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The
Heart Sutra
"THERE IS NO WISDOM AND THERE IS NO
ATTAINMENT
WHATSOEVER"
This
part of the sutra concerns the teaching of the six paramitas, or the
bodhisattva practice as explained in the Tripitaka. Allowing one's
actions to be guided by one or all of the paramitas, one will surely
attain the path and the fruit. For each of the previously mentioned six
fundamental defilements there is one of the six paramitas or
perfections of virtue, to be applied as a specific antidote.
Charity
eliminates greed, discipline cures laziness, patience overcomes hatred,
determination overcomes laxity, meditation cools the mind making it
receptive to wisdom and wisdom dispels ignorance. The Mahayana doctrine
of action and principle differs from the Theravada as to the intent. In
addition to one's actions that should follow the paramitas one is
expected, according to the Mahayana understanding of the bodhisattva
path, endeavor to liberate all sentient beings by leading them toward
an upward path while seeking his/her own enlightenment upward. If one
has not cut off grasping completely, one's wisdom becomes colonized by
consciousness, turning into an obstacle rather than being a virtue.
According
to the Buddha, "there is no wisdom and there is no attainment
whatsoever". It means that the paramitas and the bodhisattva action as
promulgated by the Tripitaka are not entities to be grasped,
conceptualized, manipulated or used. But this is the perspective of the
Mahayana, Dharma; the teaching of Emptiness is evident neither in the
practice nor the wisdom, and not in Buddhahood for that matter, as
taught by the Theravadins.
The
Dharma of Emptiness is characterized by the concept of Emptiness as the
substance of all dharmas. Then the six paramitas and the bodhisattva
action are the reflection in the mirror, since they are all amenable to
change and therefore empty of self. The already introduced Chinese term
Wu, meaning non, un-, or none, expresses the true nature of the mirror,
or its capacity to receive and relinquish all that goes on in front of
it without holding on to any part of it. If the paramitas are practiced
with the understanding that they are rooted in Emptiness, the great
enlightenment can be attained. Non-wisdom is the true wisdom,
non-attainment is the true attainment. This is what it means to
practice deeply the Prajna Paramita; the five fundamental conditions of
passions and delusions stop, and the two kinds of birth and death are
finished forever.
In
addition to the paramitas of bodhisattva action there is another set of
six paramitas of principle as part of teachings of the intermediate
school (Tung Jiao). Action and Principle are not separated in the
teaching of the differentiated school (Bie Jiao), but in the original
or genuine school (Yuan Jiao) the six paramitas are practiced as
non-action; the practice leads to perfect wisdom and to the supreme
Bodhi.
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