Like Lightning and Dew: A Dream, an Illusion, a Bubble, a Shadow

All conditioned dharmas that arise through active fabrication are like a dream; they are all like illusions; all like bubbles; all like shadows; all like dew; all like lightning in the sky. Whenever bodhisattvas face all the conditioned dharmas of the world, they should contemplate them in this way and regard all conditioned dharmas thus.

Because all dharmas are illusory and unreal, bodhisattvas have no need to be attached, to grasp, or to be swayed by them. It is like being in a dream: no matter how we grasp at all the people, affairs, objects, and principles within the dream, no matter how we are swayed and shaken by them and create karmic actions, in the end there is ultimately nothing at all—not even the slightest fraction can be grasped. No one has ever obtained anything from a dream, so what benefit is there in wearying one's mind in vain!

All conditioned dharmas are conjured forth by the tathāgatagarbha in dependence on conditions. It is like a magician whose thoughts manifest all manner of people, affairs, and objects, suddenly appearing in empty space. Yet the magician can also withdraw his thoughts, and all those people, affairs, and objects return to emptiness and nothingness. What use is there in clutching at them, needlessly enslaving one's mind? What benefit is there!

All conditioned dharmas are like bubbles born from the great ocean of the tathāgatagarbha, arising and bursting within the great ocean of the tathāgatagarbha. All the people, affairs, objects, and principles in the world of the three realms are like bubbles in the ocean water—arising and ceasing, ceasing and arising again; every birth and every death returns to the great ocean. Why toil in vain grasping at bubbles, without seeing the great ocean? 

All conditioned dharmas are like the moon's reflection falling into thousands of rivers and seas—seemingly there yet seemingly not; they appear to exist, yet cannot be fished out. Only ordinary beings, like foolish monkeys, reach out their hands to scoop at them, finding nothing but emptiness. Bodhisattvas and the wise, with the eye of wisdom, contemplate them as mere reflections—what is there to seize? All conditioned dharmas are like morning dew: when the sun rises, they vanish in an instant, swiftly arising and swiftly ceasing—what is there to cling to? All conditioned dharmas are also like lightning and thunder in the rain, streaking across the void in a flash and instantly leaving no trace. However unsettled your startled soul, however terrified you may be, it has already vanished without a shadow or a trace. 

The World-Honored One taught the bodhisattvas that after awakening they should constantly contemplate in this way; then their own minds become tranquil, without grasping or clinging, untainted by a single speck of dust, clinging to not a single dharma. In this way they accord with the true mind of suchness, follow along with suchness, and can attain supreme bodhi. With this mind free of grasping and clinging, they expound the Diamond Sutra for sentient beings, delivering all beings to emerge together from the illusory dust, to extinguish together the illusory shadows, to enter together the great ocean of the wisdom of all buddhas, and to perfect together the wisdom of all aspects of all buddhas.

To receive, uphold, read, and recite the Diamond Sutra in this way, and to expound the dharma of the tathāgatagarbha—among all the sentient beings of the world, who could compare with such merit and such wisdom, who could surpass it! To benefit oneself and benefit others in this way—is it not marvelous! Is it not joyous!