Guan zhong sheng san shi xiang, Guān zhòng shēng sān shí xiāng: 1 definition

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

觀眾生三十相 [guan zhong sheng san shi xiang]—Thirty Aspects of Viewing Sentient Beings

[Nomenclature] (名數 [ming shu]) Vimalakīrti (維摩居士 [wei mo ju shi]), in response to a question from Mañjuśrī Bodhisattva (文殊菩薩 [wen shu pu sa]), described thirty kinds of views of sentient beings (眾生觀 [zhong sheng guan]):

1. Like a person manifested by an illusionist (幻師 [huan shi]); a Bodhisattva (菩薩 [pu sa]) views sentient beings as such.
2. Like a wise person seeing the moon in water (水中月 [shui zhong yue]).
3. Like seeing one's face in a mirror (鏡中見其面像 [jing zhong jian qi mian xiang]).
4. Like a heat mirage (熱時炎 [re shi yan]).
5. Like the echo of a call (呼聲響 [hu sheng xiang]).
6. Like a cloud in the sky (空中雲 [kong zhong yun]).
7. Like foam gathering on water (水聚沫 [shui ju mo]).
8. Like a bubble on water (水上泡 [shui shang pao]).
9. Like the solidity of a banana tree (芭蕉堅 [ba jiao jian]) [which has no solid core].
10. Like lightning remaining for a long time (電久住 [dian jiu zhu]) [implying impermanence].
11. Like the fifth great element (第五大 [di wu da]) [which does not exist].
12. Like the sixth skandha (第六陰 [di liu yin]) [which does not exist].
13. Like the seventh emotion (第七情 [di qi qing]) [which does not exist].
14. Like the thirteen āyatanas (十三入 [shi san ru]) [there are only twelve].
15. Like the nineteen dhātus (十九界 [shi jiu jie]) [there are only eighteen].
16. Like form in the formless realm (無色界色 [wu se jie se]) [a contradiction].
17. Like a sprout from a burnt grain (燋穀芽 [jiao gu ya]) [impossible].
18. Like a Srotaāpanna's (須阤洹 [xu zhi huan]) view of self (身見 [shen jian]) [which they have abandoned].
19. Like an Anāgāmin (阿那含 [a na han]) entering the womb (入胎 [ru tai]) [which they do not do].
20. Like an Arhat's (阿羅漢 [a luo han]) three poisons (三毒 [san du]) [which they have eradicated].
21. Like a Bodhisattva who has attained forbearance (得忍菩薩 [de ren pu sa]) destroying precepts with greed and hatred (以貪恚毀禁 [yi tan hui hui jin]) [which they would not do].
22. Like a Buddha's (佛 [fu]) habit of afflictions (煩惱習 [fan nao xi]) [which they have eradicated].
23. Like a blind person seeing forms (盲者見色 [mang zhe jian se]) [impossible].
24. Like the in-and-out breath of one who has entered the cessation attainment (入滅盡定出入息 [ru mie jin ding chu ru xi]) [where breathing ceases].
25. Like the footprints of a bird in the sky (空中鳥迹 [kong zhong niao ji]) [impossible].
26. Like the daughter of a stone (石女兒 [shi nu er]) [impossible].
27. Like the afflictions of a magically created person (化人煩惱 [hua ren fan nao]) [which are non-existent].
28. Like what was seen in a dream after waking up (夢所見已寤 [meng suo jian yi wu]) [which is non-existent upon waking].
29. Like an enlightened one (滅度者 [mie du zhe]) taking a body (受身 [shou shen]) [implying no more rebirth].
30. Like fire without smoke (無煙火 [wu yan huo]).