時長老須菩提 在大衆中 即從座起 偏袒右肩 右膝著地 合掌恭敬 而白佛言 希有世尊 如來善護念諸菩薩 善付囑諸菩薩 世尊 善男子善女人 發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心 應云何住 云何降伏其心 佛言 善哉善哉 須菩提 如汝所說 如來善護念諸菩薩 善付囑諸菩薩 汝今諦聽 當為汝說 善男子善女人 發阿耨多羅三藐三菩提心 應如是住 如是降伏其心 唯然世尊 願樂欲聞
Shí zhǎnglǎo Xū pútí, zài dà zhòng zhōng, jí cóng zuò qǐ, piān tǎn yòu jiān, yòu xī zhuó dì, hézhǎng gōngjìng, ér bái Fó yán: Xī yǒu Shì zūn! Rúlái shàn hùniàn zhū púsà, shàn fǔzhǔ zhū púsà. Shì zūn, shàn nánzǐ shàn nǚrén, fā ānòuduōluó sānmiǎo sānpútí xīn, yīng yún hé zhù, yún hé jiángfú qí xīn? Fó yán: Shàn zāi shàn zāi! Xū pútí, rú rǔ suǒ shuō, Rúlái shàn hùniàn zhū púsà, shàn fǔzhǔ zhū púsà. Rǔ jīn dì tīng, dāng wèi rǔ shuō: shàn nánzǐ shàn nǚrén, fā ānòuduōluó sānmiǎo sānpútí xīn, yīng rúshì zhù, rúshì jiángfú qí xīn. Wéi rán, Shì zūn, yuàn lè yù wén.
Key Message
Genuine practice begins with the question: 'How should I abide in this mind, and how should I master this mind?'
▸Section 2, 'Subhuti Rises to Make a Request,' depicts the elder Subhuti rising from his seat in the midst of the great assembly and opening the door to the entire dialogue of the Diamond Sutra.
Section 2, 'Subhuti Rises to Make a Request,' depicts the elder Subhuti rising from his seat in the midst of the great assembly and opening the door to the entire dialogue of the Diamond Sutra. Subhuti (須菩提), the elder renowned as first among those who understood emptiness (空), bares his right shoulder, places his right knee on the ground, joins his palms in reverence, and praises the Buddha. His question has two parts: for those who have aroused bodhicitta — the aspiration toward supreme enlightenment (菩提心) — 'how should they abide in that mind?' (應云何住) and 'how should they subdue their mind?' (云何降伏其心). The Buddha responds with 'Excellent, excellent!' (善哉善哉), accepting these questions and indicating that he will now expound on them. Subhuti's response — 'Yes, World-Honored One, we gladly wish to hear' (唯然世尊 願樂欲聞) — signals that all is ready for the teaching to begin.