The Perfection of Wisdom in One Hundred Thousand Lines
Chapter 1: The Context

[V14] [F.1.b] [B1]

Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was residing on Vulture Peak in Rājagṛha, with a large monastic gathering comprising some five thousand monks. All of them were arhats who had attained the cessation of contaminants, free of afflicted mental states, fully controlled, their minds thoroughly liberated, their wisdom well liberated, thoroughbreds, mighty elephants, their tasks accomplished, their work completed, their burdens relinquished, their own objectives fulfilled, the fetters binding them to the rebirth process completely severed, their minds thoroughly liberated through perfect instruction,56 supreme in their perfection of all mental powers, with the exception of just one person‍—the venerable Ānanda, a trainee who had entered the stream. Also present were some five hundred nuns‍—Yaśodharā and Mahāprajāpatī and so on‍— [F.2.a] and a great many laymen and laywomen, all of whom had seen the Dharma.

There, too, were innumerable, inestimable bodhisattva great beings, all of whom had attained the dhāraṇīs and attained the meditative stabilities, acting in accord with emptiness, their perceptual range being one of signlessness, their aspirations free from deliberation. They had attained forbearance for the sameness of all phenomena, possessed inspired eloquence that was unimpeded, had comprehended the inexhaustible teachings according to their exact knowledge, and used miraculous displays through their great extrasensory powers.57 With their extrasensory powers never failing, and with engaging speech, without indolence but with perseverance, without regard for their bodies or their lives, their conduct unpretentious,58 without fawning, and without thoughts of ulterior fame, profit, or respect, free from self-interest they taught the Dharma. They had realized and integrated the sublime acceptance of the profound dharmas,59 had acquired the great fearlessnesses, were without discouragement, and they had gone completely beyond all the works of Māra. Having interrupted the continuity of karmic obscurations, they had overcome karma, the afflicted mental states, and hostile forces,60 and in the face of all challenges had remained undefeated. They were difficult for all śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas to understand,61 and through their realization were skilled in analyzing and teaching the Dharma. They had energetically applied themselves to their aspirations over countless eons. Smiling and speaking first in welcome, their faces without frowns of anger, [F.2.b] with their sweet, gentle words they were skilled in addressing others in melodic verse. As their inspired eloquence flowed uninterrupted, they possessed the fearlessness that overwhelmed endless assemblies. They were skilled in emancipation by means of the transcendental knowledge from having taught for endless tens of millions of eons.62 They had comprehended that all phenomena are like an illusion, a mirage, a reflection of the moon in water, a dream, an echo, an optical aberration, empty space, a castle in the sky, a reflection,63 and a magical display. Without discouragement, they were skilled in comprehending the mental attitudes, subtle knowledge,64 conduct, and interests of all beings. Their attitude toward all beings was free of any animosity, and