LEAVING APPEARANCES
AND STILL CESSATION, FOURTEEN
At that time, upon hearing this sutra and deeply understanding its purport,
Subhuti wept and felt remorse, and addressed the Buddha, "How rare, World
Honored One, is this Sutra so profoundly explained by the Buddha. From
the time I attained the eye of wisdom until the present, I have never
heard such a Sutra. World Honored One, if someone listens to this Sutra
with a mind of pure faith and can bring forth the Appearance of Reality,
know that such a person has accomplished foremost and rare merit and virtue.
"World Honored One, the Appearance of Reality is without appearance. Therefore
the Thus Come One calls it the Appearance of Reality. "World Honored One,
now as I listen to this Sutra, I believe, understand, accept and uphold
it without difficulty. In the future, in the last five hundred years,
if there are living beings who when they hear this Sutra, believe, understand,
accept and uphold it, they will be outstanding and most rare. Why? Such
people will be without the appearance of a self, the appearance of others,
the appearance of living beings, and the appearance of a life. Why? The
appearance of self is actually no appearance. The appearance of others,
the appearance of living beings and the appearance of a life are actually
not appearances. Why? All those who are called Buddhas have relinquished
all appearances." The Buddha told Subhuti, "So it is, so it is. If someone
hears this Sutra and is not frightened, alarmed, or terrified, you should
know such a person is most rare. Why? Subhuti, the foremost Paramita spoken
of by the Thus Come One is not the foremost Paramita. Therefore it is
called the foremost Paramita. "Subhuti, the Paramita of patience spoken
of by the Thus Come One is not the Paramita of patience. Therefore it
is called the Paramita of patience. Why? Subhuti, in the past when the
King of Kalinga dismembered my body, I had no appearance of a self, of
others, of living beings or of a life. Why? When I was cut limb from limb,
if I had an appearance of a self, an appearance of others, an appearance
of living beings or an appearance of a life, I would have been outraged.
"Moreover Subhuti, I recall that in the past, for five hundred lives,
I was the Patient Immortal. During all those lives I was without the appearance
of a self, others, living beings or a life. For that reason, Subhuti,
a Bodhisattva should relinquish all appearances and bring forth the mind
of Anuttarasamyaksambodhi. He should bring forth thoughts which do not
rely on forms or which do not rely on sounds, smells, tastes, tangible
objects, or dharmas. He should bring forth thoughts which do not rely
on anything. Any relying of the mind is not relying. Therefore the Buddha
says, 'The Bodhisattva's mind should not rely on forms when he gives.'
Subhuti, because the Bodhisattva wishes to benefit all living beings,
he should give in this way. "The Thus Come One says that all appearances
are actually not appearances, and that all living beings are actually
not living beings. Subhuti, the Thus Come One speaks the truth. He speaks
factually. He speaks of things as they really are. He never deceives nor
are his words peculiar. Subhuti, the Dharma the Thus Come One obtained
is neither true nor false. "Subhuti, a Bodhisattva who gives with a mind
relying on dharmas is like a person in the dark who sees nothing at all.
A Bodhisattva who gives with a mind that does not rely on dharmas is like
a person with eyes who can see all kinds of things in the bright sunlight.
"Subhuti, if in the future there is a good man or good woman who can accept,
uphold, read or recite this Sutra, then the Thus Come One using his Buddha-wisdom
will thoroughly know and thoroughly see such a person. That person will
obtain immeasurable and boundless merit and virtue."
