Overall Teaching

PW is merely a name, it neither non-produced/stopped/defiled/pure. Beings who hear it will be free from worldly suffering, but there may be resistance to its spread. It does not cling to or change any dharma and is perfectly pure. Dharmas and PW neither proceed nor recede, they’re unproduced and isolated.

Summary

1.     Perfect Wisdom Perfectly Pure

a.     PW is merely a name: there is no duality between the two.

b. Maitreya will preach the same PW because he will know the non-permanence/impermanence, non-freed/bound, and pure nature of the skandhas.

c. PW is perfectly pure [200] because the skandhas are pure, as is their non-production/stopping/defilement/purification—this is because it offers no basis for apprehension like space or an echo.

2.     Effects of Perfect Wisdom

a. Beings will be free of disease and stupefaction and will be followed by deities due to hearing PW. [202]

b. It is particularly good to teach the PW on the 8th, 14th, and 15th day (of the Lunar month).

c. While it is of great merit to spread it, there will be opposition and hostility to its spread—but it is the most precious thing in the world. [202]

d. PW doesn’t cling to any phenomenon, and without stain, like skandhas. It doesn’t reveal or change any phenomenon.

3.     The Second Turning of the Wheel of Dharma

a. While the deities proclaim this as the second turning of the wheel of Dharma, the Buddha says that the Dharma cannot be turned forwards or backwards. [203]

b. Subhūti declares the PW as great, which as all dharmas, is unproduced and isolated.

c. The Buddha declares that the demonstration of the non-proceeding and receding of the emptiness, and all dharmas is not possible, and no one goes to Nirvana by it or becomes worthy of gifts. [204]

4.     Modes and Qualities of Perfect Wisdom

a. Subhūti declares a list of qualities of PW which emphasise its non-arising, isolated, pure nature—most of which have been stated in this and the previous chapter. [205]

Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths

The qualities of PW and the skandhas discussed in this chapter correspond to the aspects of “true reality” and truth in itself, as found in the sixteen aspects of the Four Noble Truths. These are four sets of four, each set having 1. an instant of knowledge, 2. subsequent knowledge, 3. a forbearance, and 4. knowledge of dharma in the Truth.