Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words
This page describes “introduction (the story of shariputra)” as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. “the treatise on the great virtue of wisdom”) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.
Introduction (the story of Śāriputra)
Sūtra: The Buddha said to Śāriputra (Tatra khalu Bhagavān āyuṣmanataṃ Śāriputram āmantrayām āsa).
Śāstra: Question. – The Prajñāpāramitā is the system (dharma) of the bodhisattva-mahāsattvas. Why does the Buddha address himself here to Śāriputra and not to the bodhisattvas?
Answer. – Of all the disciples of the Buddha, Śāriputra is by far the foremost in wisdom (prajñā[1]). A stanza of the Buddha says:
“Except for the Buddha Bhagavat, the knowledge (jñāna) of all beings would not equal a sixteenth part compared with the wisdom (prajñā) and learning (bahuśruta) of Śāriputra.”[2]
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Cf. Aṅguttara, I, p. 23 (= Tseng yi a han, T 125, k. 3, p. 557b): etad aggaṃ bhikkhave mama sāvakānaṃ bhikkhūnaṃ mahāpaññāṃ yadidaṃ Sāriputto.
[2]:
Cf. Divyāvadāna, p. 394:
Sarvalokasya yā prajñā sthāpayitvā Tathāgatam,
Śāriputrasya prajñāyā kalāṃ nārhati ṣoḍaśīm.