The Vajracchedika Prajnaparamita Sutra | Page 4

truth is essentially not insight. That is what the Tathagata calls
insight into the truth.
"World-Honored One, today it is not difficult for me to hear this
wonderful sutra, have confidence in it, understand it, accept it, and put
it into practice. But in the future, in 500 years, if there is someone who
can hear this sutra, have confidence in it, understand it, accept it, and
put it into practice, then certainly the existence of someone like that
will be great and rare. Why? That person will not be dominated by the
idea of a self, a person, a living being, or a life span. Why? The idea of
a self is not an idea, and the ideas of a person, a living being, and a life
span are not ideas either. Why? Buddhas are called Buddhas because
they are free of ideas."
"The Buddha said to Subhuti, "That is quite right. If someone hears this
sutra and is not terrified or afraid, he or she is rare. Why? Subhuti, what
the Tathagata calls parama-paramita, the highest transcendence, is not
essentially the highest transcendence, and that is why it is called the
highest transcendence.
"Subhuti, the Tathagata has said that what is called transcendent
endurance is not transcendent endurance. That is why it is called
transcendent endurance. Why? Subhuti, thousands of lifetimes ago
when my body was cut into pieces by King Kalinga, I was not caught
in the idea of a self, a person, a living being, or a life span. If, at that
time, I had been caught up in any of those ideas, I would have felt
anger and ill-will against the king.

"I also remember in ancient times, for 500 lifetimes, I practiced
transcendent endurance by not being caught up in the idea of a self, a
person, a living being, or a life span. So, Subhuti, when a bodhisattva
gives rise to the unequalled mind of awakening, he has to give up all
ideas. He cannot not rely on forms when he gives rise to that mind, nor
on sounds, smells, tastes, tactile objects, or objects of mind. He can
only give rise to that mind that is not caught up in anything.
"The Tathagata has said that all notions are not notions and that all
living beings are not living beings. Subhuti, the Tathagata is one who
speaks of things as they are, speaks what is true, and speaks in accord
with reality. He does not speak deceptively or to please people. Subhuti,
if we say that the Tagthagata has realized a teaching, that teaching is
neither graspable nor deceptive.
"Subhuti, a bodhisattva who still depends on notions to practice
generosity is like someone walking in the dark. He will not see
anything. But when a bodhisattva does not depend on notions to
practice generosity, he is like someone with good eyesight walking
under the bright light of the sun. He can see all shapes and colors.
"Subhuti, if in the future there is any daughter or son of good family
who has the capacity to accept, read, and put into practice this sutra, the
Tathagata will see that person with his eyes of understanding. The
Tathagata will know that person, and that person will realize the
measureless, limitless fruit of her or his virtuous act."
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"Subhuti, if on the one hand, a daughter or son of a good family gives
up her or his life in the morning as many times as there are grains of
sand in the Ganges as an act of generosity, and gives as many again in
the afternoon and as many again in the evening, and continues doing so
for countless ages; and if, on the other hand, another person listens to
this sutra with complete confidence and without contention, that
person's happiness will be far greater. But the happiness of one who
writes this sutra down, receives, recites, and explains it to others cannot
be compared.

"In summary, Subhuti, this sutra brings about boundless virtue and
happiness that cannot be conceived or measured. If there is someone
capable of receiving, practicing, reciting, and sharing this sutra with
others, the Tathagata will see and know that person, and he or she will
have inconceivable, indescribable, and incomparable virtue. Such a
person will be able to shoulder the highest, most fulfilled, awakened
career of the Tathagata. Why? Subhuti, if one is content with the small
teachings, if he or she is still caught up in the idea of a self, a person, a
living being, or a life span, he or she will not be able to listen, receive,
recite, and explain this sutra to others. Subhuti, any place this sutra is
found is a place where gods, men, and asuras will come to make
offerings. Such a place