“Śāradvatīputra, this perfection of wisdom will then, in this manner, circulate from the east to the north. There, the monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen in the vehicle of the bodhisattvas will write out, take up, uphold, recite, master, and focus their attention correctly on this profound perfection of wisdom with a firm, resolute belief, and will serve, respect, honor, and worship this profound perfection of wisdom with many flowers, garlands, incenses, unguents, powders, robes, parasols, victory banners, and flags. On account of these roots of virtue, they will never lapse into the terrible forms of life. They will experience the excellence of gods and humans, and they will be ennobled through the six perfections. Having been ennobled through these six perfections, they will serve, respect, honor, and worship the lord buddhas, and pass into nirvāṇa through the vehicle of the śrāvakas, or the vehicle of the pratyekabuddhas, or the vehicle of the unsurpassed, perfectly complete buddhas, or in stages, through all three vehicles.
“Śāradvatīputra, so it is that afterward, in the future, during the ‘last of the five hundreds872,’ in the south and the north this perfection of wisdom will perform the activities of the buddhas. If you ask why, Śāradvatīputra, it is because being watched over by the tathāgatas is the perfection of wisdom, and the perfection of wisdom is being watched over by the tathāgatas. Śāradvatīputra, when the Dharma and Vinaya flourish, the good Dharma will not disappear. If you ask what is that Dharma, it is this perfection of wisdom.
“Śāradvatīputra, I watch over those sons or daughters of good families who take up, uphold, recite, master, and focus their attention correctly on this profound perfection of wisdom, and who make an effort for true reality. Śāradvatīputra, I watch over those sons or daughters of good families who write out this profound perfection of wisdom, and, having written it out, serve, respect, honor, and worship it with many flowers, garlands, incenses, unguents, powders, robes, parasols, victory banners, and flags. Śāradvatīputra, on account of these roots of virtue, those sons or daughters of good families will never lapse into the terrible forms of life. They will experience the excellence of gods and humans, and they will be ennobled through the six perfections. Having been ennobled through these six perfections, they will serve, respect, honor, and worship the lord buddhas, and pass into nirvāṇa through the vehicle of the śrāvakas, or the vehicle of the pratyekabuddhas, or the vehicle of the unsurpassed, perfectly complete buddhas, or in stages, through all three vehicles. If you ask why, Śāradvatīputra, it is because the tathāgatas see those sons or daughters of good families with the eye of the buddhas. Śāradvatīputra, the tathāgatas proclaim those sons or daughters of good families. Śāradvatīputra, the tathāgatas praise and extol those sons or daughters of good families.
“Śāradvatīputra, the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas who are the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas residing, maintaining themselves, and teaching the Dharma in the world systems of the eastern direction see those sons and daughters of good families with the eye of the buddhas. Those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas proclaim, praise, and extol those sons and daughters of good families.
“The tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas who are the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas residing, maintaining themselves, and teaching the Dharma in the world systems of the southern direction see those sons and daughters of good families with the eye of the buddhas. Those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas proclaim, praise, and extol those sons and daughters of good families.
“The tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas who are the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas residing, maintaining themselves, and teaching the Dharma in the world systems of the western direction see those sons and daughters of good families with the eye of the buddhas. Those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas proclaim, praise, and extol those sons and daughters of good families.
“The tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas who are the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas residing, maintaining themselves, and teaching the Dharma in the world systems of the northern direction see those sons and daughters of good families with the eye of the buddhas. Those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas proclaim, praise, and extol those sons and daughters of good families.
“The tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas who are the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas residing, maintaining themselves, and teaching the Dharma in the world systems of the intermediate northeastern direction see those sons and daughters of good families with the eye of the buddhas. Those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas proclaim, praise, and extol those sons and daughters of good families.
“The tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas who are the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas residing, maintaining themselves, and teaching the Dharma in the world systems of the intermediate southeastern direction see those sons and daughters of good families with the eye of the buddhas. Those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas proclaim, praise, and extol those sons and daughters of good families.
“The tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas who are the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas residing, maintaining themselves, and teaching the Dharma in the world systems of the intermediate southwestern direction see those sons and daughters of good families with the eye of the buddhas. Those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas proclaim, praise, and extol those sons and daughters of good families.
“The tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas who are the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas residing, maintaining themselves, and teaching the Dharma in the world systems of the intermediate northwestern direction see those sons and daughters of good families with the eye of the buddhas. Those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas proclaim, praise, and extol those sons and daughters of good families.
“The tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas who are the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas residing, maintaining themselves, and teaching the Dharma in the world systems of the direction below see those sons and daughters of good families with the eye of the buddhas. Those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas proclaim, praise, and extol those sons and daughters of good families.
“The tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas who are the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas residing, maintaining themselves, and teaching the Dharma in the world systems of the direction above see those sons and daughters of good families with the eye of the buddhas. Those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas proclaim, praise, and extol those sons and daughters of good families.”
“Blessed Lord, afterward, in the future, will this profound perfection of wisdom flourish in the north?” asked Śāriputra.
“Śāradvatīputra, it is so, it is so!” replied the Blessed One. “Śāradvatīputra, afterward, in the future, this profound perfection of wisdom will flourish in the north. There, Śāradvatīputra, afterward, in the future, those sons and daughters of good families will hear this profound perfection of wisdom and, having listened to it, will also resolutely believe in it. Having resolute belief in it, they will write it out, take it up, uphold it, recite it, master it, focus their attention correctly on it, and make an effort at it for true reality. Śāradvatīputra, you should know that those bodhisattva great beings who hear, and, having listened, resolutely believe, and, having resolute belief, write it out, take it up, uphold it, recite it, master it, focus their attention correctly on it, and make an effort at it for true reality set out in the vehicle a long time ago, served many buddhas, have been assisted by spiritual mentors, and have grown the roots of virtue.”
“Blessed Lord, afterward, in the future, how many sons and daughters of good families in the bodhisattva vehicle in the region to the north will there be who hear this profound perfection of wisdom, and, having listened, resolutely believe, and, having resolute belief, write it out, take it up, uphold it, recite it, master it, focus their attention correctly on it, and make an effort at it for true reality?” asked Śāradvatīputra.
The Blessed One replied, “Śāradvatīputra, afterward, in the future, there will be many sons and daughters of good families in the vehicle of the bodhisattvas in the region to the north, but, Śāradvatīputra, when this profound perfection of wisdom is taught, there will not be many such sons and daughters of good families in the vehicle of the bodhisattvas who will not be disheartened, not intimidated, not afraid, not frightened, and not terrified. If you ask why, it is because those sons and daughters of good families will have followed many tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas, and those sons and daughters of good families will have petitioned and questioned many tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas.
“And if again you ask why, it is because those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the perfection of wisdom. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the perfection of meditative concentration. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the perfection of perseverance. Those sons or daughters of good families will perfect the perfection of tolerance. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the perfection of ethical discipline. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the perfection of generosity.
“Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of internal phenomena. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of external phenomena. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of external and internal phenomena. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of emptiness. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of great extent. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of ultimate reality. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of conditioned phenomena. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of unconditioned phenomena. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of the unlimited. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of that which has neither beginning nor end. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of nonexclusion. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of inherent nature. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of all phenomena. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of intrinsic defining characteristics. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of that which cannot be apprehended. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of nonentities. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of essential nature. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness of an essential nature of nonentities.
“Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the applications of mindfulness. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the correct exertions. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the supports for miraculous ability. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the faculties. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the powers. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the branches of enlightenment. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the noble eightfold path.
“Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the truths of the noble ones. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the meditative concentrations. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the immeasurable attitudes. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the formless absorptions. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the eight liberations. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the nine serial steps of meditative absorption. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the emptiness, signlessness, and wishlessness gateways to liberation. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the extrasensory powers. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the meditative stabilities. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the dhāraṇī gateways.
“Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the ten powers of the tathāgatas. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the four fearlessnesses. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the four kinds of exact knowledge. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect great compassion. Those sons and daughters of good families will perfect the eighteen distinct qualities of the buddhas.
“Śāradvatīputra, those sons and daughters of good families are firmly grounded by the roots of virtue. They will act for the sake of many living creatures, for the sake of unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment. If you ask why, Śāradvatīputra, it is because I have spoken with those sons and daughters of good families about all-aspect omniscience. All those lord buddhas who are the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas who appeared in the past also spoke with those sons and daughters of good families about all-aspect omniscience, so, even after they have passed away, their practice will be just for the sake of that unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment, and they will speak in just that manner to others for the sake of unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment too.
“Śāradvatīputra, those sons and daughters of good families are settled in equipoise. Since even Māra or the gods belonging to the māra class are unable to turn them back from unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment, how much less could others who believe in evil and engage in evil dissuade them from this profound perfection of wisdom. Śāradvatīputra, those sons and daughters of good families in the vehicle of the bodhisattvas, having heard this profound perfection of wisdom, become joyful, are serenely confident, and a magnificent feeling of happiness arises. They will establish many people in virtuous attributes for the sake of unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment. Those sons and daughters of good families have declared in my presence, ‘Blessed Lord, while practicing the conduct of a bodhisattva, we will establish many hundreds of living beings, many thousands of living beings, many hundreds of thousands of living beings in enlightenment. We will teach them, we will motivate them, we will incite them, we will make them excited about it, and we will prophesy their irreversibility.’ If you ask why, Śāradvatīputra, it is because I have examined in my mind the words of those sons and daughters of good families and rejoiced in them.
“Śāradvatīputra, those sons and daughters of good families have declared in the presence of the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas of the past, ‘Blessed Lord, while practicing the conduct of a bodhisattva, we will establish many hundreds of living beings, many thousands of living beings, many hundreds of thousands of living beings in enlightenment. We will teach them, we will motivate them, we will incite them, we will make them excited about it, and we will prophesy their irreversibility.’ If you ask why, it is because the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas of the past have examined in their mind the words of those sons and daughters of good families and rejoiced in them.
“Śāradvatīputra, those sons and daughters of good families will, while practicing the conduct of a bodhisattva, establish many hundreds of living beings, many thousands of living beings, many hundreds of thousands of living beings in enlightenment. They will teach them, they will motivate them, they will incite them, they will make them excited about it, and they will prophesy their irreversibility.
“Śāradvatīputra, those sons and daughters of good families will have a superior resolute belief in sights, sounds, odors, tastes, and tangibles, so they will give superior gifts. They will give superior gifts and they will create the conditions for superior roots of virtue. Having created the conditions for superior roots of virtue, they will take hold of a superior result.873 Having taken hold of a superior result, they will, for the sake of those beings, take hold of results superior even to that superior result. In this manner they will give away those outer or inner things to those very beings, and through those very roots of virtue, other buddhafields in which the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas are residing, maintaining themselves, and teaching the Dharma of this profound perfection of wisdom will become manifest—that virtue is the basis for such buddhafields. Having heard directly from those tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas this profound perfection of wisdom, in those buddhafields they will also teach it to many hundreds of living beings, many thousands of living beings, and many hundreds of thousands of living beings for the sake of unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment. They will motivate them, they will incite them, and they will make them excited about it.”
Śāradvatīputra said, “Blessed Lord, it is most wonderful that from every phenomenon in the past, future, and present, there is nothing of the sort that is not comprehended by the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas, there is no real nature or reality of phenomena that they do not comprehend, and there is no mind of beings of the sort that they do not comprehend. Thus, they indeed know the bodhisattvas of the past, they indeed know the tathāgatas of the past, and they indeed know the buddhafields and the śrāvakas of the past tathāgatas. They indeed know the bodhisattvas of the future tathāgatas, and they indeed know the buddhafields and the śrāvakas of the future tathāgatas. They indeed know the buddhafields and the śrāvakas of the present tathāgatas874. They indeed know those bodhisattvas of the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas who are the tathāgatas, arhats, perfectly complete buddhas, as many as there are, residing, maintaining themselves, and teaching the Dharma in the world systems in the ten directions, and they indeed know their buddhafields and śrāvakas.
“Blessed Lord, when any bodhisattva great beings who persevere for the sake of these six perfections seek and search for these six perfections, among those sons and daughters of good families who seek and search for these six perfections, there will be some who will acquire these six perfections after searching for them, and some who will not acquire them.”
“Śāradvatīputra, that is not the case,” said the Blessed One. “All those sons and daughters of good families who do not abandon their perseverance will indeed accomplish all these six perfections. If you ask why, Śāradvatīputra, it is because those sons and daughters of good families are persevering for the sake of these six perfections.”
“Blessed Lord, is it the case that those sons and daughters of good families will also acquire all the profound sūtras that are associated with the profound six perfections?” asked Śāriputra.
“Śāradvatīputra,” replied the Blessed One, “it is impossible, and it cannot be, that those sons and daughters of good families will not accomplish these profound sūtras that are associated with the profound six perfections. If you ask why, Śāradvatīputra, that is the case because they teach, motivate, incite, and make beings excited about unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment, and establish and secure them in it. Śāradvatīputra, even after those sons and daughters of good families have passed away, they will accomplish these six perfections. Until they have refined a buddhafield, brought beings to maturity, and fully awakened to unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment, they will never slacken in their perseverance in these six perfections, as they have been taught.”
This completes the thirtieth chapter from “The Perfection of Wisdom in One Hundred Thousand Lines.”