The Perfection Of Wisdom In Eight Thousand Lines
13,106 words
'The Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines' is the earliest text of the Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom texts) The following is a less strict interpretation of the 'Eight Thousand Lines' in its original verse form only. ** Many thanks to Reverend Neil Christopher for his hard work on this translation and granting permissing for this c...
Chapter 16
On Suchness
100. Space, in all directions, north, east, south and west, is boundless; above or below, in all directions, no difference, no dualities in space can be attained. Past Suchness, future Suchness, present Suchness, the Suchness of the Arhats, of the dharmas, of the Buddhas—all is Suchness, and not difference can be attained.
Wisdom and Skill in Means
101. If a bodhisattva wishes to reach Buddha-enlightenment, free from differentiated dharmas, practice the perfection of wisdom—joined together with skill in means. For, without wisdom there is no attainment.
102. A bird was to grow to body-size of one hundred and fifty miles large would still fall from the sky to its death, if its wings were still weak, having not grown proportionally with it. If one were grow in the five perfections for many thousands of years, spending all their time tending to the needs of the world with an over abundance of vows; but if without skill in means, lacking wisdom, will fall from their discipleship.
The Desirable Attitude to Other Beings
103. To go forth with a Buddha-like process of thought, one would need an equal and even mind towards the world and all beings; one would need to exert themselves towards thoughts of benevolence, and a friendly mind; willing to submit to others, and soft in their speech.