金刚经全文在线阅览（英文）(4)

金刚经全文英文第十三品:如法受持分 （ACCEPTING AND UPHOLDING THE DHARMA OF "THUSNESS", THIRTEEN ）
Subhuti then asked the Buddha:
“World Honoured One, what name should be given to this sutra and how should we receive and hold it (in mind)?”
The Buddha said:
“This sutra should be called ‘The Diamond prajna-paramita’ under which name you should receive and hold it.
“Why? Because, Subhuti,
“the Prajna- paramita as expounded by the Buddha, is not Prajna- paramita but is (merely) so called.
“Subhuti, what do you think Does the Tathagata expound the Dharma?”
Subhuti said: “World Honoured One, the Tathagata does not expound anything.”
“Subhuti, what do you think? Are there many particles of dust in the universe?”
Subhuti replied: “Many, World Honoured One!”
“Subhuti, the Tathagata says these particles of dust are not (real), (but) are (merely) called particles of dust.
“The Tathagata says the universe is not (real), but it is (merely) called the universe.
“Subhuti, what do you think? Can the Tathagata be perceived by means of His thirty-two physical characteristics ( laksanas )?”
“'No, World Honoured One. The Tathagata cannot be perceived by them.
“Why? Because the Tathagata says they are not real but are (merely) called
the thirty-two physical characteristics.”
“Subhuti, if on the one hand, a virtuous man or woman, in giving alms (dana), sacrifices as many lives as there are sand-grains in the Ganges, and on the other hand,
“someone receives and holds (in mind) even a four-line stanza of this sutra, and expounds it to other, the merit resulting from the latter will be greater.”
金刚经全文英文第十四品:离相寂灭分 （LEAVING APPEARANCES AND STILL CESSATION, FOURTEEN）
At that time, after listening to this sutra, Subhuti had understood its profound meaning and was moved to tears.
He said to the Buddha: “How rare, O World Honored One!
“The Buddha has expounded such a very profound sutra.
“Since I have acquired the wisdom eye, I have not heard of such a sutra.
“World Honored One, if someone after listening to this sutra believes that
his mind is clean and pure, he will realise reality.
“We should know that such a person will achieve the highest and rarest merit.
“World Honored One, this Reality is not Reality but the Tathagata calls it
Reality.
“World Honored One, as I now listen to this sutra I have no difficulty in
believing, understanding, receiving and holding it,
“but in the last epoch, the last five hundred year period if there be a man who (happens to) listen to this sutra, believes, understands receives and holds it, he will be most rare.
“Why? Because he will no longer (think in terms of) an ego, a personality, a being and a life.
“Why? Because the forms of an ego, a personality, a being and a life are not forms.
“Why? Because when he has rejected all forms he is called a Buddha.”
The Buddha said: “Just so! Subhuti, just so!
“If on the one hand, there be a man who listens to this sutra and is not filled with alarm, fear, or dread,
“you should know that such a person is most rare.
“Why? Because, Subhuti,
“as the Tathagata says,
“the first perfection ( paramita) is not so (but) is (merely) called the first perfection (paramita.)
“Subhuti, the Tathagata speaks of the Perfection of Patience (ksanti paramita) which is not but is called the Perfection of Patience.
“Why? Because, Subhuti,
“in (a) past (life) when my body was mutilated by Kaliraja,
“I had at that time no notion of an ego, a personality, a being and a life.
“Why? Because, in the past, when my body was dismembered, if I (still) held the conception of an ego, a personality, a being and a life,
“I would have been stirred by feelings of anger and hatred.
“Subhuti, I also remember that in the past, during my former five hundred lives, I was a Ksantyrsi and held no conception of an ego, a personality, a
being and a life.
“Therefore, Subhuti, Bodhisattvas should forsake all conceptions of form and resolve to develop the Supreme Enlightenment Mind (Anuttara-samyaksam-bodhi).
“Their minds should not abide in form, sound, smell, taste, touch and dharma. Their minds should abide nowhere.
“If minds abide somewhere, it will be in falsehood.
“This is why the Buddha says that Bodhisattvas' minds should not abide in form when practising charity (dana).
“Subhuti, all Bodhisattvas should thus make offerings for the welfare of all living beings.
“The Tathagata speaks of forms which are not forms and of living beings who are not living beings.
“Subhuti, the Tathagatas' words are true and correspond to reality. They are ultimate words, neither deceitful nor heterodox.
“Subhuti, the Dharma the Tathagata has obtained is neither real nor unreal.
“Subhuti, if a Bodhisattva practises charity ( dana ) with a mind abiding in things (dharma), he is like a man entering the darkness where he cannot see anything;
“(but) if a Bodhisattva practises dana with a mind not abiding in dharma, he is like a man with open eyes, who can see everything in the sunshine.
“Subhuti, in future ages,
“if a virtuous man or woman is able to receive, hold (in mind), read and
recite this sutra,
“the Tathagata, by means of His Buddha Wisdom, will know and see clearly that such a person will achieve immeasurable and unlimitable merits.
金刚经全文英文第十五品:持经功德分 （THE MERIT AND VIRTUE GAINED FROM UPHOLDING THIS SUTRA, FIFTEEN）
“Subhuti, if (on the one hand) a virtuous man or woman sacrifices in the practice of charity (dana), as many lives as the sand-grains of the Ganges in the morning, at midday and again in the evening, and continues so doing throughout numberless aeons;

“and if (on the other hand) a person after listening to this sutra believes in his own mind without (further) contradiction, the latter's merit will surpass that of the former.
“How much more so if this sutra is written, received, held, read, recited and expounded to others!
“Subhuti, to sum up, the merits resulting from this sutra are inconceivable, inestimable and without limit.
“The Tathagata expounds it to those initiated into the Mahayana and the Supreme Yana.
“If they are able to receive, hold (in mind), read and recite it and expound it widely to others,
“the Tathagata will know and will see that they will achieve inexpressible and inconceivable merits that are without measure or limit.
“They will bear (responsibility for) the Tathagata's Supreme Enlightenment (Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi.)
“Why? Because, Subhuti,
“those who take delight in the Hinayana and hold the view of an ego, a personality, a being and a life,
“cannot listen to, receive, hold (in mind), read and recite this sutra and explain it to others.
“Subhuti, wheresoever this sutra may be found,
“all worlds of devas, men and asuras should make offerings,
“for you should know that such a place is just a stupa which should be revered, worshipped and circumambulated, with offerings of flowers and incense.
金刚经全文英文第十六品:能净业障分 （KARMIC OBSTRUCTIONS CAN BE PURIFIED, SIXTEEN）
“Furthermore, Subhuti,
“if a virtuous man or woman receives, holds (in mind), reads and recites this sutra and is despised by others,
“this person who is bound to suffer from evil destinies in retribution for his past sins, and whose karmic Sins are now eradicated by the others' contempt, will attain Supreme Enlightenment (Anuttarasamyak-sambodhi).
“Subhuti,
“I remember that in the past countless aeons before the advent of Dipamkara Buddha,
“I met 84,000 milliards of Buddhas to whom I made offerings and whom I served faultlessly.
“Now if in the last period (of 500 years) in the Buddha kalpa someone is able to receive, hold (in mind), read and recite this sutra,
“his merits will far exceed mine which resulted from my offerings made to Buddhas,
“for mine cannot be reckoned as one hundredth, one thousandth, one ten thousandth or one hundred thousandth part thereof; in fact no computation or comparison is possible.
“Subhuti,
“in the last period of the Buddha kalpa, if a virtuous man or woman is able to receive, hold (in mind), read and recite this sutra,
“my full statement of this person's merits will create derangement, doubt and disbelief in the minds of all listeners.
“Subhuti,
“you should know that as the meaning of this sutra is inconceivable, so is the fruit of its reward.”