大般若波羅蜜多経 巻四十 (Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra Vol. 40)

A hand-copied scroll fragment of the Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra, featuring vertical columns of traditional Chinese characters written in black ink on aged, stained paper.

It does not practice the four apramanas immeasurables, the four formless concentrations, or the four dhyanas meditative absorptions as being unmixed; it does not practice the four dhyanas meditative absorptions as being unmixed; if this is the characteristic, this is practicing the Perfection of Wisdom. It does not practice the four apramanas immeasurables, the four formless concentrations, or the four dhyanas meditative absorptions as being unmixed; if this is the characteristic, this is practicing the Perfection of Wisdom. It does not practice the four dhyanas meditative absorptions as being unmixed; if this is the characteristic, this is practicing the Perfection of Wisdom. It does not stay away, it does not stay away from the characteristic, this is practicing the Perfection of Wisdom. It does not practice the four apramanas immeasurables, the four formless concentrations; it stays away and does not stay away from the characteristic, this is practicing the Perfection of Wisdom. It does not stay away, it does not stay away from the characteristic, this is practicing the Perfection of Wisdom. It does not practice the four apramanas immeasurables, the four formless concentrations; it stays away and does not stay away from the characteristic, this is practicing the Perfection of Wisdom.

The first [point] is to know that this is the bodhisattva mahasattva great enlightened being possessing skillful means upaya skill-in-means while practicing the Perfection of Wisdom. Why is this? Shariputra, the four dhyanas meditative absorptions, the nature of the four dhyanas meditative absorptions is emptiness. The four apramanas immeasurables and the four formless concentrations, the four apramanas immeasurables and the four formless concentrations and the four dhyanas meditative absorptions—these four dhyanas meditative absorptions are not four dhyanas meditative absorptions, they are empty. Emptiness does not depart from the four dhyanas meditative absorptions, they are not the four dhyanas meditative absorptions, emptiness is just emptiness, emptiness is just the four dhyanas meditative absorptions. The four apramanas immeasurables and the four formless concentrations are also the same.

Shariputra, if a bodhisattva mahasattva great enlightened being possesses skillful means upaya skill-in-means and practices the Perfection of Wisdom, he does not practice the four mindfulnesses, he does not practice the four right efforts, the four bases of psychic power, the five faculties, the five powers, the seven factors of enlightenment, or the eightfold path. He does not practice the four mindfulnesses, and so on, up to the eightfold path; the characteristics of permanence and impermanence, this is practicing the Perfection of Wisdom. He does not practice the four mindfulnesses, and so on, up to the eightfold path; the characteristics of permanence and impermanence, this is practicing the Perfection of Wisdom. He does not practice the four mindfulnesses, and so on, up to the eightfold path; the characteristics of suffering and non-suffering, this is practicing the Perfection of Wisdom. He does not practice the four mindfulnesses, and so on, up to the eightfold path; the characteristics of suffering and non-suffering, this is practicing the Perfection of Wisdom. He does not practice [them].