The Perfection of Wisdom in Twenty-Five Thousand Lines
Chapter 32
Toh 9
Degé Kangyur, vol. 26 (shes phyin, nyi khri, ka), folios 1.b–382.a; vol. 27 (shes phyin, nyi khri, kha), folios 1.b–393.a; and vol. 28 (shes phyin, nyi khri, ga), folios 1.b–381.a
Imprint
Translated by the Padmakara Translation Group
under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha
First published 2023
Current version v 1.1.12 (2024)
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Table of Contents
Summary
The Perfection of Wisdom in Twenty-Five Thousand Lines is among the most important scriptures underlying both the “vast” and the “profound” approaches to Buddhist thought and practice. Known as the “middle-length” version, being the second longest of the three long Perfection of Wisdom sūtras, it fills three volumes of the Kangyur. Like the two other long sūtras, it records the major teaching on the perfection of wisdom given by the Buddha Śākyamuni on Vulture Peak, detailing all aspects of the path to enlightenment while at the same time emphasizing how bodhisattvas must put them into practice without taking them—or any aspects of enlightenment itself—as having even the slightest true existence.
Acknowledgements
Translation by the Padmakara Translation Group. A complete draft by Gyurme Dorje was first edited by Charles Hastings, then revised and further edited by John Canti. The introduction was written by John Canti. We are grateful for the advice and help received from Gareth Sparham, Greg Seton, and Nathaniel Rich.
This translation is dedicated to the memory of our late colleague, long-time friend, and vajra brother Gyurme Dorje (1950–2020), who worked assiduously on this translation in his final years and into the very last months of his life. We would also like to express our gratitude to his wife, Xiaohong, for the extraordinary support she gave him on so many levels.
The translation was completed under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha.
The generous sponsorship of Kris Yao and Xiang-Jen Yao, which helped make the work on this translation possible, is most gratefully acknowledged.
Text Body
Chapter 32
“Moreover, Subhūti, if those who listen to the Dharma delight in committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, and in transmitting and disseminating it, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma delay, then, Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, {Ki.IV: 44} if those who expound the Dharma do not delay in committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, and in transmitting and disseminating it, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma go away to another land, then, Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [disciples] who listen to the Dharma wish to commit this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, and transmit and disseminate it, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma go away to another land, then, Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [teachers] who expound the Dharma are interested in profit, honors, and words [of praise], and interested in religious robes, food, bedding, medicines, and utensils, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma have few desires, and are withdrawn into their knowledge of the Dharma,439 energetic, mindful, undistracted, one-pointed, wise, and afraid of profit and honors, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [teachers] who expound the Dharma have few desires, and are withdrawn into their knowledge of the Dharma,440 energetic, mindful, undistracted, one-pointed, wise, and afraid of profit and honors, [F.258.b] but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma have great desires, are attached to evil, and interested in profit, honors, and words [of praise], and interested in religious robes, food, bedding, medicines, and utensils, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [teachers] who expound the Dharma stay in isolation, beg for alms, wear cast-off clothes, restrict eating [after midday], eat their meal in a single sitting, accept just whatever alms have been obtained, frequent charnel grounds, sit in exposed places, sit under trees, sit upright even during sleep, stay wherever they happen to be, and own only three robes, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma do not stay in isolation, do not beg for alms, do not wear cast-off clothes, do not restrict eating [after midday], do not eat their meal in a single sitting, do not accept just whatever alms have been obtained, do not frequent charnel grounds, do not sit in exposed places, do not sit under trees, do not sit upright even during sleep, do not stay wherever they happen to be, and do not own only three robes, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. {Ki.IV: 45} Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.441
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma stay in isolation, and [observe the other ascetic virtues], up to and including the owning of only three robes, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma do not stay in isolation, and do not [observe the other ascetic virtues], up to and including the owning of only three robes, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma, endowed with faith and virtuous aspirations, wish to commit this profound perfection of wisdom [F.259.a] to writing, wish to transmit it, and wish that it should be disseminated, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma are faithless, immoral, and evil, do not wish to commit this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, do not wish to transmit it, and do not wish to disseminate it, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma, endowed with faith and virtuous aspirations, wish to commit this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, disseminate it [and so forth], but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma are faithless [and so forth], then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma give away all that they possess, and their minds are without attachment, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma have minds that are miserly and attached, and are avaricious, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma give away all that they possess and their minds are without attachment, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma have minds that are miserly and attached, and are avaricious, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings [F.259.b] should know that this too is the work of Māra. {Ki.IV: 46}
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma wish to give away robes, food, bedding, medicines, and utensils to [teachers] who expound the Dharma, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma do not wish to receive them, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma understand it simply through the discourse that has been given, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma require guidance and are interested in verbal [explanations], then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma understand it simply through the discourse that has been given, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma require guidance and are interested in verbal [explanations], then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma understand the doctrinal distinctions between discourses, sayings in prose and verse, prophetic declarations, verses, aphorisms, contexts, quotations, tales of past lives, most extensive teachings, marvelous events, narratives, and established instructions, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma do not understand the doctrinal distinctions between discourses, sayings in prose and verse, prophetic declarations, verses, aphorisms, contexts, quotations, tales of past lives, most extensive teachings, marvelous events, narratives, and established instructions, [F.260.a] then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. {Ki.IV: 47} Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma understand the doctrinal distinctions between discourses, sayings in prose and verse, prophetic declarations, [and the other branches of the scriptures], up to and including established instructions, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma do not understand the doctrinal distinctions between discourses, sayings in prose and verse, prophetic declarations, [and the other branches of the scriptures], up to and including established instructions, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma possess the six perfections, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma do not possess the six perfections, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma possess the six perfections, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma do not possess the six perfections, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma are skilled in means with regard to the six perfections, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma are not skilled in means with regard to the six perfections, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, great bodhisattva [F.260.b] beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma are skilled in means with regard to the six perfections, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma are not skilled in means with regard to the six perfections, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. {Ki.IV: 48} Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma have obtained the dhāraṇīs, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma have not obtained the dhāraṇīs, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma have obtained the dhāraṇīs, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma have not obtained the dhāraṇīs, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma wish to commit this [perfection of wisdom] to writing, wish to recite it, wish to transmit it, wish to disseminate it, and wish to cultivate it, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma do not wish to commit this [perfection of wisdom] to writing, do not wish to recite it, do not wish to transmit it, do not wish to disseminate it, and do not wish to listen to it, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma wish to commit this [perfection of wisdom] to writing, wish to listen to it, [and so forth], but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma do not wish to commit it to writing, do not wish to cultivate it, [and so forth], [F.261.a] then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma are free from the craving associated with desire, and are free from malice, apathy, torpor, and agitation, and free from doubt, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma have craving associated with desire, have malice, apathy, torpor, and agitation, and have doubt, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma are free from craving associated with desire, and are free from malice, apathy, torpor, and agitation, and free from doubt, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma have craving associated with desire, have malice, apathy, torpor, and agitation, and have doubt, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. {Ki.IV: 49} Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, when they are committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, reciting it, transmitting it, disseminating it, and maintaining it, focusing their attention correctly on it, if someone arrives there, and describes how unpleasant the hells are, describes how unpleasant the animal realm, the world of Yama, and the abodes of anguished spirits are, and says, ‘For the denizens of the hells, the suffering is like this. In the animal realm, the suffering is like this. [F.261.b] In the abodes of anguished spirits, the suffering is like this. You should put an end to suffering here and now! What is the point for your attaining unsurpassed, complete enlightenment in the course of which many thousands of sufferings will be experienced! Long have you roamed in cyclic existence!’ then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, when they are committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, reciting it, transmitting it, disseminating it, and maintaining it, focusing their attention correctly on it, if someone arrives there and describes how excellent the gods of the Caturmahārājakāyika are, describes how excellent the gods of the Trayastriṃśa, Yāma, Tuṣita, Nirmāṇarata, and Paranirmitavaśavartin realms are, and describes how excellent the gods of [other realms], up to and including the sense field of neither perception nor nonperception are, and says, ‘The realm of desire has happiness like this owing to the enjoyment of desires. The realm of form has happiness like this owing to the meditative concentrations and the absorptions. The realm of formlessness has happiness like this owing to the formless absorptions. But all these are impermanent, imbued with suffering, and without self. Since they are subject to change, subject to extinction, subject to destruction, subject to arising, and subject to cessation, you should attain the fruit of entering the stream to nirvāṇa here and now! You should attain the fruit of being destined for only one more rebirth, the fruit of no longer being subject to rebirth, and arhatship here and now! You should attain individual enlightenment here and now! Henceforth you will not roam within cyclic existence!’ then, Subhūti, [F.262.a] the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma live alone and do everything by themselves, without a companion, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma live in a community, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma live alone and do everything by themselves, without a companion, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma live in a community, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma live alone and do everything by themselves, without a companion, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma gather together, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma live alone and do everything by themselves, without a companion, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma gather together, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma say, ‘I will give the perfection of wisdom to anyone who follows me here,’ {Ki.IV: 50} but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma do not follow, [F.262.b] then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma wish to follow [the teachers] who expound the Dharma, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma do not give them an opportunity to approach, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma, for the sake of trifling material things, wish to have this profound perfection of wisdom committed to writing, wish to have it recited, wish to transmit it, wish to have it disseminated, and wish to expound it, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma are disinclined to approach them for the sake of trifling material things, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [[the disciples] who listen to the Dharma wish to commit this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, and wish to listen to it, [and so forth], for the sake of trifling material things, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma do not wish to give the perfection of wisdom and do not wish to have them listen to it, [and so forth], for the sake of trifling material things, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma wish to go to a place where their lives will be endangered, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma do not wish to go there, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. [F.263.a] Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma wish to go to a place where their lives will be endangered, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma do not wish to go there, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma wish to go to a place where food is scarce and water is scarce, but [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma do not wish to go there, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma wish to go to a place where food is scarce and water is scarce, but [the teachers] who expound the Dharma do not wish to go there, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. {Ki.IV: 51} Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if [the teachers] who expound the Dharma wish to go to a place where food is abundant and water is abundant, and [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma wish to follow them but [the teachers] say to them, ‘Noble child, why do you think it is a good idea to go there for the sake of material things? Will you not regret doing so for the sake of obtaining food or obtaining alms?’ the teachers who expound the Dharma would indeed refuse the Dharma by a subtle means and the [disciples] would also be disgusted, perceiving that this is not a sign that [the teachers] want to impart [the perfection of wisdom]; rather, it is a sign that they refuse to do so. In that case, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. [F.263.b] Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if monks who expound the Dharma wish to go to a place where there is fear of thieves, fear of robbers, fear of hunters, fear of wild beasts of prey, fear of snakes, and fear of jungle terrain, and [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma follow them for the sake of the Dharma, thirsting for the Dharma, but the monks who expound the Dharma were then to say to those [disciples] who listen to the Dharma, ‘Noble children, why will you go in that place where there is fear of thieves, fear of robbers, fear of hunters, fear of wild beasts of prey, fear of snakes, and fear of jungle terrain?’ those monks who expound the Dharma do not wish to have this perfection of wisdom committed to writing, do not wish to have it recited, do not wish to transmit it, do not wish to have it disseminated, and do not wish to have them hear it because they will not teach the Dharma, and those [disciples], on hearing the words of the monks who expound the scared doctrine, would be disgusted and assume a disgusted demeanor, not wishing to depart for that place where the teachers who expound the Dharma are going. In that case, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, if monks who expound the Dharma attach weight to cities that donate alms and think they should go to visit those alms-giving cities repeatedly, and because they visit those places again and again, deter [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma, {Ki.IV: 52} saying, ‘Venerables, I have to visit that alms-giving city. I have to go to that alms-giving city!’ [F.264.a] and [the disciples] who listen to the Dharma are consequently deterred and turn back, then, Subhūti, the causes and conditions for committing this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmitting it, and disseminating it will not be present. Subhūti, bodhisattva great beings should know that this too is the work of Māra.
“Moreover, Subhūti, the evil Māra will assume the guise of a monk and by whatever means will employ devices so that no one at all will commit this profound perfection of wisdom to writing, transmit it, disseminate it, or focus their attention correctly on it.”
The venerable Subhūti then asked the Blessed One, “Blessed Lord, why should the evil Māra assume the