Vajracchedika Prajnaparamita Sutra
Vajra Sutra (Diamond Sutra)
■ Detailed Exposition by Living Buddha Lian-Sheng, Grandmaster Sheng-yen Lu
■ Translated into English by True Buddha School Vajra Sutra Translation Team
Discourse 28 2021-10-30
Ten—Magnificent⁵¹ Pureland
The Buddha asked Subhuti, “What do you think? Did the Tathagata obtain anything from the dharma at Dipamkara Buddha's place?”
Subhuti replied, “No, World-honored One. When the Tathagata was with Dipamkara Buddha, he did not obtain anything from the dharma.”
“Subhuti, what do you think? Do the bodhisattvas adorn the buddhaland?”
Subhuti replied, “No, World-honored One. Why? Because there is no adorning in the buddhaland [as everything is magnificent as is]. Magnificence is [merely] a name.⁵²
“That is so, Subhuti. All bodhisattvas and mahasattvas should generate this pure mind, they should not give rise to the mind which dwells on forms, nor on sound, smell, taste, touch, nor anything at all. They should instead give rise to the mind which does not dwell on anything.
“Subhuti, if someone has a body as big as Mount Meru, is his body big? What do you think?”
Subhuti replied, “Very big indeed, World-honored One. Why? Because the Buddha says that [only a] non-body is called a big body.”
It is you yourself who attain buddhahood! Buddhahood is not to be given by your guru. Grandmaster only points to the Moon. My finger points to the Moon, and you would see the Moon. This is how it is.
Sakyamuni Buddha's teachings [buddhadharma] is full of the unsurpassed supreme wisdom. The Vajra Sutra itself contains such supreme wisdom of the Tathagata. This wisdom is not something that an ordinary being can fathom. The Vajra Sutra is a condensed Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra, and the Heart Sutra is the condensed Vajra Sutra. [All these three sutras] contain the wisdom of the Tathagata and the quintessence is in the Heart Sutra and the Vajra Sutra. The Heart Sutra is the shortest, and most people can chant and even memorize it.
If you are truly enlightened, you can immediately understand every sutra you read. If you have not gained enlightenment, then you find any sutra a hindrance. Memorizing or the daily chanting of the Heart Sutra or the Vajra Sutra is not as meaningful as [its clear understanding]. [For instance,] the Sixth Patriarch [Huineng] was immediately enlightened upon hearing the statement, “The mind should arise without dwelling on anything.” Imagine that, only one statement!
“No, World-honored One. When the Tathagata was with Dipamkara Buddha, he did not obtain anything from the dharma.” This statement is the key point today. It [buddhanature] is already in you! And it cannot possibly be obtained. Therefore, there is nothing to gain!
Om mani padme hum.
Discourse 29 2021-10-31
Ten—Magnificent⁵³ Pureland
The Buddha asked Subhuti, “What do you think? Did the Tathagata obtain anything from the dharma at Dipamkara Buddha's place?”
Subhuti replied, “No, World-honored One. When the Tathagata was with Dipamkara Buddha, he did not obtain anything from the dharma.”
"Subhuti, what do you think? Do the bodhisattvas adorn the buddhaland?”
Subhuti replied, “No, World-honored One. Why? Because adorning is not adorning; it is [merely] called adorning.⁵⁴
“That is so, Subhuti. All bodhisattvas and mahasattvas should generate this pure mind, they should not give rise to the mind which dwells on forms, nor on sound, smell, taste, touch, nor anything at all. They should instead give rise to the mind which does not dwell on anything.
“Subhuti, if someone has a body as big as Mount Meru, is his body big? What do you think?”
Subhuti replied, “Very big indeed, World-honored One. Why? Because the Buddha says that [only a] non-body is called a big body.”
Okay, let us now expound the Vajra Sutra, [this time] on Chapter Ten—Magnificent Pureland. At this time, Sakyamuni Buddha asked again, “Subhuti, what do you think? Do the bodhisattvas adorn the buddhaland?” Subhuti replied, “No, World-honored One. Why? Because adorning is not adorning; it is [merely] called adorning.
Here is the question again, and it is astounding. “Do the bodhisattvas adorn the buddhaland?” No, the bodhisattvas do not adorn the buddhaland. And there is no adorning in the buddhaland. Why are the ones adorning the buddhaland not magnificent, yet called magnificent? Why? Magnificence is [merely] a name.
You must understand its meaning, and not just read it.
“Subhuti, what do you think? Do the bodhisattvas adorn the buddhaland?” Subhuti replied, “No, World-honored One. Why? Because adorning is not adorning; it is [merely] called adorning.”
Bodhisattvas are inherently magnificent, the buddhas are likewise inherently magnificent. How magnificent the appearance of a buddha is? It shows thirty-two marks of perfection or major characteristics of a great man⁵⁵ and eighty minor exemplary characteristics. We all know what the thirty-two major marks and eighty minor marks are.
Long earlobes that touch the shoulders are one of the marks. You see, Grandmaster's ears can touch the shoulders. [Grandmaster jokingly raises his right shoulder to touch his right ear. Laughter.] The eyebrows are like the Moon, the eyes are full of wisdom, the nose like Mount Meru, the mouth neither big nor small—particularly, not this big [Grandmaster points to his cheeks to show the mouth cannot be that wide], the tongue so long and wide that it can cover the whole face when it sticks out. When standing upright, the hands can reach below the knees. Also, the mark of a thousand-spoked wheel on the soles of the feet. These are [some of the] thirty-two major and eighty minor characteristics of a great man.
There is a type of magnificence called the “six magnificence.” They are external adornments such as earrings, three strings of mala beads and necklaces hanging on the chest, bracelets and anklets. These are the six or seven external magnificence, which sometimes are worn when one appears [in public]. They are external adornments.
The bodhisattvas and buddhas are magnificent by nature. The buddhaland is also magnificent. When the bodhisattvas arrive in the buddhaland, as magnificent as they are, they do not add to the magnificence of the buddhaland. They are all naturally magnificent, that is to say that they are all inherently magnificent.
As you know, the Western Paradise [Sukhavati] has trees, lakes, as well as beautiful palaces. There is no freezing winter or scorching summer. It is neither too hot nor too cold—the temperature is just right. There, you will find seven-treasure trees and eight-meritorious water which form lakes. There are beautiful pavilions and terraces. The ground is covered with gold. Celestial garments hang on the trees, and you can wear any of them. Whatever food you desire will appear in front of you. You live in golden or silver dwellings, travel on clouds that appear instantaneously upon the thought.
Naturally, everything is wondrously magnificent; it is not adorned, and it is not deliberately made magnificent. The magnificence is there all along, nothing has been done to it. Magnificent yet not [made] magnificent, and because it is not [made] magnificent, it is magnificent.
The bodhisattvas do not deliberately create magnificence as they are already magnificent to begin with. The buddhas also do not deliberately make themselves look magnificent as they are already inherently magnificent. They are all magnificent, so what is there to adorn? Because it is not [made] magnificent, it is magnificent. This statement is now clear to you, right?
[Perhaps] you just read the sutra without understanding it. “Subhuti, what do you think? Do the bodhisattvas adorn the buddhaland?” Subhuti replied, “No, World-honored One.”
Of course, the bodhisattvas do not adorn the buddhaland. Why? Such a magnificent buddhaland is not and cannot be deliberately adorned; it is already magnificent as is. Only then is it called magnificent.
This is a short statement, yet if it is not explained clearly, you will not understand it. Bodhisattvas are inherently magnificent, buddhas are inherently magnificent, and the purelands are inherently magnificent. Hence, no one needs to make them magnificent as they are all magnificent already.
So the phrase “not magnificent is magnificent” means that only when it is not [made] magnificent that it is magnificent. If I had not explained this clearly today, no one would understand its real meaning. That is all for today. It was still a very good discourse even if we only talked about this paragraph.
Om mani padme hum."
⁵¹ Vyuha was translated to Chinese as 莊嚴, which has been translated to English as dignified. Vyuha means magnificence, splendor, adornment as well as supernormal qualities. Here we chose to translate 莊嚴 as magnificent.
⁵² Translator's Note: This phrase means that the buddhaland is magnificent as is, the bodhisattvas are magnificent as they are and the buddhas too are magnificent as they are. It does not matter if they are adorning or not, they are all magnificent. Magnificent is just a term or name, all names are created for a convenience, but even then, it may not be so fixated. Once the purpose is served, there is no longer any meaning to the name.
⁵³ Vyuha was translated to Chinese as 莊嚴, which has been translated to English as dignified. Vyuha means magnificence, splendor, adornment as well as supernormal qualities.
⁵⁴ Translator's Note: This phrase means that the buddhaland is magnificent as is, the bodhisattvas are magnificent as they are and the buddhas too are magnificent as they are. It does not matter if they are adorning or not, they are all magnificent. Magnificent is just a term or name, and all names are created for a convenience, but even then, it may not be so fixated. Once the purpose is served, there is no longer any meaning to the name. In other words, there is no adorning in the buddhaland [as everything is magnificent as is]. Adorning is [merely] a name.
⁵⁵ Mahapurusa laksana
Discourse 30 2021-11-06
Ten—Magnificent⁵⁶ Pureland
The Buddha asked Subhuti, “What do you think? Did the Tathagata obtain anything from the dharma at Dipamkara Buddha's place?”
Subhuti replied, “No, World-honored One. When the Tathagata was with Dipamkara Buddha, he did not obtain anything from the dharma.”
“Subhuti, what do you think? Do the bodhisattvas adorn the buddhaland?”
Subhuti replied, “No, World-honored One. Why? Because adorning is not adorning; it is [merely] called adorning.⁵⁷
“That is so, Subhuti. All bodhisattvas and mahasattvas should generate this pure mind, they should not give rise to the mind which dwells on forms, nor on sound, smell, taste, touch, or anything at all. They should instead give rise to the mind which does not dwell on anything.
“Subhuti, if someone has a body as big as Mount Meru, is his body big? What do you think?”
Subhuti replied, “Very big indeed, World-honored One. [However,] the Buddha says that [only a] non-body is called a big body.”
Now, we will expound the Vajra Sutra's Chapter Ten—Magnificent Pureland.
“That is so, Subhuti. All bodhisattvas and mahasattvas should generate this pure mind, they should not give rise to the mind which dwells on forms, nor on sound, smell, taste, touch, or anything at all. They should instead give rise to the mind which does not dwell on anything.”
We will expound this part today, as the excerpt following it is of a different [topic]. A very famous phrase is in today's excerpt: “Should give rise to the mind which does not dwell on anything.”
There is a story behind this famous phrase. The Sixth Patriarch Huineng heard his neighbor chanting the Vajra Sutra. When he heard the phrase should give rise to the mind which does not dwell on anything, he was awakened and immediately gained an understanding. We with the surname Lu, are amazing. The Sixth Patriarch also had the surname Lu, and he was referred to as Cultivator Lu. He immediately gained enlightenment upon hearing the phrase should give rise to the mind which does not dwell on anything.
-To be continued-
⁵⁶ Vyuha was translated to Chinese as 莊嚴, which has been translated to English as dignified. Vyuha means magnificence, splendor, adornment as well as supernormal qualities.
⁵⁷ Translator's Note: This phrase means that the buddhaland is magnificent as is, the bodhisattvas are magnificent as they are and the buddhas too are magnificent as they are. It does not matter if they are adorning or not, they are all magnificent. Magnificent is just a term or name, and all names are created for a convenience, but even then, it may not be so fixated. Once the purpose is served, there is no longer any meaning to the name. In other words, there is no adorning in the buddhaland [as everything is magnificent as is]. Adorning is [merely] a name.
