Chapter 12

Perfect Wisdom the Mother of the Buddhas

79. If a good mother with many sons had fallen ill, they all, with her past kindness in mind, would busy themselves about taking care of her; just so, the Buddhas in this world of ten directions bring to mind this perfection of wisdom as their mother.

80. The Buddhas of the past, present (ten directions), and the future, have all sprung forth from her. She (wisdom) is the one which shows us the world for what it really is, she is the mother of all Buddhas, and she reveals the thoughts and actions of all other beings.

How the Wise See the World

81. Seeing all as one single Suchness, free from existence, unfaltering, has the perfection of wisdom been understood by the wise. Whether the wise abide in the world, or whether they abide in the final Nirvana, one thing remains the same; they always abide in knowing: “Dharmas are empty.” This is where all Guides abide, residing in the delightful forests of the perfection of wisdom. Although they fetch and bring in suffering beings from the places of woe, they never have any notion of a being.

Similes about the Buddha

82. When a lion, in his cave, roars fearlessly, the lesser animals tremble. Likewise, when the Lion of Men, full of the perfection of wisdom, roars fearlessly, the heretics tremble.

83. Just as the sun, supported by the sky, dries up this earth, revealing its form; just so, the King of the Dharma, supported by the perfection of wisdom, dries up the river of craving and reveals the dharma.

The Tathagata’s Vision of Dharma

84. Where there is no vision of form, no vision of feelings, no vision of perception, no vision of will, no vision of consciousness, thought or mind, this has been expounded as the vision of the Dharma by the Tathagata.

85. A vision in nothingness is still a being. A vision of that nothingness is still considered an object. This is the true vision of the Tathagata, but it is impossible to explain it without creating objects.