..續本文上一頁a addressed Subhåti, saying, "So it is, so it is. If again there is a person

　　who hears this Såtra, and is not astonished, not alarmed, and not fearful; it should be

　　known that this person would be most extraordinary. And why

　　 Subhåti, the

　　Tathàgata”s exposition of the first perfection is not the first perfection17. It is called the

　　first perfection. 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

　　body cut to pieces by King Kaliïga and at that time was without the images of a self,

　　without the images of a person, without the images of sentient beings, and without the

　　images of a soul. And why

　　 in that former time I had been cut apart limb from limb. If I

　　had had the images of a self, images of a person, images of sentient beings, and the

　　images of a soul, I would have become angry and indignant.

　　"Furthermore, Subhåti, I recall that in the past five hundred incarnations I had been

　　an ascetic practicing tolerance. In that incarnation, I was without the image of a self,

　　without the image of a person, without the image of sentient beings, and without the

　　image of a soul. This is why, Subhåti, the bodhisattva should be free of all images when

　　engendering the supremely unexcelled bodhicitta. He should not dwell in forms when

　　giving rise to that mind. He should not dwell in sounds, odors, tastes, tactile sensations,

　　or ideas when giving rise to that mind. He should dwell nowhere when giving rise to that

　　mind. If in that mind he has an abode, then it would be the non-abode. This is why the

　　Buddha has 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 should thus be

　　charitable. The Tathàgata has said that all images then are the non-images. Further, he

　　has said that all sentient beings, therefore, are not sentient beings. Subhåti, the

　　Tathàgata speaks truly, really, thus, not with trickery, and no with contradiction. Subhåti,

　　the Dharma that the Tathàgata has attained is neither true nor false. Subhåti, if a

　　bodhisattva”s mind dwells in the Dharma while practicing charity, it would be like a

　　person entering darkness and who sees nothing. If a bodhisattva”s mind does not dwell

　　in the Dharma while practicing charity, it would be like a person who has eyes to see the

　　sunlight that illuminates all the various forms. Subhåti, in the future era there will be

　　good sons and good daughters able to receive, uphold, read, and recite what is in this

　　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

　　boundless virtue.

　　15.

　　"Subhåti, suppose there are good sons and good daughters who, in the morning, in

　　numbers equaling that of the sands of the Ganges, give themselves in charity; who, in

　　the afternoon, 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

　　themselves in charity; and thus for measureless billions of aeons (kalpas) give

　　themselves in charity. Suppose, again, that there is a person who hears this Såtra with

　　a faithful mind that is not contrary, his blessedness would overcome theirs. How much

　　more so would it be if he copies, receives, upholds, reads, and recites it, and then

　　17 The first perfection is that of charity.

　　Diamond Perfection of Wisdom Såtra 9

　　explains it for another person

　　 Subhåti, essentially speaking, this Såtra has a meaning

　　that is inconceivable, inexpressible, and boundless in virtue. T…

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