The Vajra (Diamond) Sutra

March 18 lecture©
as outlined by a Buddhist monk
(Listen ‘live’ or recorded audio explanations at
www.wondrousdharma.org)

Q&A Empty, not empty, empty and yet not empty

Q&A Certain days I sit well, certain days not so
S 28 No greed and nothing acquired

1
 Verse for opening a sutra
• Homage to the Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra and the
Vajra assembly of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas (3x)

• The unsurpassed, deep, profound, subtle, wonderful

Dharma,
• In a hundred thousand million eons, is difficult to
encounter,
• Now that I’ve come to receive and hold it, within my
sight and hearing,
• I vow to fathom the Thus Come One’s true and
actual meaning.

2
 Q&A
Question: A book explaining the Vajra Sutra when translated says, “No
upholding or violating precepts; this is the Middle Way.” Please
explain.
Answer:

• A clearer translation should read, “no upholding or not violating

precepts; this is the Middle Way. Why?

• It is too wieldy if it was said, “no upholding or upholding

precepts; this is the Middle Way.

• But because ‘upholding’ is ‘not violating’ therefore…

3
 Q&A
• It should read as ““no upholding or not violating precepts; this is
the Middle Way.”
• Yet this definition is the preliminary definition of the Middle Way
because it still has dualities.

• “No upholding” represents dharma on emptiness.

• “Not violating” represents dharma on existence.

• How does this relate to the Vajra Sutra and what is the ultimate
definition of the Middle Way?

4
 Q&A
• Since existence came from emptiness, yet ultimately it is
inseparable and should not be distinguished per se.

• Therefore,
1. No upholding precepts
2. Not violating precepts;
3. No upholding and yet not violating precepts;
• this is the Middle Way.
• All 3 is actual one, the True Appearance prajna or Reality.

5
4-line verses Principles Precepts Middle Way
S 5 All Conditioned No upholding The 3
appearances dharma is comprising
are false and fundamentally empty, not
empty… Empty empty, and
‘empty yet not
S 26 One who Though Not violating
empty’ when
looks for me in conditioned
taken to the limit
forms, or seeks dharmas
is 1 absolute that
me in fundamentally
is there is
sounds… is empty, it is
nothing at all.
‘not empty’
The inherent
S 32 All Therefore No nature of every
conditioned conditioned upholding, living being is
dharmas are dharma is yet not already perfect
like a dream, ‘empty and yet violating and complete. All
an illusion not empty’ 3 encompasses 6
the Middle Way
4-line verses Principles Precepts All 3 is One Vehicle
S 5 All Conditioned No Because of suffering,
appearances dharma is upholding the Buddha first
are false and Empty taught the Two
empty… Vehicles.
S 26 One who Though Not The Buddha
looks for me conditioned violating eventually introduces
in forms, or dharmas the Bodhisattva
seeks me in fundamentally Vehicle having
sounds… is empty, it is compassion for others
‘not empty’ still suffering.
S 32 All Therefore No Finally when the
conditioned conditioned upholding Bodhisattva Vehicle is
dharmas are dharma is , yet not perfected there is no
like a dream, ‘empty and yet violating distinction between
an illusion… not empty’ ‘empty and not empty’
merging with Reality.
7
 Q&A
Question: A book explaining the Vajra Sutra when translated says, “No
upholding or violating precepts; this is the Middle Way.” Please
explain.
Answer:

• No upholding precepts means you uphold the precepts without

the appearance that you are upholding it; this being done
naturally without any special appearance such as happiness or
feeling of being pure.

• No violating of precepts means upholding precepts but with

appearance of having done so.

8
 Q&A
• What is meant by no upholding?
• We practice without the appearance of practicing
upholding and not violating precepts.

• Section 9 of the Vajra Sutra says, “World Honored One,

the Buddha has said that I am foremost in the
attainment of No Strife Samadhi, and I am foremost
Arhat free from desire.
• Yet, World Honored One, I do not have the thought, ‘I
am an Arhat free from desire.’
• If I had the thought, ‘I have attained the Way of the
Arhat,’ then the World Honored One would not say,
‘Subhuti is foremost in practicing Aranya.’
9
 Q&A

• Since Subhuti actually does not practice anything,

he is called ‘Subhuti who delights in practicing
Aranya.” (s 9)

• Also, s 22 “As to anuttarasamyaksambodhi, there is

not the slightest dharma which I could attain.” Why?
• Our inherent self nature is pure, perfect and complete.
• As such, we should hold precepts without any
appearance.

10
 Conditione Conditioned dharma Empty and yet not
d dharma is Not empty- empty – Middle Way
is Empty – common truth
actual truth

Four line All One who looks for me All conditioned

verses appearances in form, or seeks me in dharmas are like a
expresses are false sound, one practices a dream, an illusion, a
empty, not and deviant way and bubble, a shadow and
empty, and empty…(s5) cannot see the Thus a lightning flash,
empty and Come One. (s26) contemplate them
yet not thus (s32)
empty
Pertaining to No Upholding or not No upholding and yet
precepts upholding violating not violating
Preliminary No upholding or not violating; this is
concept of the Middle Way
Middle Way
Middle Way No upholding or not violating, No upholding and yet not 11
violating; this is the Middle Way
 Q&A
• As regards others living beings, we don’t discriminate
others as having uphold or having violated the precepts.

• When one were to hold to certain aspects of the

precepts and become attached to them, then one is
likely to initiate disputes.

• Consequently thoughts of affection or hatred may arise

out of holding or violating of precepts.

12
 Q&A

• “Therefore, when the Bodhisattva contemplates those

who commit offenses and those who do not commit
offenses, his mind remains free of detestation and
affection.
• If one contemplates thus, this is a practice of sila (morality)
that results in the realization of prajna paramita.”
(Nagajurna Bodhisattva)

• Why is this so?...

13
 Q&A

• … Our resolve is to become a Buddha and Buddhas are

awaken to …
• S 23 says “..this Dharma is level and equal; nothing is
higher or lower. Therefore it is called
anuttarasamyaksambodhi.”

• The teachings of the Buddha is the teaching of the Middle

Way; therefore …

• “No upholding, not violating, no upholding and yet not violating

precepts or ; this is the Middle Way.”

14
 Q&A

Great Master Sixth Patriarch:

• “Simply cast out the mind that finds fault,
• Once cast away, troubles are gone;
• When hate and love don’t block the mind,
• Stretch out both legs and then lie down.”

• “I both see and do not see.

• What I see is the transgression and error of my own
mind. I do not see the right, wrong, good or bad of other
people.
• This is my seeing and not seeing.
15
 Q&A
Question: Certain days I sit very well with the mind subdued of
false thinking. Certain days I have a lot of false thinking. Why?
Answers:

• When you start to examine and reflect the reasons that causes
you not to sit well, it tantamount to engaging in more false
thoughts when in fact ‘all thoughts are no thoughts.” (s 18)

• The reason for wanting to find out more is because we are

attached to days when you sit well.

• S 10 ‘ produce a mind which does not attach to anything’ is

teaches us how to subdue the false thinking mind.
16
 Q&A

• The attachment has caused disturbance in the mind.

• When we sit in meditation, we have no expectations of
anything at all. This accords with the Vajra Sutra.

• When we sit well, we are so.

• When we don’t sit well, we are also so.

• Neither allowing our minds to be swayed by the

attachment to happiness and sadness is just subduing
the mind; the practice of equanimity.

17
 S 28 No greed and nothing acquired
Sutra: Subhuti, a Bodhisattva might fill up world systems equal
in number to the grains of sand in the Ganges River with
the seven precious gems and give them as a gift. But if
another person were to realize that all dharmas are devoid
of self and attain patience, that Bodhisattva’s merit and
virtues would surpass the merit and virtues of the previous
Bodhisattva.
Comments:

• All dharmas means everything that is:

• It means even the teachings of the 3 Vehicles within the
Buddhadharma
• All dharmas include our self, living beings and the environment
which we come into contact as sense objects include our
thoughts.
18
 S 28 No greed and nothing acquired
• Why is everything devoid of self? It is without identity; it was all
one true appearance; being appearances from or projections of
the mind.

• One true appearance is without appearance (our inherent true

mind) yet within nothing everything manifest. (this world of
existence)

• All dharmas are devoid of self would then mean everything is

originally empty; everything is fundamentally non existent but
appearances of the mind.

19
 S 28 No greed and nothing acquired
• Because we see through everything as devoid of self, we see
through its true character that everything is inherently non
existent and empty.

• Therefore it is not surprising that the sutra says:

• “all dharmas are devoid of self and attain patience”- devoid
of self is the true character of Reality.

• Because everything or Reality is seen as empty and not real

but projections of the mind, one attains patience.

20
 S 28 No greed and nothing acquired

• Extract of s 28: ‘But if another person were to realize

that all dharmas are devoid of self and attain
patience’

1. He sees every living being as empty and not real; being

appearances of the false mind as a result of interplay of
causes and conditions.

2. He sees every phenomena including thoughts as not real

or empty; being appearances of the false mind.

3. Therefore he attains patience with non producing of

dharmas or phenomena; nothing was produced nor 21
destroyed because originally there was nothing at all.
 S 28 No greed and nothing acquired
Sutra: Why Subhuti? Because Bodhisattvas do not
acquire blessings and virtues.
Comments:
• “Bodhisattvas do not acquire blessings and virtues”
would mean blessings and virtues originally don’t exist
because every living being is replete with blessings and
virtuous conduct of a Buddha.

• They are expedients to negate the false and reveal the

truth. As such they are a product of projection of the
mind. This accords with Reality.

• Therefore nothing was acquired. This is prajna paramita

to see Reality in its true form. What is Reality?
22
 S 28 No greed and nothing acquired

• What is Reality?

• “The Appearance of Reality is without Appearances.”

(s 14) Basically there was nothing at all.

• From absolute nothingness comes this world of

existence which fundamentally doesn’t exist.

• When seen in this way, no blessings or virtues are

acquired in this world of existence which fundamentally
doesn’t exist.
23
 S 28 No greed and nothing acquired

Sutra: Subhuti addressed the Buddha, “World Honored

One, how is it that Bodhisattvas do not acquire
blessings and virtues?”
“Subhuti, Bodhisattvas should neither be greedy for,
nor be attached to the blessings and virtues which
they foster. Therefore I say they do not acquire
blessings and virtues.”
Comments:
• Because we now see the Reality of Appearance of
blessings and virtues, we see it as fundamentally empty
and thus we do not greed for nor attached to them.

24
 Q&A pertaining to s 28
Question: If all dharmas are devoid of self, what about the hells?
Answer:
Great Master Yung Chia,
• “When one is certified to the characteristic of Reality,
• There are no people or dharmas
• The karma of the avichi is cancelled in a kshana,
• If I were deceiving living beings with untrue words,
• I’d invite upon myself the Ripping Out of Tongues for eons as
many as dust and sands.”

25
 Q&A on section 28
Great Master Yung Chia,
• “In a dream, very clearly, there are six destinies;
• After enlightenment, completely empty, there is no universe.”

Explained by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua:

• While people are confused in a dream, the six paths of gods,
humans, asuras, hells, hungry ghosts and animals are distinctly
evident.

• After one becomes Enlightened and is roused from the

confused dream, emptiness is pulverized, home is broken and
people vanish. Then how could there the Three Thousand
Great Thousand World system exist? 26
 Dedication of merit
• May every living beings,
• Our minds as one and radiant with light
• Share the fruits of peace, with heart of goodness
luminous and bright.
• If people hear and see, how hands and hearts can find in
giving unity
• May their minds awake, to great compassion, wisdom
and to joy.
• May kindness find reward; may all who sorrow leave their
grief and pain;
• May this boundless light break the darkness of their
endless night.
• Because our hearts are one, this world of pain turns into
paradise;
• May all become compassionate and wise (2x) 27