The Profound Meaning of Vijñaptimātratā in the Diamond Sutra (150)

Why is it that when expounding the Diamond Sutra, one should not grasp at appearances and remain unmoved like the true suchness? Because all conditioned phenomena are like a dream; like an illusion; like a bubble; like a shadow; like dew; and like lightning in the sky. Every Bodhisattva, when facing all conditioned phenomena in the world, should contemplate thus and regard all conditioned phenomena in this way. After the World-Honored One finished expounding this Diamond Sutra, the elder Subhuti, the chief interlocutor, along with all the fourfold assembly of bhikshus, bhikshunis, upasakas, and upasikas, and all the heavenly beings, humans, and asuras in the world, hearing the Dharma spoken by the Buddha, rejoiced exceedingly, faithfully accepted it, and diligently practiced it.

At the conclusion of the Dharma assembly, the World-Honored One expounded the famous four-line verse to explain the illusory and unreal nature of all conditioned phenomena. Since they are all illusory and unreal, then Bodhisattvas have no need to cling to them, grasp them, or be moved and disturbed by them. It is like being in a dream: no matter how much we grasp at all the people, things, and principles in the dream, how much we are moved, disturbed, and create karmic actions by them, in the end, we gain absolutely nothing and cannot grasp even a fraction. No one has ever obtained anything from a dream, so why labor the mind in vain? What benefit is there!

All conditioned phenomena are manifestations conjured by the Tathagatagarbha based on conditions. It is like a magician who, by the power of thought, causes all people, things, and events to suddenly appear in empty space; yet when the magician withdraws his thought, all people, things, and events ultimately return to emptiness. Why labor to grasp them, vainly tiring the mind? What benefit is there! All conditioned phenomena are like bubbles born from the great ocean of the Tathagatagarbha, arising and vanishing within that ocean. All people, things, and principles within the three realms are like bubbles in the sea: born and perishing, perishing and being born again, their births and deaths all returning to the great ocean. Why vainly grasp at the bubbles instead of seeing the great ocean?

All conditioned phenomena are like the reflection of the moon falling upon thousands of rivers and seas—seemingly existent yet non-existent, appearing real but impossible to grasp. Only the foolish common person, like a deluded monkey, reaches out to grasp it, finding only emptiness. The wise Bodhisattva, with the eye of wisdom, contemplates it as a reflection—what is there to grasp? All conditioned phenomena are like morning dew: when the sun rises, they vanish in an instant, arising and perishing swiftly—what is there to grasp? All conditioned phenomena are also like the flash of lightning and peal of thunder in a storm: in a split second, it streaks across the sky and is gone without a trace. Whether you are startled and unsettled, or terrified and alarmed, it has already vanished, leaving no shadow or trace.

The World-Honored One taught that Bodhisattvas, after awakening, should constantly contemplate thus. Then their minds will be pure, free from grasping and clinging, unstained by a single speck of dust, unattached to a single dharma. In this way, they accord with the true suchness of their original mind, follow the true suchness, and will attain unsurpassed Bodhi. With this mind free from grasping and clinging, expound the Diamond Sutra for sentient beings, delivering all beings, enabling them to together emerge from the illusory dust, together extinguish the illusory shadows, together enter the great ocean of all Buddhas’ wisdom, and together perfect the all-inclusive wisdom of all Buddhas.

To uphold, recite, and expound the Diamond Sutra in this way, to expound the Dharma of the Tathagatagarbha—its blessings and wisdom, who among the beings of the world can compare? Who can surpass it! Such self-benefit and benefit to others—is it not wonderful! Is it not joyful! Finally, after the World-Honored One finished expounding this sutra, the fourfold assembly of disciples, the multitude of humans and heavenly beings, all without exception believed, accepted, upheld, and practiced it. This is called faithfully accepting, upholding, and practicing the Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra expounded by the Tathagata.