Commentary by Grand Master T’an Hsu on the Prajna Paramita:
“Let’s return to the example of the bright mirror. The worldling, unlike a Saint, is interested solely in the reflection, never giving as much as a thought to the mirror’s reflectivity. Clinging to the reflection, the worldling grasps an incidental occurrence on the mirror’s surface and mistakes it for the original.
The uninformed fail to understand that all that exists has its nature: earth has earth nature; fire has fire nature; water has water nature; wind has wind nature; and, consequently, the mirror has a mirror nature. Our True Nature is also like that, and yet most people are always confusing illusion with reality, being quite unaware of their True Nature. They grasp at and cling to reflections and dust. Thus, for them, the Tao of Bodhi is difficult to attain.
The Buddha made use of many expedients while teaching the Dharma of Truth. He repeated them over and over again so those who listened could follow his example and attain Enlightenment. Reflections in the mirror are impermanent, but the mirror-nature is constant. Reflections come and go, but the reflectivity of the mirror remains.”
Translated by Tripitaka Master Hsuan Tsang
Sutras:
You can download the Perfection of Wisdom sutras here to read on your own:
The Perfection of Wisdom (18,000 lines)
The Prajna Paramita (8000 lines)
Benefits of studying the Perfection of Wisdom:
As one Bodhisattva gives one’s self up to devotion to perfect wisdom, and does deeds for one day only while dwelling completely in mental activities connected with perfect wisdom; and yet another Bodhisattva lacks connections with perfect wisdom, but gives gifts for countless aeons…more discretely refined attributes has the Bodhisattva which, for one day only, makes endeavors connected with perfect wisdom.
A Bodhisattva which for one day only makes endeavors connected with perfect wisdom, begets merit other than the greatest merit of another Bodhisattva which for countless aeons gives and bestows gifts on all classes of holy persons, – from Streamwinners to Tathagatas – but lacks this discretion regarding perfect wisdom. — The Prajnaparamita in 8000 lines
Multiplying mantras:
Lama Zopa Rinpoche offered us a few mantras that help us achieve incredible merits when repeated many times. When there is no time to recite all the text, one can just do the mantras. The following mantras are said to be The Mantra Encompassing the Essence of the Kangyur:
Recite: I prostrate to the bhagavans who have destroyed the foes and are endowed with all the qualities of knowledge. TADYATHA HRI SATI SMRITI JAYA BIJAYA SVAHA (recite many times). Reciting this mantra is equivalent to reading the 8,000 verses of the Perfection of Wisdom Gone Beyond.
Recite: OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNIYE SVAHA PRAJNA PARAMITAYE SVAHA (recite many times). Reciting this mantra is equivalent to reading the 80,000 verses of the Perfection of Wisdom Gone Beyond. This completes the essence of the 80,000 verses.
Recite: OM MUNI MUNI MAHA MUNIYE SVAHA PRAJNA PARAMITAYE SVAHA (recite many times). Reciting this mantra is equivalent to reading the 80,000 verses of the Perfection of Wisdom Gone Beyond. This completes the essence of the 80,000 verses.
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