..續本文上一頁eing, a personality, he cannot receive with profit the instruction of this Scripture nor can he find delight in its study. This Scripture is intended for those who are entering upon the path, as well as for those who are attaining the highest planes of spiritual wisdom. If a disciple zealously observes, studies and widely disseminates the

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　　knowledge of this Scripture, for such an one there will be cumulative merit, immeasurable, incomparable, illimitable, inconceivable. All such disciples will be endowed with transcendent spiritual wisdom and enlightenment."

　　The Lord Buddha continued: "What think you

　　 May an enlightened disciple ponder within himself, saying, ”I will create numerous Buddhist Kingdoms

　　”"

　　Subhuti replied: "No, Honored of the Worlds! And why

　　 Because, such thoughts would be incompatible with the Virya Paramita, and kingdoms thus imagined would not, in reality, be Buddhist Kingdoms. Such a phrase as ”the creation of Buddhist Kingdoms,” is merely a figure of speech."

　　The Lord Buddha continued: "What think you, Subhuti

　　 Do you imagine that the Tathagata reflects within himself, ”I will bring salvation to all beings”

　　 Entertain no such delusive thought. And why

　　 Because, in reality, there is no such dharma as ”salvation” for any one; and there is no such thing as a living being to whom ”salvation” can be brought. What is referred to as an entity, a being, a living being, a personality, is not so in reality--it is only so understood by ignorant and uneducated people."

　　The Lord Buddha enquired of Subhuti, saying: "May a disciple who has ”entered the stream” which bears on to Nirvana, thus moralise within himself: I have attained the fruits commensurate with the merits of one who has ”entered the stream”

　　"

　　Subhuti replied: "No, Honored of the Worlds! And why

　　 Because, ”entered the stream” is simply a descriptive term. A disciple who avoids the seductions of

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　　form, sound, odour, taste, touch, and their discriminations, is merely called, ”one who has entered the stream.”"

　　The Lord Buddha again enquired of Subhuti, saying: "What think you

　　 Is a bhikshu who is subject to only one more reincarnation, to muse within himself, ”I have obtained the fruits in agreement with the merits of "a once returner"

　　” "Subhuti replied, saying: "No, Honored of the Worlds! And why

　　 Because, ”a once returner” is merely a descriptive title denoting only one more reincarnation; but, in reality, there is no such condition as ”only one more reincarnation.” ”A once returner” is merely a descriptive title."

　　The Lord Buddha once again enquired of Subhuti, saying: "What think you

　　 May a bhikshu who has attained so high a degree of spiritual merit that he is never again to be reincarnated, may he thus reflect within himself, I have obtained the fruits which accord with the merits of one who is never to return to this world of life-and-death

　　" Subhuti replied, saying: "No, Honored of the Worlds! And why

　　 Because, ”a never returner” is merely a designation, meaning, ”immunity from reincarnation”; but, in reality, there is no such condition, hence ”a never returner” is merely a convenient name."

　　The Lord Buddha yet again enquired of Subhuti, saying: "What think you

　　 May a Bodhisattva who has attained to absolute tranquillity of mind thus meditate within himself: I have obtained the position of an Arhat

　　" Subhuti replied, saying: "No, Honored of the Worlds! And why

　　 Because, in reality, there is no such condition synonymous with the term Arhat. If an

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　　[paragraph continues] Arhat thus meditates within himself, ”I have obtained the condition of an Arhat,” there would be the obvious occurrence to his mind of such arbitrary concepts as an entity, a being, a living being, a personality. When the Blessed One declared of me that in tra…

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