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 26
Rejoicing and Perfect Wisdom
162. If someone rejoices in a bodhisattva who has set out for the best enlightenment and is irreversible; one may consider the sum size of an infinite number of galaxies as no greater than the tip of a piece of straw, as compared to the merit gained by their rejoicing.
163. For they are rejoicing in the combined heap of merit made from all beings who ever existed, who desire what is good, and who desire to see the emancipation from suffering. When, for the weal of others, they have reached the perfect enlightenment, they will give the Dharma to the world for the total extinction of suffering.
164. The bodhisattva who, not discriminating, sees all dharmas as empty, without any dualism seeks in wisdom for enlightenment. Devoted to the foremost perfection of wisdom is that Yogin (monk dedicated to meditation).
The Simile of Space and the Sky
165. A blocking, obstruction, or barrier between space and sky cannot be found anywhere by anyone. Just so, the wise bodhisattva, walking in wisdom, is in the open space, coursing calmly and quietly.
The Simile of the People Created by Magic
166. If an illusionary man were to be conjured up by a magician, having no real body, thought, or name, would not think to himself, “I will do something to please these people,” but still, nevertheless, can perform the various tasks assigned to him. Just so, it never occurs to the one coursing in wisdom, “Being enlightened now I will set the world free!” Even being associated with a manifold of works, considering them like magical illusions, one does not take on false discriminations.
The Simile of the Buddha’s Magical Creations
167. As a Buddha’s magical creation performs the Buddha’s work, but when doing so, no thought of self or conceit arises within it; just so, the wise bodhisattva, who walks in wisdom, manifests all works of the Buddha, but considers themselves a fictitious illusion.
The Simile of the Machine
168. An expert inventor has created a machine, able to perform any of the works that a man or woman could do. Just so, the wise bodhisattva, walking in wisdom, performs their works like the machine, without any sense of discrimination.