The Vajracchedika Prajnaparamita Sutra

(The Diamond Sutra)
1
This is what I heard one time when the Buddha was staying in the
monastery in Anathapindika's park in the Jeta Grove near Sravasti with
a community of 1,250 bhiksus, fully ordained monks.
That day, when it was time to make the round for alms, the Buddha put
on his sanghati robe and, holding his bowl, went into the city of
Sravasti to seek alms food, going from house to house. When the alms
round was completed, he returned to the monastery to eat the midday
meal. Then he put away his sanghati robe and his bowl, washed his feet,
arranged his cushion, and sat down.
2
At that time, the Venerable Subhuti stood up, bared his right shoulder,
put his knee on the ground, and, folding his palms respectfully, said to
the Buddha, "World-Honored One, it is rare to find someone like you.
You always support and show special confidence in the bodhisattvas.
"World-Honored One, if sons and daughters of good families want to
give rise to the highest, most fulfilled, awakened mind, what should
they rely on and what should they do to master their thinking?"
The Buddha replied, "Well said, Subhuti! What you have said is
absolutely correct. The Tathagata always supports and shows special
confidence in the bodhisattvas. Please listen
with all of your attention and the Tathagata will respond to your
question. If daughters and sons of good families want to give rise to the
highest, most fulfilled, awakened mind, they should rely on the
following way."
The Venerable Subhuti said, "Lord, we are so happy to hear your
teachings."

3
The Buddha said to Subhuti, "This is how the bodhisattva mahasattvas
rnaster their thinking. 'However many species of living beings there
are--whether born from eggs, from the womb, from moisture, or
spontaneously; whether they have form or do not have form; whether
they have perceptions or do not have perceptions; or whether it cannot
be said of them that they have perceptions or that they do not have
perceptions, we must lead all these beings to the ultimate nirvana so
that they can be liberated. And when this innumerable, immeasurable,
infinite number of beings has become liberated, we do not, in truth,
think that a single being has been liberated,'
"Why is this so? If, Subhuti, a bodhisattva holds on to the idea that a
self, a person, a living being, or a life span exists, that person is not an
authentic bodhisattva."
4
"Moreover, Subhuti, when a bodhisattva practices generosity, he does
not rely on any object--that is to say he does not rely on any form,
sound, smell, taste, tactile object, or dharma--to practice generosity.
That, Subhuti, is the spirit in which a bodhisattva should practice
generosity, not relying on signs. Why? If a bodhisattva practices
generosity without relying on signs, the happiness that results cannot be
conceived of or measured. Subhuti, do you think that the space in the
Eastern Quarter can be measured?"
"No, World-Honored One."
"Subhuti, can space in the Western, Southern, and Northern Quarters,
above and below be measured?"
"No, World-Honored One."
"Subhuti, if a bodhisattva does not rely on any concept when practicing
generosity, then the happiness that results from that virtuous act is as
great as space. It cannot be measured. Subhuti, the bodhisattvas should

let their minds dwell in the teachings I have just given."
5
"What do you think, Subhuti? Is it possible to grasp the Tathagata by
means of bodily signs?"
"No, World-Honored One. When the Tathagata speaks of bodily signs,
there are no signs being talked about."
The Buddha said to Subhuti: "In a place where there is something that
can be distinguished by signs, in that place there is deception. If you
can see the signless nature of signs, then you can see the Tathagata."
6
The Venerable Subhuti said to the Buddha, "In times to come, will
there be people who, when they hear these teachings, have real faith
and confidence in them?"
The Buddha replied, "Do not speak that way, Subhuti. Five hundred
years after the Tathagata has passed away, there will still be people
who enjoy the happiness that comes from
observing the precepts. When such people hear these words, they will
have faith and confidence that here is the truth. We should know that
such people have sown seeds not only during the lifetime of one
Buddha, or even two, three, four, or five Buddhas, but have, in truth,
planted wholesome seeds during the lifetimes of tens of thousands of
Buddhas. Anyone who, for only a second, gives rise to a pure and clear
confidence upon hearing these words of the Tathagata, the Tathagata
sees and knows that person, and he or she will attain immeasurable
happiness because of this understanding. Why?
"Because that kind