The Śūraṅgama Sūtra, Volume Five: The Dharma Gate of Perfect Penetration of the Twenty-Five Sages – Subhūti

Subhuti rose from his seat, prostrated at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha: "For countless kalpas, my mind has been unobstructed. I recall that the number of my rebirths is as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. From the very beginning in the mother's womb, I knew emptiness and stillness. Thus, even the ten directions become empty, and I also enable sentient beings to realize emptiness. Through the Tathagata's revelation of the true emptiness of the self-nature's awareness, the emptiness became perfectly clear and bright. I attained Arhatship, suddenly entered the precious bright sea of emptiness of the Tathagata, attained the same knowledge and insight as the Buddha, was certified as having nothing more to learn, and in liberation and the nature of emptiness, I am supreme. The Buddha asked about perfect penetration. As I have realized, all phenomena enter non-existence; the non-existent and what is negated are both exhausted; turning the dharmas back to nothingness—this is the foremost."

Subhuti rose from his seat, prostrated at the Buddha's feet, and said to the Buddha: "For immeasurable kalpas, my mind has been unobstructed and penetrates all dharmas. I recall that the number of my rebirths is as numerous as the sands of the Ganges. From the very beginning in the mother's womb in this rebirth, I knew that the world is empty and still, and thus I also knew that the ten directions are all empty, with no dharmas existing, and I taught sentient beings to realize the emptiness of all dharmas. Through the Tathagata's teaching and blessings, I realized the true emptiness of the self-nature's awareness. When this emptiness became increasingly perfect and bright, I then became a great Arhat, suddenly realized entry into the precious bright sea of emptiness of the Tathagata, attained the same knowledge and insight as the Buddha, and was certified by the Buddha as having attained the fourth fruition with nothing more to learn. In the merit of liberation in the mind-ground and the degree of emptiness attained in the mind-nature, I am foremost among the Buddha's disciples. The Buddha asked about the method of perfect penetration. As I have realized, all phenomena with form are transformed into non-existence and emptied, and both the mind that empties and the dharmas that are emptied are exhausted and emptied; the original existent dharmas are now reversed to non-existence and emptiness. I regard this method as the foremost method of perfect penetration."

Subhuti's mind has been unobstructed for immeasurable kalpas, with no hindrances in the mind-ground, and he is endowed with the six supernatural powers, including the power of knowing past lives. Therefore, while in the mother's womb, he knew that all dharmas are empty. Of course, this knowing must be through the mental faculty; immeasurable kalpas ago, the mental faculty realized emptiness, so regardless of the circumstances or identity, Subhuti always knew emptiness. Then, after consciousness arose in the mother's womb, due to the absence of hindrances, consciousness also knew that all dharmas are empty. The mental faculty knows first, consciousness knows later; thus, it is true, ultimate, and perfect knowing. The emptiness realized by Subhuti encompasses both Mahayana and Hinayana. Therefore, Subhuti not only attained the fourth fruition Arhatship but also suddenly realized the precious bright sea of emptiness of the Tathagata, attaining the same knowledge and insight as the Buddha. From this, it can be seen that Subhuti is at least an eighth-stage bodhisattva and has realized for more than two immeasurable kalpas. In fact, according to Buddhist scriptures, Subhuti is a Buddha reborn, and the Buddha's ten great disciples are all Buddhas manifesting as Arhats, together with the Buddha, liberating sentient beings in the Saha world.