..續本文上一頁nquillity of mind, observance of the Dharma and spiritual perception, I was preeminent among the disciples, I did not think within myself: ”I am free from desire, I am an Arhat.” Had I thought thus, the Blessed One would not have declared concerning me: ”Subhuti delights in the austerities of an Arhat.” It was because I was perfectly tranquil and oblivious to all conditions, that the Lord Buddha declared: ”Subhuti delights in the austerities practised by the Arhats.”"

　　The Lord Buddha added: "True, Subhuti! Enlightened disciples in the exercise of the Viya Paramita ought to maintain within themselves a pure and single mind; they should be unconscious of sensuous conditions and cultivate a mind that is independent of material circumstances. And why

　　 Because, all sensuous conditions and material circumstances are only manifestations of mind and are alike dream-like and imaginary.

　　"Subhuti, A Bodhisattva should have a heart filled with compassion for all sentient life, but if he should think within his mind: ”I will deliver all beings,” he ought not to be called a Bodhisattva. And why

　　 Because, in the first place, if there is no living being, no personality, then there is no one to be called a Bodhisattva. And in the second place, the Tathagata has declared: ”All beings are without self, without life, without personality.” Who then is to be delivered

　　p. 194

　　[paragraph continues] If a Bodhisattva were to say: ”I will create many Buddha-lands,” he would say what is untrue. And why, Because, the idea of a Buddha-land is wholly imaginary, it is only a name.

　　"But O Subhuti, the Bodhisattva who believes that all things are without selfhood, and still has compassion and faith, he is, indeed, a noble minded Bodhisattva, and is so considered by the all-wise Tathagatas."

　　DHYANA PARAMITA--IDEAL TRANQUILLITY

　　Subhuti enquired of the Lord Buddha, saying: "Honored of the Worlds! In future ages, when this scripture is proclaimed amongst those beings destined to hear it, shall any conceive within their minds a sincere, unmingled faith

　　"

　　The Lord Buddha replied, saying: "Have no such apprehensive thought. Even at the remote period of five centuries subsequent to the Nirvana of the Tathagata, there will be many disciples observing the monastic vows and assiduously devoted to good works. These, hearing this Scripture proclaimed, will believe in its immutability and will conceive within their minds a pure, unmingled faith. Besides, it is important to realise that faith thus conceived, is not exclusively in virtue of the inpidual thought of any particular Buddha, but because of its affiliation with the universal thought of all the myriad Buddhas throughout the infinite ages. Therefore, among the beings destined to hear this Scripture proclaimed, many, by the Dhyana Paramita, will intuitively conceive a pure and holy faith.

　　"Subhuti, the Tathagata by his prescience is perfectly

　　p. 195

　　cognisant of all such potential disciples, and for these also there is reserved an immeasurable merit. And why

　　 Because, the minds of these will not revert to such arbitrary concepts of phenomena as an entity, a being, a living being, a personality, having qualities or ideas coincident with the Dharma, or existing apart from the principle of the Dharma. And why

　　 Because, assuming the permanency and reality of phenomena, the minds of these disciples would be involved in such distinctive ideas as an entity, a being, a living being, a personality. Affirming the permanency and reality of qualities or ideas coincident with the Dharma, their minds would inevitably be involved in resolving these same definitions. Postulating the inviolate nature of qualities or ideas which have an existence apart from the Dharma, there yet remains to be explained these abstruse distinction…

《The Diamond Sutra - The Diamond Scripture》全文未完，請進入下頁繼續閱讀…