大般若波羅蜜多経 巻十七 (Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra Vol. 17 — Historic Manuscript)

...[The thirty-two marks of a great man] and the eighty secondary marks are ultimately ungraspable and their nature does not exist, how much more so for the Suchness of the thirty-two marks of a great man and the Suchness of the eighty secondary marks? Since this Suchness does not exist, how can it be spoken of? The Suchness of the thirty-two marks of a great man is the Bodhisattva Mahasattva, the Suchness of the eighty secondary marks is the Bodhisattva Mahasattva, the Suchness of the thirty-two marks of a great man is the Bodhisattva Mahasattva, and the Suchness of the eighty secondary marks is the Bodhisattva Mahasattva. In the Suchness of the thirty-two marks of a great man there is a Bodhisattva Mahasattva, and in the Suchness of the eighty secondary marks there is a Bodhisattva Mahasattva. In the Bodhisattva Mahasattva there is the Suchness of the thirty-two marks of a great man, and in the Bodhisattva Mahasattva there is the Suchness of the eighty secondary marks. Apart from the Suchness of the thirty-two marks of a great man there is a Bodhisattva Mahasattva, and apart from the Suchness of the eighty secondary marks there is a Bodhisattva Mahasattva.

Furthermore, Subhuti, by what meaning do you speak of the Suchness of the dharma of "no-forgetfulness" referring to a Buddha's perfect memory of the Dharma? The Bodhisattva Mahasattva with the Suchness of the constant abiding nature is not the Bodhisattva Mahasattva distinct from the Suchness of the dharma of no-forgetfulness. It is not that the Bodhisattva Mahasattva is distinct from the Suchness of the constant abiding nature. It is not that in the Suchness of the dharma of no-forgetfulness there is a Bodhisattva Mahasattva, nor that in the Suchness of the constant abiding nature there is a Bodhisattva Mahasattva. It is not that in the Bodhisattva Mahasattva there is the Suchness of the dharma of no-forgetfulness, nor that in the Bodhisattva Mahasattva there is the Suchness of the constant abiding nature. It is not apart from the Suchness of the dharma of no-forgetfulness that there is a Bodhisattva Mahasattva, nor apart from the Suchness of the constant abiding nature that there is a Bodhisattva Mahasattva. Subhuti said to the Buddha, "World-Honored One, if the dharma of no-forgetfulness and the constant abiding nature are ultimately ungraspable and their nature does not exist, how much more so for the Suchness of the dharma of no-forgetfulness and the Suchness of the constant abiding nature? Since this Suchness does not exist, how can it be spoken of? The Suchness of the dharma of no-forgetfulness is the Bodhisattva Mahasattva, the Suchness of the constant abiding nature is the Bodhisattva Mahasattva, the Suchness of the dharma of no-forgetfulness is the Bodhisattva Mahasattva, and the Suchness of the constant abiding nature is the Bodhisattva Mahasattva. In the Suchness of the dharma of no-forgetfulness there is a Bodhisattva Mahasattva, and in the Suchness of the constant abiding nature there is a Bodhisattva Mahasattva. In the Bodhisattva Mahasattva there is the Suchness of the dharma of no-forgetfulness, and in the Bodhisattva Mahasattva there is the Suchness of the constant abiding nature. Apart from the Suchness of the dharma of no-forgetfulness there is a Bodhisattva Mahasattva, and apart from the Suchness of the constant abiding nature there is a Bodhisattva Mahasattva."

A historical Chinese manuscript fragment on yellowish, fibrous paper. The text consists of 31 vertical columns of regular script (Kaishu) calligraphy. The paper is heavily damaged with multiple irregular holes throughout the body and tattered edges. The handwriting is disciplined and typical of Buddhist sutra copying.