Chapter 2
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Upon that occasion, the venerable Subhuti[1] occupied a place in the midst of the assembly. Rising from his seat, with cloak arranged in such manner that his right shoulder was disclosed, Subhuti knelt upon his right knee, then pressing together the palms of his hands, he respectfully raised them towards Lord Buddha, saying: “Thou art of transcendent wisdom, Honoured of the Worlds! With wonderful solicitude, Thou dost preserve in the faith, and instruct in the Law, this illustrious assembly of enlightened disciples.[2] Honoured of the Worlds! if a good disciple, whether man or woman,[3] seeks to obtain supreme spiritual wisdom,[4] what immutable Law shall sustain the mind of that disciple, and bring into subjection every inordinate desire?”[5]
The Lord Buddha replied to Subhuti, saying: “Truly a most excellent theme! As you affirmed, I preserve in the faith, and instruct in the Law, this illustrious assembly of enlightened disciples. Attend diligently unto me, and I shall enunciate a Law whereby the mind of a good disciple, whether man or woman, seeking to obtain supreme spiritual wisdom,[6] shall be adequately sustained, and enabled to bring into subjection[7] every inordinate desire.” Subhuti was gratified, and signified glad consent. Thereupon, the Lord Buddha, with majesty of person,[8] and perfect articulation, proceeded to deliver the text of this Scripture,[9] saying:—
[1] “A famous dialectician noted for the subtilty of his intellect. He was a native of Shravasti, a contemporary of Sakyamuni, and figures as the principal interlocutor in the _Prajna-Paramita_.”—_Handbook of Chinese Buddhism_. Eitel.
[2] “_Pu-Sa_ or Bodhisattva, literally he whose essence (Sattva) has become intelligence (Bodhi). A being that has only once more to pass through human existence before it attains to Buddhaship. The third class of Buddhistic saints comprehending all who are candidates for Buddhaship as well as those Buddhas who are not yet perfected by entrance into Nirvana. They are also styled Mahasattvas (_Mo-Ho-Sa_). The state of a Bodhisattva is considered as one of the three means of conveyance to Nirvana.”—_Handbook of Chinese Buddhism_. Eitel.
[3] “Women began to ask and received permission to take the vows. They were called in India Bikshuni.... Ni is the Sanscrit feminine termination of Bikshu. These female mendicants were subject to the same code of regulations as the males.”—_Chinese Buddhism_. Edkins.
[4] “_ho-ru-to-lo-san-mao-san-pu-ti_ (Anuttara Samyak Sambodhi), literally unexcelled perfect intelligence. Another more painstaking but arbitrary explanation is untarnished and unparalleled (Nuttara) correct view (Sam) and complete wisdom (Myak) with complete possession of the highest sentiments (Sambodhi). This term, one of the sacred phrases of most frequent occurrence, signifies the characteristics which every Buddha possesses.”—_Handbook of Chinese Buddhism_. Eitel.
“The unsurpassed, just, and enlightened heart.”—_Kin-Kong-King_. Beal.
[5] “When a man’s heart is disposed in accordance with his roaming senses, it snatches away his spiritual knowledge as the wind does a ship on the waves.”—_Bhagavad-Gita_. J. Cockburn Thomson.
[6] Chinese commentators are careful to explain that the title of this Sutra, _Po-ro-po-lo-mi_ (_Prajna-Paramita_), means Wisdom, by which we are enabled to reach the other shore (Nirvana).
[7] “Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”—The Apostle Paul.
[8] Compare the Chinese text of the famous Buddhist tract entitled _Awakening of Faith_, written by _Ma-Ming_ (Asvaghocha), “who flourished A.D. 50, under the Indo-Scythic king, Gondophares.”
[9] “This work contains the germ of the larger compilation _Prajna-Paramita_ in one hundred and twenty volumes. The abstractions of Buddhist philosophy, which were afterwards ramified to such a formidable extent as these numbers indicate, are here found in their primary form, probably as they were taught by Sakyamuni himself.”—_Chinese Buddhism_. Edkins.
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