善現啟請分第二
時長老須菩提,在大眾中,即從座起,偏袒右肩,右膝著地,合掌恭敬,而白佛言。希有世尊！如來善護念諸菩薩,善付囑諸菩薩,世尊！善 男子善女人,發阿耨多耨多羅三藐三菩提心,云何應住,云何降伏其心。
佛言：善哉善哉,須菩提！如汝所說：如來善護念諸菩薩,善付囑 諸菩薩。汝今諦聽，當為汝說。善男子善女人,發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心,應如是住,應如是降伏其心。
唯然,世尊,願樂欲聞。
My rendition: Where to put one's heart?
The respectable elder Subhuti in the assembly rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt on his right knee with his palms joined, and respectfully addressed the Buddha: “World Honored One, Tathagata compassionately cares about and compassionately advise all Bodhisattvas. When good men and good women vow to attain the highest level of enlightenment, where should they put their restless heart?”
Buddha replied, "Good question. As you said "Tathagata compassionately cares about and compassionately advise all Bodhisattvas". Now listen carefully, when good men and women vow to attain the highest level of enlightenment, this is where they should put their restless heart."
Subhuti said: “Yes, World Honored One. We are listening with great anticipation.”
Paul's comment: The Diamond Sutra contains many riddles, and this chapter contains one important riddle. The solution of which leads to a better understanding of the Sutra.
I have to say most readers of the Sutra will likely miss the point here. In the last statement, Subhuti said: we are listening with great anticipation. An alert reader will wonder, in the previous reply, the Buddha clearly started with "a good question" and finished with "this is where they should put their restless heart". Apparently the Buddha thought he had given an answer to Subhuti's question, and Subhuti simply didn't understand it or he tried to seek further elaboration.
My interpretation is that he was seeking further elaboration (prominent scholar Nan Huaijin [南懷瑾] believed the case to be the latter, whereas most interpreters failed to grasp this point). Then what exactly was the Buddha's advice. Well, the Buddha said it clearly: learn from my example: "Tathagata compassionately cares about and compassionately advise all Bodhisattvas". Still don't get it? No matter, as Nan said, even Subhuti didn't get it!
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