A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s6.t4.122

v2.c19.s6.t4.122

"The perfection of wisdom which has been proclaimed by Buddha, the same has been proclaimed by Buddha as a non-perfection also. What do you think, Subhūti, is there any doctrine (Dharma) which has been proclaimed by Buddha?" Subhūti said: "No, Lord, there is no doctrine which has been proclaimed by Buddha..." The Lord said: "What do you think, Subhūti, can Buddha, the saint, the completely enlightened one, be recognised by the thirty-two characteristics of a great man?" Subhūti said: "No, Lord, Buddha, the saint, the completely enlightened one, cannot be recognised by the thirty-two characteristics of a great man. And why not? Because the thirty-two characteristics of a great man, which have been proclaimed by Buddha, were proclaimed by Buddha as non-characteristics. Therefore they are called the thirty-two characteristics of a great man."