buddha”s discourse, the Tathàgata should not be examined by the thirty-two signs."

　　At that time, the World Honored One proclaimed this verse (gàthà),

　　"If by form one looks for the Tathàgata

　　Or by the sound of the voice seeks me,

　　This person walks the wrong path

　　And is unable to see the Tathàgata.

　　27.

　　"Subhåti, suppose you were to compose this thought, ”It is not by the perfect signs

　　that the Tathàgata has attained the supremely unexcelled bodhi”. Subhåti, do not

　　compose that thought, ”It is not by the perfect signs that the Tathàgata has attained the

　　supremely unexcelled bodhi”. Subhåti, suppose you were to compose this thought,

　　”Engendering the supremely unexcelled bodhicitta is said to be the Dharma of cessation”.

　　Do not form that thought. And why

　　 Engendering the supremely unexcelled bodhicitta

　　cannot be 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 purpose of charity. Suppose, again, there

　　is a person who knows every thing is selfless and so attains the complete tolerance of

　　them. This bodhisattva would overcome the former bodhisattva”s attainment of virtue.

　　Subhåti, it is because bodhisattvas do not receive blessed virtue."

　　Subhåti addressed the Buddha, saying, "World Honored One, how is it bodhisattvas

　　do not receive blessed virtue

　　"

　　"Subhåti, the bodhisattva”s performance of blessed deeds should not be subject to

　　craving or 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 of Wisdom 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

　　"

　　"Very many, World Honored One. And why

　　 If these atoms were really existent,

　　the Buddha then would not say the atoms are myria…

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