The Six Paramitas Are Also of the Nature of Emptiness

Original text of the Diamond Sutra: The Tathagata speaks of the first paramita. It is not the first paramita. It is called the first paramita. Subhuti, the paramita of patience. The Tathagata says it is not the paramita of patience. It is called the paramita of patience.

Explanation: When the Tathagata speaks of the first paramita, it does not mean there truly exists a first paramita. The first paramita is not a true appearance; it is merely named the first paramita. Subhuti, the paramita of patience—the Tathagata says there is no true paramita of patience. The paramita of patience is also an illusory, false appearance; it is merely named the paramita of patience.

The Six Paramitas of a Bodhisattva are: generosity (dāna), discipline (śīla), patience (kṣānti), diligence (vīrya), meditation (dhyāna), and wisdom (prajñā). If one can generate the great bodhicitta mind and practice the Six Paramitas to attain Buddhahood, one can reach the other shore of nirvana. When practiced thus, the Six Paramitas are called the Six Paramitas (Pāramitās). Paramita means "reaching the other shore of nirvana." If one practices the Six Paramitas without bodhicitta, they are merely wholesome deeds without the essence of paramita, and thus cannot lead to the other shore of nirvana.

The first among the Six Paramitas is the paramita of generosity. All acts of generosity by a Bodhisattva are accomplished by the vajra mind, manifested and sustained by the vajra mind. They are subject to birth, cessation, change, and impermanence. Therefore, the paramita of generosity is an empty and illusory appearance, not a true reality—that is, it is not the first paramita, but is provisionally named the first paramita. The paramita of patience is likewise manifested and accomplished by the vajra mind. It has no substantial attributes, no true appearance of patience, nor any true appearance of paramita. Thus, it too is an empty and illusory appearance, not a truly existent reality. Therefore, it is also not the paramita of patience but is provisionally named the paramita of patience. The paramita of discipline, the paramita of diligence, the paramita of meditation, and the paramita of wisdom are all the same: they are not true paramitas, possess no real appearance, are all manifested as empty and illusory appearances, and are provisionally named paramitas.