Why Is Prajnaparamita Also Empty in Nature?

The Buddha spoke of prajna paramita. It is not prajna paramita. It is called prajna paramita.

Explanation: The Mahayana Dharma of prajna paramita taught by the Buddha to sentient beings is not an actual, substantial prajna paramita. There is no real prajna paramita; it is merely designated as prajna paramita, and its dharmic characteristics are also empty.

Prajna paramita is a Sanskrit term translated into Chinese as "great wisdom reaching the other shore," metaphorically referring to the vajra mind-essence or the prajna mind-essence, which is in a state of nirvana beyond the shore of birth and death. Both "this shore" and "the other shore" are states of being—mere designations, not substantial entities nor true realities. There is no inherent essence of "this shore" or "the other shore." Therefore, prajna paramita is an empty characteristic, provisionally named prajna paramita. Similarly, the six paramitas are also empty characteristics, without substantiality and not true realities. "Paramita" is a provisional designation, and the six paramitas lack any inherent substance or characteristic; they are empty characteristics of arising, ceasing, and transformation manifested by the vajra mind. Just as one abandons the raft upon reaching the shore, after attaining Buddhahood and perfecting one's practice, there is no further need to cultivate the Dharma of paramita.

Any Dharma that can only be established and exist based on the vajra mind-essence is an illusory, empty appearance and a provisional manifestation, without inherent substance or independent nature. The prajna paramita sutras evolved from the vajra mind-essence. Sentient beings rely on prajna paramita to cultivate and attain Buddhahood. After becoming Buddhas, they relinquish the prajna paramita sutras, no longer needing to study or depend on them. The emergence of the prajna paramita sutras occurs because the Buddhas expound them based on the ripened causes and conditions of sentient beings' cultivation. If the causes and conditions are not present, the Buddhas do not speak of the prajna paramita sutras, and these sutras have no reason to appear before sentient beings. Therefore, the prajna paramita sutras are interpretations and annotations on the nature of the vajra mind-essence, not the vajra mind-essence itself. Thus, they are not the true reality but a provisional appearance. The principles explained in the sutras, named prajna paramita, do not represent the vajra mind-essence itself. Therefore, they are also not the true reality but an empty characteristic. For this empty characteristic, the name "prajna paramita" is given.