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The Vajra Prajna Paramita Sutra
APART FROM FORM AND APART FROM MARKS
CHAPTER 20
Sutra:
“Subhuti, what do you think? Can the Tathagata be seen in the perfection of his physical form?”
“No, World Honored One. The Tathagata cannot be seen in the perfection of his physical form. And why? The perfection of physical form is spoken of by the Tathagata as no perfection of physical form, therefore it is called the perfection of physical form.”
“Subhuti, what do you think? Can the Tathagata be seen in the perfection of marks?”
“No, World Honored One. The Tathagata cannot be seen in the perfection of marks. And why? The perfection of marks is spoken of by the Tathagata as no perfection of marks. Therefore it is called the perfection of marks.”
Commentary:
Perfection refers to the fully complete reward body, which is another name for the Tathagata’s physical form.
Subhuti said that one should not rely on marks to discern the Tathagata. Why? Because the reward body and the transformation bodies are not the Tathagata’s genuine dharma body. The perfection of physical form of which the Tathagata speaks is a false name and nothing more, but those who become attached view it as true and actual; so from the point of view of common truth, the perfection of physical form exists.
As no perfection of physical form. From the point of view of actual truth, it is no perfection of the form body. Therefore it is called the perfection of physical form. It is only when speaking from the point of view of the Middle Way that there is a false designation called “the perfection of physical form.”
The Buddha then asked Subhuti if the Tathagata could be seen by means of the thirty-two marks. The physical form refers to the general appearance. Marks refers to the special marks: the thirtytwo marks and eighty subtle characteristics.
Subhuti again replied that the Tathagata could not be seen in the perfection of the thirty-two marks. Why? The Tathagata spoke of the perfection of marks, and those who could not transcend common truth took it as real. If viewed in light of actual truth, there is no perfection of marks. Therefore it is called the perfection of marks. Ultimately the Tathagata speaks from the point of view of the perfect truth of the Middle Way, merely giving it the name “perfection of marks,” and that is all.
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