The Profound Meaning of Vijñaptimātratā in the Diamond Sūtra (71)

Chapter Thirteen: Receiving and Upholding the Dharma

At that time, Subhuti addressed the Buddha, saying: "World-Honored One, by what name should this sutra be known? How should we receive and uphold it?" The Buddha told Subhuti: "This sutra is called the Diamond Prajna Paramita. By this name, you should receive and uphold it. Why is this so? Subhuti, the Buddha teaches prajna paramita, which is not prajna paramita, but is merely called prajna paramita. Subhuti, what do you think? Has the Tathagata spoken any Dharma?" Subhuti replied to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, the Tathagata has not spoken any Dharma."

"Subhuti, what do you think? Are all the particles of dust in the trichiliocosm numerous?" Subhuti said: "Extremely numerous, World-Honored One." "Subhuti, all these particles of dust, the Tathagata says are not particles of dust, but are merely called particles of dust. The Tathagata says the world is not a world, but is merely called a world. Subhuti, what do you think? Can the Tathagata be perceived by means of the thirty-two marks?" "No, World-Honored One. The Tathagata cannot be perceived by means of the thirty-two marks. Why? The thirty-two marks spoken of by the Tathagata are not true marks, but are merely called the thirty-two marks. Subhuti, if a virtuous man or woman were to give as many lives as the sands of the Ganges River in charity, and if another person were to receive and uphold even a four-line verse from this sutra and expound it to others, the latter's merit would be far greater."

Explanation: At this time, Subhuti asked the Buddha: "World-Honored One, how should this sutra be named? How should we receive and uphold it?" The Buddha told Subhuti: "This sutra is called the Diamond Prajna Paramita. Having fully comprehended the meaning of this name, you should receive and uphold it. Why receive and uphold this name? Subhuti, when the Buddha speaks of prajna paramita, it does not truly exist as a dharma called prajna paramita. This is merely a provisional designation, a concept, subtly indicating the state of the diamond-like mind free from birth and death abiding in nirvana."

"Subhuti, what do you think? Has the Tathagata spoken any Dharma?" Subhuti replied to the Buddha: "World-Honored One, the Tathagata has not spoken any Dharma; the Tathagata has not expounded any dharma." The Buddha said: "Subhuti, what do you think? Are all the particles of dust in the trichiliocosm numerous?" Subhuti said: "Extremely numerous, World-Honored One." The Buddha said: "Subhuti, all these particles of dust, the Tathagata says are not particles of dust, but are merely a provisional designation. The Tathagata says the world is not truly a world, but is merely a provisional name."

The Buddha said: "Subhuti, what do you think? Can the Tathagata be perceived through the thirty-two marks?" Subhuti said: "No, World-Honored One. The Tathagata cannot be perceived through the thirty-two marks. Why? The thirty-two marks spoken of by the Tathagata are not true marks; these marks are illusory, not truly existent, and are merely provisionally named the thirty-two marks." The Buddha said: "Subhuti, if a virtuous man or woman were to give in charity as many physical bodies as the sands of the Ganges River, and if another person were to receive and uphold even a four-line verse from this Diamond Sutra and expound it to others, the merit attained by the latter would surpass that attained by the former."

Subhuti requested the World-Honored One to name this sutra and inquired how to receive and uphold it. The World-Honored One said: "This sutra is called the Diamond Prajna Paramita. Only after fully understanding the meaning of this name can one receive and uphold it. The meaning of the sutra's title was explained at the beginning of the text. Diamond is the hardest treasure in the world; nothing can destroy it, yet it can destroy all things. It is used to metaphorically represent our true mind, the Tathagatagarbha. This mind cannot be destroyed by anyone through any means, forever indestructible. All other dharmas in the world are produced by it, all possessing the nature of arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing; all are unreliable dharmas."