Tathagata Shattering the Subtle Particle Forms and the Worldly Forms

Diamond Sutra Original Text:

Subhuti, what do you think? Are all the fine dust particles in the three thousand great thousand worlds numerous?

Subhuti replied: Very numerous, World-Honored One.

Subhuti, all these fine dust particles, the Tathagata says, are not fine dust particles; they are merely called fine dust particles. The Tathagata says the worlds are not worlds; they are merely called worlds.

Explanation:

The Buddha said: Subhuti, what do you think? Are all the fine dust particles in the three thousand great thousand worlds not very numerous?

Subhuti replied: Very numerous, World-Honored One.

The Buddha said: Subhuti, all these fine dust particles, the Tathagata says, are not fine dust particles. They have no true nature of fine dust particles; all are illusory appearances. These illusory appearances are merely designated as "fine dust particles."

The three thousand great thousand worlds formed by the aggregation of numerous fine dust particles are the external space where sentient beings’ five aggregates exist—the material aspect of the mundane realm. Thus, the Tathagata has deconstructed the phenomenal aspect of this material dharma. Then, does the realm of the five aggregates in the mundane world possess true reality? It has no true reality; it is entirely an illusory, false appearance, merely designated as "world," "realm," "mundane realm," or "five aggregates."

Since the five aggregates are merely designations, then all activities performed by the five aggregates—such as generating the bodhi mind, practicing the Bodhisattva Path for self-benefit and benefiting others, teaching the Dharma to liberate beings, realizing the Dharma and attaining its fruits, achieving the Bodhisattva fruits and the Buddha fruit, and establishing Buddha lands—all these are illusory and empty, without true reality. Then, in this illusory world, what is there for you, me, her, or him to cling to? What is there to grasp and refuse to relinquish?

Why do all these false appearances and designations exist?

Because of that vajra indestructible mind, which accomplishes all dharmas through causes and conditions. What is formed must decay; only what is originally existent remains indestructible.

Sentient beings, since beginningless kalpas, have failed to recognize the truth. Thus, they grasp false appearances as reality, giving rise to the suffering of birth, death, and rebirth. Now, having studied the Vajra Dharma, they should swiftly realize the true reality, return to their true nature, and reach the other shore of Nirvana, no longer drifting in the cycle of birth and death.