[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Buddhist Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha) › [Taishō Tripiṭaka (Chinese Buddhist canon)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho) › [大方廣圓覺修多羅了義經](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.842) › [The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.842~en-bdk) › 1.10 # 大方廣圓覺修多羅了義經 1.10 The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment 1.10 - **Language:** English ### [1.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.842~en-bdk.1.10) engaged in practice but remained within their illusory projections within birth and death, never realizing the sphere where everything is seen to be like an illusion, then how could they ever free themselves from delusive thoughts? For the sake of all sentient beings during the final age, I pray that you will devise some expedients and gradual practices to enable them to cut off all illusions forever.” Having spoken these words, he prostrated himself fully. He made his request in this way three times in succession. At that time the World-honored One addressed Universal Worthy Bodhisattva, saying, “Excellent! How excellent, son of good family, that, for the sake of the bodhisattvas as well as sentient beings in the final age you are thus able to \[inquire about\] cultivating the bodhisattva samādhi wherein everything is seen to be like an illusion, so as to enable sentient beings to succeed in freeing themselves from illusions by gradually progressing through expedient methods. Now listen carefully to what I shall expound to you.” Then Universal Worthy Bodhisattva, delighted to receive the teaching, listened silently along with the great assembly. “Son of good family, the various illusory projections of all sentient beings are all born from the perfectly enlightened marvelous mind of the Tathāgatas, just as flowers in the sky come into being out of emptiness. Even though the illusory flowers disappear, the nature of the sky is unimpaired. The illusory minds of sentient beings, however, are extinguished by recourse to illusion; when all illusions have been thoroughly extinguished, the enlightened mind is undisturbed. If enlightenment is explained by recourse to illusion, that is also said to be an illusion. If one claims that there is enlightenment, that \[position\] is still not yet free from illusion. To claim that there is no enlightenment is also an illusion. Therefore, the extinction of illusions is designated as being undisturbed. “Son of good family, all bodhisattvas and sentient beings in the final age should transcend all illusory projections and unreal objects. Because they firmly cling to the awareness of transcending, \[the awareness that\] the mind is like an illusion should also be transcended. Even this transcending is illusory and must also be transcended. And even the transcending of the transcending of illusions must also be transcended. Only when there is nothing to transcend are illusions removed. Remedying illusion by means of an illusion is like rubbing sticks together to make fire: with the two sticks serving as cause to one another, flames burst forth, the sticks are consumed, their ashes fly away, and the smoke disappears, \[leaving nothing behind\]. Although all illusions are exhausted, nothing enters into extinction. “Son of good family, since knowing illusion is transcending it, there is no need to devise expedients. Since freeing oneself from illusion is enlightenment, there is also no gradual progression. If all bodhisattvas and sentient beings in the final age practice in accord with this \[teaching\], they will be able to transcend all illusions forever.” At that time the World-honored One, wanting to restate his meaning, uttered this verse: Universal Worthy, you should know that The beginningless illusory ignorance Of all sentient beings Is established on the basis of the perfectly enlightened mind Of all Tathāgatas Chapter II Just as a flower in the sky Assumes form depending on the sky. When the flower in the sky disappears, The empty sky is fundamentally undisturbed. Illusion is born from enlightenment: Once illusions are extinguished, enlightenment is consummated, And the enlightened mind is undisturbed. - [Previous: 1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.842~en-bdk.1.7) - [Next: 1.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.842~en-bdk.1.14) - [Up: 1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.842~en-bdk.1) ## Translations (1) - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.842~en-mt.1.10) — English, machine translation ## Linked texts (1) - [大方廣圓覺修多羅了義經](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.842.1.10) — Classical Chinese --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.842~en-bdk.1.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.taisho.842~en-bdk.1.10) · Pramāṇa