The wisdom of Diamond Sutra - chapter 13

如法受持分第十三

爾時,須菩提白佛言：世尊,當何名此經,我等云何奉持？佛告須菩提,是經名為金鋼般若波羅蜜,以是名字,汝當奉持。所以者何？須菩提! 佛說般若波羅蜜,即非般若波羅蜜,是名般若波羅蜜。須菩提,於意云何,如來有所說法不？

須菩提白佛言：世尊,如來無所說。

須菩提,於意云何,三千大千世界所有微塵,是為多不？

須菩提言：甚多,世尊。

須菩提,諸微塵如來說非微塵,是名微塵。如來說世界即非世界,是名世界。

須菩提,於意云何,可以三十二相見如來不？不也,世尊,不可以三十二相得見如來,何以故？ 如來說三十二相,即是非相,是名三十二相。須菩提,若有善男子,善女人,以恆河沙等身命布施。若復有人,於此經中,乃至受持四句偈等,為他人說,其福甚多

My rendition: Do it like this!

Then Subhuti addressed the Buddha, “World Honored One, what should we call this Sutra, and how should we uphold it?” The Buddha said to Subhuti: “You should uphold this Sutra as Diamond of Perfect Wisdom. Why (this name)? Subhuti!" "When the Buddha teaches "Perfect Wisdom". What he taught is no long Perfect Wisdom, for what can be taught cannot be Perfect Wisdom". Therefore the Sutra is called Perfect Wisdom."

"Subhuti, what do you think? Has the Tathagata taught any Dharma?” Subhuti said to the Buddha, “World Honored One, the Tathagata has not taught any Dharma.”

“Subhuti, what do you think? Are all the tiny particles contained in this trichiliocosm (三千大千世界) great in number?” Subhuti said, “Extremely great, World Honored One.” “Subhuti, in the eyes of the Tathagata these tiny particles are not concrete tiny particles, but each represents the essence of all particles. Similarly, in the eyes of the Tathagata, the world is not a concrete physical world, but every part of it represents the essence of the whole world."

“Subhuti, what do you think? Can one be at one with the Tathagata through (studying) his thirty-two different forms [Paul's comment: each form arises from different enlightenment/accomplishment]?” “No, one cannot, World Honored One. One cannot be at one with the Tathagata through his thirty-two different forms." "Why not?" "Because when the Tathagata explains to you his thirty-two different forms and their methods of accomplishment, these are his words rather than his accomplishment. Therefore they are rightfully being called "thirty-two different forms".

“Subhuti, if a good man or good woman were to dedicate lifetimes as numerous as the grains of sand in the Ganges River to charitable acts, and another comprehended this Sutra and explained the contents, like the four-line verses, to others, the merits gained by the latter would far exceed that of the former. (Paul's comment: because the latter's merit is infinite)”

Paul's comment: Two important Buddhist teachings are reviewed here:

1. "In the eyes of the Tathagata these tiny particles are not concrete tiny particles, but each represents the essence of all particles. Similarly, in the eyes of the Tathagata, the world is not a concrete physical world, but every part of it represents the essence of the whole world." ("one single particle of sand reviews the whole world" 一粒沙看世界

2. "When the Buddha teaches "Perfect Wisdom". What he taught is no long Perfect Wisdom, for what can be taught cannot be Perfect Wisdom" and "When the Tathagata explains to you his thirty-two different forms and their methods of accomplishment, these are his words rather than his accomplishment." Enlightenment doesn't come from learning, but from insight and intuition.