The Perfection of Wisdom in Twenty-Five Thousand Lines
Chapter 47
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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84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha is a global non-profit initiative to translate all the Buddha’s words into modern languages, and to make them available to everyone.
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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 47
Thereupon, the venerable Subhūti asked the Blessed One, “Blessed Lord, what is the sameness of the bodhisattva great beings—the sameness in which bodhisattva great beings should train?”
“Subhūti,” replied the Blessed One, “the emptiness of internal phenomena constitutes the sameness of bodhisattva great beings. The emptiness of external phenomena constitutes the sameness of bodhisattva great beings. The emptiness of external and internal phenomena constitutes the sameness of bodhisattva great beings. Subhūti, [all the other aspects of emptiness], up to and including the emptiness of the essential nature of nonentities, constitute the sameness of bodhisattva great beings. Physical forms are empty of physical forms. Feelings, perceptions, formative predispositions, and consciousness are empty of consciousness [and so forth]. The sense fields, the sensory elements, and the links of dependent origination are empty of the links of dependent origination [and so forth]. The perfections, [F.38.a] all the aspects of emptiness, and the factors conducive to enlightenment are empty of the factors conducive to enlightenment [and so forth]. {Ki.V: 28} The truths of the noble ones, the meditative concentrations, the immeasurable attitudes, the formless absorptions, the aspects of liberation, and the serial steps of meditative absorption are empty of the serial steps of meditative absorption [and so forth]. Emptiness, signlessness