Diamond Sutra, Heart Sutra, Altar Sutra

Chapter 2 Diamond Sutra (1)
The full name of the "Diamond Sutra" is the "Prajna Paramita Sutra of Breaking the Vajra". It is one of the representative classics of early Mahayana Buddhism and a compendium of Prajna Buddhist scriptures.In Chinese Buddhist circles, the "Diamond Sutra" is very popular, and sects such as Sanlun, Tiantai, Xianshou, and Weishi all have their own commentaries.Especially since the Tang and Song Dynasties, Zen Buddhism has a deep relationship with the "Diamond Sutra".In the Song Dynasty, the examination for monks included the "Diamond Sutra" subject, which also allows us to see the prosperity of the "Diamond Sutra"!
The "Diamond Sutra" takes emptiness and wisdom as the main content, and discusses the principle of all dharmas without self. The length is moderate, not too vast, but also simple.It is said that Huineng became enlightened because of the verse in the scriptures, "You should give birth to your heart without abode".

Original
If so I heard ①:
At one time, the Buddha was in the only tree to the Lonely Garden in the country of Sravasti, and there were thousands of 250 monks together with the big monks.At that time, when eating, the World Honored One put on his robe and took a bowl, and went to the great city of Shravasti to beg for alms.Begged for the second time in the city, and returned to this place.After the meal is over, the robe and bowl are collected, the feet are washed, and the seat is covered to sit⑦.

注释
① I smell it like this: I also hear it like this, I smell it like this, and so on.As the opening words of the classics, it is one of the five kinds of proofs of the Buddhist scriptures.In the "Nirvana Sutra", Sakyamuni once said to Venerable Ananda, who has heard the most, that the scriptures that he said in his life should be added with the words "So I heard" at the beginning of the volume to indicate the content of the recitation below. It is directly heard from the place of the Buddha. "Russia" refers to the content described in the scriptures, that is, the Buddha's words spoken in the scriptures; "I heard" refers to the words and deeds of the Buddha, said and heard by Ananda, the editor of the scriptures.And "Rushi" means to believe in the Dharma that one has heard; "I heard" means to stick to one's belief.Belief in Buddhism is the first. Believe in the Buddhist teachings, you can enter Buddhism, understand the Buddhist teachings, and receive the merits and benefits of the Buddhist teachings; Such is the language. The second volume of "Great Wisdom" believes that Buddhists should rely on the Dharma in the classics. The Dharma does not only refer to what the Buddha said. In addition to what the Buddha said, there are also what the Buddha's disciples, immortals, gods and human beings say. Law.In order to make Xin follow these as the correct Dharma, and to make the Dharma never lost after the Buddha's extinction, and to pass it on to future generations correctly forever, the Buddha said to Ananda that he had to add the phrase "So I heard it" at the beginning of the scriptures.

②Buddha: The transliteration of Sanskrit Buddha, the brief introduction of Buddha, also known as Buddha Tuo, Xiutu, Buduo, Futu, Futu, Futou, Diduo, Bo Tuo, Ye Tuo, Buduo, etc.Literally translate the senser, the knower, and the senser, that is, the meaning of the one who realizes the truth.That is to say, the one who has self-awareness, awareness of others, and the perfection of awareness and conduct, who is omniscient in the truth of the universe, and who has achieved the supreme and correct enlightenment, is the highest fruit of Buddhist practice. "Buddha" is generally used as a respectful title for Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism (Sakyamuni Buddha has Tathagata, should be offered, is all-knowing, clear and well-behaved, good at death, worldly solution, supreme scholar, adjustment doctor, heaven Human Teacher, Buddha World Honored One's Ten Names).After the rise of Mahayana Buddhism, "Buddha" also generally refers to all those who have perfect enlightenment and the incarnation of all the true meaning of Buddhism. It is claimed that there were seven Buddhas and Randeng Buddha in the past life, and Maitreya Buddha will appear in the future.Speaking from the Buddha body, there are Sambhogakaya Buddha, Dharmakaya Buddha, and Responsive Body Buddha.The Buddha referred to here is Shakyamuni Buddha.Shewei State: Translated as the hearer, the listener, the abundant virtue, the good way, the absence of everything, the abundance, etc.It is the name of the ancient kingdom of Central India. The original name of the country is Kosala Kingdom, which is different from the Kosala Kingdom in the south, so the city is named as the country.Therefore, there are many famous people in the city and a lot of good things, so it is called the country of Wenwu.It is also called Shevati City, Shiluobati, Sherabasidi Night City and so on.According to British archaeologist A. Cunningham, this country is Sahet Mahet on the left bank of the Rapti River today, which is about 25 kilometers north of Oudh in Nepal. place.In recent years, a huge Buddha statue engraved with the word "Sravasti", a city wall with a circumference of about five kilometers as mentioned in Volume [-] of "Da Tang Western Regions", and a copper plate describing the fields of the Buddhist Gion Abode have been excavated here one by one. It proves that this is the former site of Shewei Kingdom.After Sakyamuni became a Buddha, he lived here to preach for [-] years, longer than he lived in other countries.Gion tree to lonely garden: also known as "Gion Garden Abode" or "Give lonely garden", it is the most famous relic of the Buddha's teaching.It is said that the city of Sravasti must have as many elders as possible, so it is good for giving, and people call it for the lonely elders.After converting to the Buddha, he hoped that the Buddha would come to Sravasti to save his people, so he wanted to find a place where Sakyamuni could preach and stay in Sravasti.It is said that Prince Jituo's garden is quite suitable as a monastery, and he wanted to buy it, but the prince refused.In order to discourage the elders, Prince Jituo sold the garden on the condition that the garden would be covered with gold, and bought the garden for the lonely elder.The prince was moved by his sincerity, so he donated all the trees in the garden to the Buddha.Because the two have achieved this merit together, they are called the only tree to the Lonely Garden.

③Bhikkhu: also known as Bi Chu, Chu Chu and so on.It refers to a man who becomes a monk and joins a Buddhist order, and a monk who is over 20 years old and has received full precepts. A woman who becomes a monk and receives full precepts is called a bhikkhuni.It is one of the five congregations, one of the seven congregations.The original language of the bhikkhu comes from the word "begging", which can also be interpreted as the meaning of one who breaks troubles. The three columns of bhikkhu in "Great Wisdom Theory" have the five meanings of begging monks, eliminating afflictions, becoming a monk, keeping precepts purely, and fearing demons.Among them, breaking evil (destroying troubles), fearing demons, and begging monks are called the three meanings of bhikkhu, and together with the three meanings of killing thieves, offering sacrifices, and lifelessness in the meaning of the word "Arhat", they are collectively called the "six meanings of cause and effect". (Bhikkhu is the cause, Arhat is the result).In India, the lifestyle of a bhikkhu or a monk must abide by certain precepts, protect three robes and one bowl, live by begging for food, live in Alan Ruo, be content with few desires, stay away from worldly troubles, and practice diligently in order to achieve Nirvana.250 250 people: Refers to 250 people who first became extroverted, and then received the guidance of the Buddha to prove the holy fruit.Thanks to the Buddha's enlightenment, he made a vow to always follow each Dharma meeting, to assist the Buddha in spreading the Dharma and benefiting living beings, and to become the Buddha's "always follower".According to the Sutra of Karma in the Past and Present, the 50 people refer to 500 masters and disciples of the elder Yasa, 250 masters and disciples of Uruvela Kassapa, 250 masters and disciples of Nati Kassapa, and 100 masters and disciples of Gaya Kassapa. , 100 mentors and apprentices of Sariputra, and 250 mentors and apprentices of Moggallana, a total of [-] people.

④ World Honored One: Because the Buddha is a person respected by the world, the Buddha is called the World Honored One, transliterated as "Bhagavan" or "Bhagavan".In addition to the free translation as "World Honored One", it is also literally translated as virtuous and famous.That is to say, "the person who is rich in virtue, blessing, mighty virtue, fame, and honor" also refers to the most honorable person in the world.In ancient India, it was generally used as a respectful title for noble people, not limited to Buddhism; in Buddhism, it is especially the title of Sakyamuni Buddha, which is one of the top ten titles of Buddha.Bowl: The abbreviation of "Bodara" in Sanskrit, it is one of the six things of the bhikkhu.Bowl is a rice container for monks, made of clay or iron, round, slightly flat, with a flat bottom and a slightly smaller mouth.Translated as responder, or responder. "Response" has three responses, one color corresponds, the bowl should be gray and black, so that you can't love your heart; two bodies correspond, the bowl is thick, so you can't be greedy; Unsatisfactory.

⑤ Begging: one of the twelve heads of Tuo.It is a kind of behavior performed by Indian monks to beg for food in order to nourish their bodies, and it is a kind of pure righteous livelihood.It is also a group fall (that is, the righteousness of taking food and putting it in the bowl), guarding, begging, begging, etc.Its original meaning has two meanings, which is what is said in "Mahayana Chapter [-]": "Begging for food. There are two things: one is for oneself, saving trouble and cultivating the Tao. The other is for others, benefiting the world." Self-interest is to put an end to vulgarity. Doing things is convenient for cultivating the Tao; altruism is for the benefit of the world, giving all living beings the opportunity to plant blessings.

⑥ Begging: It is also one of the twelve headed activities.That is to say, the Buddha's heart is equal, he does not choose the rich or the poor, he does not choose the clean and dirty, he does not accept other invitations, and he begs for food from house to house in order.Practitioners can cultivate equanimity and eliminate afflictions through such actions.

⑦ Spread the seat: Spread the seat and sit cross-legged, staying in mindfulness.The so-called sitting like a bell, walking like the wind, lying like a bow, and standing like a pine is one of the four prestige of walking, standing, sitting, and lying in Buddhism.It is very important for practitioners to keep their bodies upright in daily life, because correct sitting posture will not make people easily scattered, fatigued and drowsy.Buddhism has detailed regulations on the way and function of sitting, and "sit in lotus position" is one example.

Translation
I once heard the Buddha say:

At that time, the Buddha lived in the Zhishuge Lonely Garden in the country of Sravasti, with 250 big monks.One morning, when it was time to eat, the World Honored One put on his cassock, took a rice bowl, and walked slowly into the city of Savatthi to beg for food.The Buddha was merciful and equal in Savatthi City, regardless of rich or poor, high or low. After begging for alms and food from house to house, he returned to the Lonely Garden.After eating, he tidied up his cassock and bowl, washed his feet, and after laying out the seat, he sat cross-legged.

Original
At that time, the elder Subhuti ① stood up from his seat in the crowd, bared his right shoulder ②, put his right knee on the ground ③, put his palms together respectfully, and said to the Buddha ④: "Rarely, ⑤, World Honored One! All Bodhisattvas, World Honored One, a good man and a good woman⑦ have aroused the mind of anuttara-samyak-sambodhi⑧, how should they live⑨? How can they subdue their hearts⑩?"

The Buddha said: "Excellent! Excellent! Subhuti, as you said, the Tathagata is good at protecting and reminiscing all Bodhisattvas, and is good at giving instructions to all Bodhisattvas. Now listen carefully, and I will explain it to you. Good men and good women send anuttara-samyak The mind of the Three Bodhisattvas should be lived in this way, and the mind should be subdued in this way.”

"However, World Honored One. I wish to be delighted to hear it."

注释
①Elder: also known as the upper seat, the first head, the first seat, the elder year, the senior elder, the elder elder, the old residence, the long residence, the residence, etc.It is a respectful title for a big monk who is old, tall, and wise. "Chang Agan Zhong Ji Jing" lists three types of elders: one is the elders of the elders, which refers to the monks who have entered Buddhism and Taoism for a long time; elders.Zen scholars call the monk who is the abbot an elder.Subhuti: Also known as Su Budi, Xu Futi, Xu Fudi, Su Fudi Xiu, Fudi, Xu Feng, etc.Freely translated as good karma, good auspiciousness, good present, good reality, good view, empty life, etc.It turned out to be the son of the elder Juluo in the ancient Indian Sravasti country, and he was the best at understanding emptiness among the top ten disciples of the Buddha, so he has the title of "the first to understand emptiness".It is also the moment when the Buddha explained emptiness in the Mahayana Prajna Sutras (such Sutras).

②Bare the right shoulder: It is also called partial exposure of the right shoulder, partial exposure of one shoulder, partial exposure of one arm, etc., referred to as partiality.It is a relative term for the word "tongjian".That is, when wearing cassock, the right shoulder is exposed and the left shoulder is covered.In ancient India, it was the most respectful etiquette to "blanket the right shoulder" when asking for the Dharma. It is still used in Buddhism, that is, when the monks visit the Buddha or ask the masters and monks, and when they are engaged in work such as blowing the bed and sweeping, they must favor the right shoulder, so the right shoulder is biased. That is to say, it means that it is convenient to serve and listen to orders, and it also shows that the monk respects the appearance of the venerable.

③Right knee on the ground: It is a custom in India.The right is the right way, the left is the evil way, and kneeling on the right shows that you are following the right way, and it also shows that you are persuading the right way.On the other hand, the knee also symbolizes Prajna wisdom, and the ground symbolizes reality; the right knee is on the ground, which means that Prajna and reality correspond to each other.

④ Hezhang: also known as Heshi.It is the etiquette and law that India has practiced since ancient times, and Buddhism continues to use it.Indians believe that the right hand is the sacred hand and the left hand is the unclean hand, so they have the habit of using the two hands separately; however, if the two hands are combined into one, it is the unity of the sacred and unclean sides of human beings, so it is expressed by palms together The true face of human beings.Put the palms together and place the two palms in front of the chest to concentrate the mind, thus also expressing my one-hearted respect for the Dharma and taking refuge in the middle way.The combination of the two palms can also be interpreted as indicating that convenience and skill and reality are one and the same, and both large and small vehicles can be integrated.The ten fingers represent the ten dharma realms; joining ten means that the ten dharma realms are combined in one mind, which means that things are the same, and power and reality are harmonious.

⑤ Rare: Those who say that there are very few things, those who have no similarities.In particular, it refers to the Tathagata's manifestation and his generation of teachings, so it is called "Xi You Da Dharma King" and "Xi Fa".Those who can understand the wonderful teachings of all Buddhas and have a heart of respect and inconceivability are also called rare people.There are four kinds of "rare existence" of the Buddha, seals: [-]. Rare existence at the time, which means that the Buddha's birth is not common in the world; [-]. Virtue is rare. The Buddha has infinite virtue and wisdom, so he is the most noble and unmatched.

[-] Tathagata: One of the ten titles of Buddha.The transliteration is Duo Tuo, Duo Agada, Duo Agada, Tasa Aji, Tanta Oh, Duo Aji, etc.Such as, that is, true suchness, because of the way of true suchness to become enlightened, so it is called Tathagata.Also, because of the way of the True Tathagata to come to the Three Realms, it is called the Tathagata.Also, it came like all the Buddhas, hence the name Tathagata.Also, the title of "Tathagata" is also the common name of all Buddhas.Protecting thoughts: It means that Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and good gods of all heavens protect and accept all living beings or Buddhist disciples so that they will not encounter obstacles.And the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas often follow the shadows to protect the practitioners, so that demons and others cannot be hindered, so they are called shadow protectors.It also proves the veracity of the teachings for all living beings, so that they can be freed from suffering and receive infinite benefits. This is called the proof of sincerity.Here, mindfulness protection can be interpreted as acceptance. For a Bodhisattva who has studied for a long time, the Buddha can skillfully absorb him, so that he can enter the profound Buddhist way and obtain the ultimate benefits of mindfulness protection of the Tathagata.Bodhisattva: Transliterated Bodhisattva, also known as Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva, Fusa, etc.The old translation is Daoxin sentient beings, Dao sentient beings, etc., and the new translation is Dajue sentient beings, Jue sentient beings, etc.It means that only great enlightened beings can make immeasurable great vows, seek the supreme Bodhi from the top, and benefit all living beings from the bottom; practice all paramita, and in the future, they will enter the Buddhahood.It is called "Three Vehicles" together with Shengwen and Yuanjue.

⑦Good men and good women: refer to men and women from good families.In the scriptures, the names of good men and good women are often used for believers and believers at home.Good people are good names for those who believe in Buddha, hear the Dharma, and do good deeds.Kuiji's "Amitabha Sutra Tongzan" believes that good men and good women are translations of Sanskrit Upasaka and Upasai, which refer to men and women who hold the five precepts.In addition, in the Mahayana scriptures, when calling Bodhisattvas, they often call good men, and when calling monks, they often call them by their names.However, sometimes he is also called a bhikkhu as a "good man".

⑧Send the heart of Anuttara Sanliu Sanbodhi: Anuttara Sanliu Sanbodhi is a transliteration of Sanskrit, which means a person who has completed it, so it is generally translated as Supreme Enlightenment, Unsurpassed Enlightenment, and Unsurpassed Enlightenment. Upright omniscience and so on. "Anuttara" is translated as "Supreme", which means that the Buddha's enlightenment is perfect and supreme; , and teach all sentient beings equally so that they can reach Nirvana.To make anuttara-samyak-sambodhicitta is to initiate a grand and far-reaching vow, aiming at the lofty, great, supreme, and ultimate Buddhahood.

⑨ Yingyun where to live: where to live or how to live.To live means to live in Zheng without breaking the law.For those who arouse great bodhicitta, how can they keep the bodhicitta from becoming repentant, not falling into the ordinary world, and always rest in the bodhicitta without moving in all activities, silence, silent speech, coming and going, going in and out, and dealing with others?So ask "where should the cloud live".

⑩How to subdue one's mind: to subdue from evil, that is, to subdue delusional mind with power, how to subdue one's mind, that is, how to stop delusional mind and distracting thoughts.In the minds of sentient beings, there are all kinds of upside-down jokes and all kinds of delusions and distracting thoughts. This not only hinders practice, but also is a serious disease that makes it difficult to settle down in bodhicitta.I want to eliminate the upside-down jokes one by one, so I asked Yun He to subdue his heart.

Translation
At this time, Elder Subhuti stood up from his seat. He draped his cassock obliquely, with his right shoulder exposed, knelt on the ground with his right knee, clasped his hands, and bowed reverently to the Buddha. And said to the Buddha: "There is a rare and rare World Honored One in the world! The Buddha is good at protecting and caring for Bodhisattvas, and is good at instructing and instructing Bodhisattvas. World Honored One, if there are good men and good women who vow to achieve the Bodhicitta of Supreme Enlightenment, what should they do? How can we make this bodhicitta permanent? If they have delusional thoughts, how can we subdue their delusional thoughts?"

(End of this chapter)