Chapter 2: Subhuti's Request
At that time, the elder Subhuti,
What is meant by "Elder"? One who is respected for their virtue and advanced in years is called an Elder. "Subhūti" is a Sanskrit name; in Chinese, it means "Understanding Emptiness."
Then, from within the assembly, he rose from his seat, bared his right shoulder, knelt on his right knee, placed his palms together respectfully, and addressed the Buddha, saying:
He arose from his seat, following the assembly's seating arrangement, hence it is said, "then he arose from his seat." When a disciple seeks to ask a question, he first performs five rituals: first, rising from his seat; second, straightening his robes; third, baring his right shoulder and placing his right knee on the ground; fourth, joining his palms and gazing respectfully at the master's face, without letting his eyes stray; fifth, with a single-minded reverence, he presents his inquiry.
How rare! World-Honored One.
Rare indeed. Briefly stated, there are three reasons for this rarity:
First, it is rare to renounce the throne of a golden-wheel-turning king. Second, it is rare to possess a body sixteen feet tall, with skin like refined gold, adorned with the thirty-two major marks and eighty minor characteristics, unequaled throughout the three realms. Third, it is rare to have a nature capable of expressing the eighty-four thousand teachings, perfectly embodying the three bodies.
Because he possesses these three rare qualities, he is called "Rare."
As for "World-Honored One": his wisdom surpasses the three realms, with none who can equal him; his virtue is supreme, with none above him; all beings revere and honor him—therefore he is called the World-Honored One.
The Tathagata skillfully watches over and guides the bodhisattvas, and skillfully entrusts them with the teachings.
To protect and bear in mind means that the Tathagata uses the Dharma of Prajna Paramita to protect and bear in mind all Bodhisattvas. To entrust means that the Tathagata uses the Dharma of Prajna Paramita to entrust Subhuti. When the great Bodhisattvas speak of "skillfully protecting and bearing in mind," they mean enabling all learners to use the wisdom of Prajna to protect and bear in mind their own body and mind, preventing the reckless arising of hatred and attachment, being stained by the external six dusts, and falling into the bitter sea of birth and death. In their own minds, thought after thought should always be upright, preventing the arising of evil, and the self-nature of the Tathagata will naturally skillfully protect and bear in mind. Speaking of "skillfully entrusting" means entrusting the previous thought to purity, and the subsequent thoughts, one after another, to purity, without interruption, ultimately attaining liberation. The Tathagata carefully instructs all sentient beings and the assembly present, urging them to constantly practice this, hence it is called "skillfully entrusting." Bodhisattva is a Sanskrit term, which in Chinese means "a sentient being with the mind of the Way," also called "an awakened being with compassion." Having the mind of the Way means always practicing reverence, even toward the smallest creatures with consciousness, universally respecting and loving them without a heart of contempt or arrogance, thus called a Bodhisattva.
World-Honored One! For virtuous men and virtuous women,
A good man is one with an even, balanced mind, a mind of right concentration. Such a mind can accomplish all virtuous qualities and move without obstruction. A good woman is one with right wisdom. From right wisdom, all conditioned and unconditioned virtuous qualities are born.
When one resolves to attain Supreme Perfect Enlightenment, how should one abide? How should one subdue the mind?
Subhuti asked: "For all those who aspire to attain enlightenment, how should they abide? How should they subdue their minds?"
"Subhuti! Observe all living beings—restless and unsettled, like dust dancing in a sunbeam. Their agitated thoughts arise like a gusting wind, one thought after another without pause. I ask: For those who wish to practice, how can they subdue this?"
The Buddha said: Excellent, excellent, Subhuti! Just as you have said, the Tathagata skillfully protects and guides all bodhisattvas, and skillfully entrusts them with the teachings.
The Buddha praised Subhuti, saying, "You have truly grasped my heart and understood my meaning."
Listen carefully now, and I will explain it to you.
When the Buddha was about to teach the Dharma, he would first instruct the listeners to settle their minds in quiet stillness, and then he would begin to speak.
Good men and good women who have set their minds on attaining Supreme Perfect Enlightenment should dwell in this way and subdue their minds in this way.
"Anuttara" means unsurpassed, "samyak" means correct, "sambodhi" means universal enlightenment. Unsurpassed means free from all defilements. It is beyond comparison in the three realms. Correct means right view. Universal means omniscient wisdom. Enlightenment means knowing that all sentient beings possess Buddha-nature, and through practice, all can attain Buddhahood. Buddhahood is the unsurpassed, pure prajna paramita. Therefore, all virtuous men and women who wish to practice should understand the path of unsurpassed enlightenment, should understand the unsurpassed, pure prajna paramita method, and use it to subdue their minds.
Yes, World-Honored One. We are eager to listen.
"Yes, indeed" is an expression of agreement. "We earnestly wish" means we hope the Buddha will expound extensively, so that those of medium and lower capacities may all attain awakening. "We delight" means we take joy in hearing the profound Dharma. "We desire to hear" expresses our deep thirst and reverence for the compassionate teaching.