The Maha-Prajnaparamita Sutra Collection

Good news, good news !!! The collection of over 700 volumes of the Prajnaparamita Sutras has begun to be translated into English, under the name: “Maha-Prajnaparamita Sutra“

According to the Five Periods and Eight Teachings, the Buddha preached the Great Prajnaparamita Sutras. The sutras belong to the category of distinct teachings. The Buddha preached the entire Great Prajnaparamita for a total of 22 years. The Buddha also said beforehand that in the future this sutra would become very widespread in Chấn Ðán (that is, China), and from there be transmitted to other countries around the world. And in July 2026, the Great Prajnaparamita Sutra collection began to be translated into English.

During the Tang dynasty, Master Xuanzang, by imperial order of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, translated six hundred volumes of the Great Prajnaparamita collection. The Sanskrit version contained a total of 200.000 verses, and with an extremely solemn and careful attitude, he did not dare to omit a single sentence at his own discretion. He translated it in full. The translation work at Daxingshan Temple began in the fifth year of Xianqing (660 after tc) and continued until the third year of Longshuo (663), meaning that it was completed after only four years at Yuhua Temple. At that time, eminent monks and great virtuous masters throughout the country, as well as renowned figures, all contributed their efforts to assist with the translation and refinement, marking the most brilliant period in the history of Buddhist scripture translation.

 

Vajra has three meanings: solidity, brilliance, and sharpness.

The substance of the vajra is solid and indestructible. Nothing can destroy it; conversely, it can destroy all other things; therefore, the substance of the vajra can subdue heavenly demons and non-Buddhist heretics. Originally, the false knowledge and false views of heavenly demons and non-Buddhist heretics are not easily subdued, however, if there is the “substance of the vajra”, then heavenly demons and non-Buddhist heretics can be subdued.

The characteristic of the vajra is brilliance, which can illuminate the darkness of the mundane world. Only when darkness is removed does light appear; by destroying false teachings, the true Dharma can be maintained for a long time. If false teachings are not eradicated, the true Dharma cannot remain for long. The characteristic of the vajra is precisely to dispel all darkness.

The function of the vajra is its sharpness. What is sharpness? It can be likened to a sharp blade that cuts stone, slices steel, and chops iron as if it were mud? no matter how hard the object is, it is crushed and destroyed.

The Prajñāpāramitā Sutras comprise approximately how many texts? Originally, there were eight texts, but upon careful analysis, this sutra is divided into ten texts.

  • The Great Prajñāpāramitā Sutra, consisting of six hundred fascicles. During the time Master Xuanzang translated this sutra, the peach blossoms bloomed six times in one year.
  • The Light-Emitting Prajñāpāramitā Sutra, which speaks of the Buddha emitting light when teaching the Prajñāpāramitā, consists of 20 fascicles.
  • The Mahā Prajñāpāramitā Sutra; Mahā means “great”, but it is not the same title as the Great Prajñāpāramitā Sutra, and this sutra consists of 30 fascicles.
  • The Small-Section Prajñāpāramitā Sutra; but it is not the same title as the Great Prajñāpāramitā Sutra, and this sutra consists of 10 fascicles.
  • The Prajñāpāramitā Sutra of Radiant Praise, meaning that the Buddha emits light when praising the Prajñāpāramitā, and this sutra consists of 10 fascicles.
  • The Prajñāpāramitā Sutra of the Practice of the Way, and this sutra consists of 10 fascicles.
  • The Prajñāpāramitā Sutra of the Victorious Heavenly King, consisting of seven fascicles.
  • The Prajñāpāramitā Sutra of the Benevolent King, namely the Benevolent King Protecting the Nation Prajñāpāramitā Sutra, consisting of 2 fascicles: Upper & Lower
  • The Prajñāpāramitā Sutra of True Reality, consisting of only one fascicle.
  • The Prajñāpāramitā Sutra Spoken by Mañjuśrī, also consisting of only one fascicle.

In addition, there are a number of individual sutras such as the Prajñāpāramitā Heart Sutra or the Prajñāpāramitā Heart Mantra that we commonly recite every day. The first 600 fascicles in the Prajñāpāramitā collection were translated by Master Xuanzang, while the other sutras were later translated by other venerable masters such as Venerable Mokṣala, Dharma Master Kumārajīva, etc…

The Buddha taught the Prajñāpāramitā Sutras at four locations, in sixteen Dharma assemblies.

  • The first location was at Vulture Peak, in the city of Rājagṛha, northeast of the city of Śrāvastī, and he taught there in seven Dharma assemblies.
  • The second location was at Jeta Grove, the forest of Prince Jeta, also in seven assemblies.
  • The third location was in the Heaven of the Paranirmitavaśavartin, at the Maṇi Jewel Treasury Palace, where he taught in one assembly.
  • The fourth place was at Bamboo Grove, beside the Hundred Deer Pond (Deer Park), where the Buddha also taught only one assembly. In total, at four places, the Buddha taught sixteen times.

The current translation team has now completed translating all 10 texts. Here is the link to the translated article