Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra
Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra
摩訶般若波羅蜜経 (Skt Pan-chavimshatisahasrika-prajnaparamita; Chin Mo-ho-pan-jo-po-lo-mi-ching; Jpn Makahannya-haramitsu-kyo )
(1) One of the major Wisdom sutras, translated into Chinese by Kumarajiva in 404. Also known as the Larger Wisdom Sutra, in contrast with the Smaller Wisdom Sutra (also translated by Kumarajiva). The formal Chinese titles of these two sutras are the same; hence they are commonly distinguished by the shortened titles above. The Larger Wisdom Sutra expounds the doctrine of supreme wisdom (Skt prajna ) and the nonsubstantiality of all phenomena. The text consists of ninety chapters. In the first six chapters, Shakyamuni Buddha expounds the doctrine of supreme wisdom to his disciples of superior capacity, including Shariputra. In the subsequent chapters, Subhuti preaches to bodhisattvas and others on behalf of the Buddha. The Treatise on the Great Perfection of Wisdom is Nagarjuna's commentary on the Sanskrit text of this sutra.
(2) 摩訶般若波羅蜜経(Skt Ashtasahasrika-prajnaparamita; Chin Mo-ho-pan-jo-po-lo-mi-ching; Jpn Makahannya-haramitsu-kyo ): Also known as the Smaller Wisdom Sutra. A sutra translated by Kumarajiva in 408, the Chinese title of which is also rendered as the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. It consists of twenty-nine chapters. Though considerably different in length, the Larger and Smaller Wisdom sutras basically set forth the same doctrines.
(3)大般若波羅蜜多経・大般若経(Skt Mahaprajnaparamita-sutra; Chin Ta-pan-jo-po-lo-mi-to-ching; Jpn Daihannya-haramitta-kyo or Dai-hannya-kyo ): Also known as the Great Wisdom Sutra.
See; Great Wisdom Sutra.
