“Venerable Śāradvatīputra, the earth element is empty of the earth element, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The water element is empty of the water element, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The fire element is empty of the fire element, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The wind element is empty of the wind element, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The space element is empty of the space element, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The consciousness element is empty of the consciousness element, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended.
“Venerable Śāradvatīputra, ignorance is empty of ignorance, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. Formative predispositions are empty of formative predispositions, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. Consciousness is empty of consciousness, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. Name and form are empty of name and form, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The six sense fields are empty of the six sense fields, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. Sensory contact is empty of sensory contact, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. Sensation is empty of sensation, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. Craving is empty of craving, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. Grasping is empty of grasping, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The rebirth process is empty of the rebirth process, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. Birth is empty of birth, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. Aging and death are empty of aging and death, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended.
“Venerable Śāradvatīputra, the perfection of generosity is empty of the perfection of generosity, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The perfection of ethical discipline is empty of the perfection of ethical discipline, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The perfection of tolerance is empty of the perfection of tolerance, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The perfection of perseverance is empty of the perfection of perseverance, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The perfection of meditative concentration is empty of the perfection of meditative concentration, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The perfection of wisdom is empty of the perfection of wisdom, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended.
“Venerable Śāradvatīputra, the emptiness of internal phenomena is empty of the emptiness of internal phenomena, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of external phenomena is empty of the emptiness of external phenomena, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of external and internal phenomena is empty of the emptiness of external and internal phenomena, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of emptiness is empty of the emptiness of emptiness, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of great extent is empty of the emptiness of great extent, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of ultimate reality is empty of the emptiness of ultimate reality, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of conditioned phenomena is empty of the emptiness of conditioned phenomena, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of unconditioned phenomena is empty of the emptiness of unconditioned phenomena, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of the unlimited is empty of the emptiness of the unlimited, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of that which has neither beginning nor end is empty of the emptiness of that which has neither beginning nor end, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of nonexclusion is empty of the emptiness of nonexclusion, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of inherent nature is empty of the emptiness of inherent nature, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of all phenomena is empty of the emptiness of all phenomena, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of that which cannot be apprehended is empty of the emptiness of that which cannot be apprehended, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of intrinsic defining characteristics is empty of the emptiness of intrinsic defining characteristics, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of nonentities is empty of the emptiness of nonentities, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of essential nature is empty of the emptiness of essential nature, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness of an essential nature of nonentities is empty of the emptiness of an essential nature of nonentities, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended.
“Venerable Śāradvatīputra, the applications of mindfulness are empty of the applications of mindfulness, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The correct exertions are empty of the correct exertions, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The supports for miraculous ability are empty of the supports for miraculous ability, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The faculties are empty of the faculties, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The powers are empty of the powers, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The branches of enlightenment are empty of the branches of enlightenment, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The noble eightfold path is empty of the noble eightfold path, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended.
“Venerable Śāradvatīputra, the truths of the noble ones are empty of the truths of the noble ones, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The meditative concentrations are empty of the meditative concentrations, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The immeasurable attitudes are empty of the immeasurable attitudes, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The formless absorptions are empty of the formless absorptions, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The eight liberations are empty of the eight liberations, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The nine serial steps of meditative absorption are empty of the serial steps of meditative absorption, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The emptiness, signlessness, and wishlessness gateways to liberation are empty of the emptiness, signlessness, and wishlessness gateways to liberation, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The extrasensory powers are empty of the extrasensory powers, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The meditative stabilities are empty of the meditative stabilities, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The gateways of the dhāraṇīs are empty of the gateways of the dhāraṇīs, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended.
“Venerable Śāradvatīputra, the ten powers of the tathāgatas are empty of the powers of the tathāgatas, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The fearlessnesses are empty of the fearlessnesses, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The kinds of exact knowledge are empty of the kinds of exact knowledge, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. Great loving kindness is empty of great loving kindness, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. Great compassion is empty of great compassion, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The eighteen distinct qualities of the buddhas are empty of the distinct qualities of the buddhas, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended.
“Venerable Śāradvatīputra, the fruit of having entered the stream is empty of the fruit of having entered the stream, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The fruit of once-returner is empty of the fruit of once-returner, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The fruit of non-returner is empty of the fruit of non-returner, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. Arhatship is empty of arhatship, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. individual enlightenment is empty of individual enlightenment, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The knowledge of the aspects of the path is empty of the knowledge of the aspects of the path, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. All-aspect omniscience is empty of all-aspect omniscience, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended.
“Venerable Śāradvatīputra, the real nature is empty of the real nature, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The unmistaken real nature is empty of the unmistaken real nature, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The one and only real nature is empty of the one and only real nature, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The reality of phenomena is empty of the reality of phenomena, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The realm of phenomena is empty of the realm of phenomena, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The abiding nature of phenomena is empty of the abiding nature of phenomena, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The maturity of phenomena is empty of the maturity of phenomena, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended. The very limit of reality is empty of the very limit of reality, and therein birth is not apprehended nor is emancipation apprehended.
“Venerable Śāradvatīputra, bodhisattva great beings who practice the perfection of wisdom in that manner are approaching all-aspect omniscience. Commensurate with their approach to all-aspect omniscience, they will attain complete purity of the body, complete purity of speech, complete purity of the mind, and complete purity of the major marks. Commensurate with their attainment of complete purity of the body, complete purity of speech, complete purity of the mind, and complete purity of the major marks, these bodhisattva great beings do not entertain thoughts of desire, and they do not entertain thoughts of hatred, do not entertain thoughts of delusion, do not entertain thoughts of pride, do not entertain thoughts of pretentiousness, do not entertain thoughts of deceit, do not entertain thoughts of envy, do not entertain thoughts of miserliness, do not entertain thoughts of craving, and do not entertain thoughts of mistaken views. Since they do not entertain thoughts of desire, and they do not entertain thoughts of hatred, delusion, pride, pretentiousness, deceit, envy, miserliness, craving, or mistaken views, they will never be conceived within a mother’s womb, and they will invariably314 be born miraculously. Except in order to bring beings to maturation, they will never be born in the inferior realms. They will proceed from one buddhafield to another buddhafield, bringing beings to maturation and refining the buddhafields. They will never be separated from the lord buddhas until they fully awaken in unsurpassed, perfect, complete enlightenment.
“Therefore, Venerable Śāradvatīputra, bodhisattva great beings who wish to attain these attributes and excellences should practice this perfection of wisdom with unrelenting perseverance. Venerable Śāradvatīputra, bodhisattva great beings who practice the perfection of wisdom in that manner are approaching all-aspect omniscience.”
This completes the fifth chapter from The Perfection of Wisdom in One Hundred Thousand Lines.