The Diamond Sutra (Chin-Kang-Ching) or Prajna-ParamitaUnknown
Religion
The Diamond Sutra (Chin-Kang-Ching) or Prajna-Paramita
Unknown
Buddhism; Buddhism -- Sacred books
The Lord Buddha enquired of Subhuti, saying: “What think you? Does the
Lord Buddha possess the divine or spiritual eye?” Subhuti assented,
saying: “Honoured of the Worlds! the Lord Buddha truly possesses the
divine or spiritual eye.”
The Lord Buddha enquired of Subhuti, saying: “What think you? Does the
Lord Buddha possess the eye of wisdom?” Subhuti assented, saying:
“Honoured of the Worlds! the Lord Buddha truly possesses the eye of
wisdom.”
The Lord Buddha enquired of Subhuti, saying: “What think you? Does the
Lord Buddha possess the eye of truth?”[1] Subhuti assented, saying:
“Honoured of the Worlds! the Lord Buddha truly possesses the eye of
truth.”
The Lord Buddha enquired of Subhuti, saying: “What think you? Does the
Lord Buddha possess the Buddhic eye?” Subhuti assented, saying:
“Honoured of the Worlds! the Lord Buddha truly possesses the Buddhic
eye.”[2]
The Lord Buddha enquired of Subhuti, saying: “What think you?
Concerning the sands of the Ganges, did the Lord Buddha declare that
these were grains of sand?” Subhuti assenting, said: “Honoured of the
Worlds! the Lord Buddha declared that these were grains of sand.”
The Lord Buddha enquired of Subhuti, saying: “What think you? If there
were as many rivers Ganges as there are grains of sand in the Ganges,
and if there were as many Buddhist worlds as the grains of sand in
those innumerable rivers, would these Buddhist worlds be numerous?”
Subhuti replied, saying: “Honoured of the Worlds! these Buddhist
worlds would be very numerous.”
The Lord Buddha, continuing, addressed Subhuti, saying: “Within these
innumerable worlds, every form of sentient life, with their various
mental dispositions, are entirely known to the Lord Buddha.[3] And
why? Because, what the Lord Buddha referred to as their ‘various
mental dispositions,’ are not in reality their ‘various mental
dispositions,’ these are merely termed their ‘various mental
dispositions.’ And why? Because, Subhuti, dispositions of mind, or
modes of thought, whether relating to the past, the present, or the
future, are alike unreal and illusory.”
[1] The Chinese _Fah-Yen_—literally, Eye of the Law.
“The second of the three great treasures is called _Dhamma_, or in
Singhalese, _Dharmma_. This word has various meanings, but is here
to be understood in the sense of Truth. It is not unfrequently
translated ‘the Law,’ but this interpretation gives an idea
contrary to the entire genius of Buddhism. The _Dharmma_ is
therefore emphatically the Truth.”—_Eastern Monachism_. Spence
Hardy.
[2] “Supernatural talents, which the founder of Buddhism,
Sakyamuni, is believed to have acquired in the night before he
became Buddha, and which every Arhat takes possession of by means
of the fourth degree of _Dhyana_ (abstract contemplation). Most
Chinese texts reckon six such talents, while the Singhalese know
only five. Sometimes, however, only five are mentioned.”—_Handbook
of Chinese Buddhism_. Eitel.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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