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 18
Deep Stations
108. Deep reaches our form, feeling and will, consciousness and perception. Like one who tries to reach the bottom of the ocean with a stick, so, when the skandhas have been revealed through wisdom, one does not attempt to reach the bottom of them. When the bodhisattva realizes that these dharmas in the ultimate vehicle become effortless, stainless; there being no skandha, no sense, no elements to strive against, how can there be a sense of them attaining anything by their own merit anymore?
The Simile of the Woman
109. A man, full of lust and longing, having made a date with a beautiful woman, would spend the day, having not met up with her yet, indulging in many thoughts; as many thoughts that would cross his mind during that day, so that many centuries does a bodhisattva strive to reach their goal.
Considerations of Merit
110. If a bodhisattva would for countless centuries give spotless gifts, and pay equal attention to guarding their morality; and, if another were to in one lifetime preach the perfection of wisdom–the merit gained by giving and morality would be infinitesimal by comparison.
111. When a bodhisattva, having meditated on the foremost wisdom, emerges preaching the stainless Dharma, and turns over their merit into enlightenment for the weal of the world; there is nothing that can be found in this entire world that is of more beauty than them. Knowing merit to be worthless, empty, insignificant, void and without substance; they walk in the path of wisdom–walking in this course, one gains immeasurable merit.
No Growth or Diminishing
112. As mere words the bodhisattva recognizes all these dharmas which the Buddha has revealed to us all; as do the five perfections of the Jinas. The bodhisattva who turns these over, without putting their mind to it, does not fail; but will experience the supreme Buddha-enlightenment.