The Diamond Sutra

Buddha dwelt at Sravasti, in Jeta Grove. One morning, he dressed, and took his bowl, and made his way to the great city, to beg for food. He ate, and returned, and washed, and sat. The venerable Subhuti came forward and asked, For those who seek the greatest wisdom, how should we act, what should we do, what should we think? Buddha said, Think in this manner: If I lead as many beings as there are gathered in the world of beings, to complete freedom - where nothing is left - still not a single being has been led to complete freedom. Why? Because there is no being, there is no soul, there is no person. Likewise in doing good. Help without having reasons to help. Help without regard to appearances, or sensations, or things. Why? Just as you cannot measure the sky, you can not measure the merit of one who gives without reasons for giving. Do you recognize me by the qualities I possess? Subhuti answered, No, because you have taught that the possession of qualities is no possession and no qualities. Buddha said, Wherever there is possession of qualities, there is delusion. Wherever there is no possession and no qualities, there is no delusion. Thus, my qualities are no qualities. Subhuti asked, In the future, in the last time, at the end of the last 500 years, during the decay of the good law, will anyone understand this? Buddha answered, Yes, they will have learned from countless Buddhas. They will not think of self, they will not think of being, they will not think of soul, they will not think of person. Nor will they think of things as having qualities or not having qualities. This good law is like a raft: As you must give up qualities, so you must also give up no qualities. Buddha asked, Have I ever said there is an ultimate truth? Have I ever taught a universal law? Subhuti answered, No, you have spoken of no greatest wisdom, nor taught any fixed law; because the truth is not containable, and not expressible. It is neither a thing, nor is it nothing. Thus it supports all beliefs. Buddha asked, If you gave away all you have to give, would you gain merit? Subhuti answered, Yes, because you have taught that gaining merit is no gain of merit; thus there is merit. Buddha said, Yet if you would learn only one verse of this good law, and fully teach it and explain it, you would gain greater merit. Why? Because the greatest wisdom comes from it; Buddha comes from it. And why? Because I have taught: Buddha's nature, Buddha's nature has no nature, this is Buddha's nature. Subhuti said, Buddha, you say that I dwell in purity; yet if I believe in purity, you will no longer say: Subhuti dwells nowhere. Buddha asked, Did I attain the good law from the Buddha before me? Subhuti answered, No, nothing was attained. Buddha said, If anyone says I will create a perfect world, they do not speak the truth. Why? Because a perfect world is no perfect world, this is a perfect world. Therefore, let your mind be independent. Let your mind dwell nowhere. Develop a mind unsupported by sensations, and unsupported by things. It is as if your body were the whole universe. If you give away all you have to give, your merit will still not equal the merit from learning one verse of this good law, and fully teaching and explaining it. For where this law is spoken, there will be Buddha. Subhuti asked, By what name should this law be known? Buddha answered, Wisdom gone beyond. Subhuti said, Buddha leaves all thoughts behind. Buddha said, No one need fear this thought; the good law is neither true nor false. Without it, you are groping in the dark; but with it, everything becomes clear. There is nothing to reject. There is nothing to remember. The good law is unknowable. It is known by all, yet no one knows it. Know this law and you will be humbled; being humbled, you will know this law. If we knew all the effects of our actions, we would become worried and confused. The good law is unknowable; likewise, its effects are unknowable. Within Buddha is everything. All things are Buddha-things. All things have no self. Whatever has no self, is Buddha. All minds are Buddha's mind. Why? Because mind can not be known. Buddha asked, Is there merit in helping? Subhuti answered, Great merit. Buddha said, Immeasurable. If there were any merit at all, it would not be great merit. Buddha asked, Do you recognize me by my body? Subhuti answered, No. Buddha asked, Do you recognize me by any other qualities? Subhuti answered, No. Buddha said, Do not say I have a law to teach. This is not true. This is trying to grasp what is not there. There is no law to teach. Buddha asked, Is there anything to learn? Subhuti answered, No, nothing. Buddha said, Not the least part of a thing; this is the good law. Within it, everything is equal. Nothing is different. All are equally without self. Everything is included. You cannot compare measurable merit with immeasurable merit. Do not think that you should save people. There is no one to save. If there were anyone to save, there would be a self. Can Buddha be known by the possession of qualities? Subhuti answered, Yes. Buddha said, If Buddha could be known by the possession of qualities, then any king could be Buddha. Those who saw me by form, those who heard me by sound, They sought me in vain; they do not see me. All things are Buddhas; we learn from all things. The nature of things is unknowable; no one can know it. Do not think that Buddha knows the good law. Buddha knows no good law. Do not say the good law means there are no laws, or nothing exists. This law does not affirm, and does not deny. Selfless and patient, you gain immeasurable merit; yet no merit is gained. Subhuti asked, Why? Buddha answered, No merit is desired, thus no merit is gained. Do not say that Buddha is here, or Buddha is not here. Buddha neither is, nor is not. Are there many separate things in the universe? Subhuti answered, Many indeed. If there were any separate things, you would not have said separate things; and if there were a universe, there would be something to believe in. Buddha said, Belief is a name. Belief can not be expressed. Who seeks belief? If I said, Subhuti, I believe in self, would I speak the truth? Subhuti replied, No, because belief in self is no belief. Buddha said, This is how things should be viewed, without any idea of what they are. How can we explain what has no explanation? Like stars in the night, a lamp, a phantom, or dew; Like a bubble, a dream, or lightning in the clouds; So should we view all the things of the world. Thus spoke Buddha, and the whole world rejoiced.

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Much Maitri!