Further to the earlier part of the Sutra “Buddha beyond form and appearance” and “There is no Buddha who attained enlightenment“, this chapter further describes that real Buddha cannot be recognized by its specific 32 characteristics in appearance, and that Buddha has not taught anything.
While some Buddhist scriptures describe Buddha to have 32 characteristics in appearance, it is also a well known scenario that whenever something genuine desired thing (like luxury goods) is known to the world, counterfeit appears as wolf covers in sheep’s clothes. Therefore, when we see a Buddha/Bodhisattva comes with matching characteristics of what the scripture describes, be extra cautous: it could be a genuine perception, or it could be a demon appearing to test you! (refer to Chinese classic fiction – Journey to the West for some example of tests). The Buddha foresaw this and therefore warned us ahead of time not to fall prey to these unreal imagination and counterfeit.
With 40+ years of teaching on earth, the Buddha has left with us many teachings perceived in sounds, words and languages. While sound, words and languages are convenient ways that help us improve and proceed towards truth, ultimate teachings is beyond words and no word, and is beyond the describable “something” that was transmitted between the physical Buddha and his students. Therefore, from the absolute point of view, it is wrong to say that the Buddha had taught us anything, which imply a definable Buddha taught us some limited knowledge!
Real Buddha is beyond form, and no-form;
Real truth is beyond words, and no-word.
* * *
如法受持分第十三
ACCEPTING AND UPHOLDING THE DHARMA OF “THUSNESS”, THIRTEEN
尔时，须菩提白佛言：世尊！当何名此经？我等云何奉持？
Subhuti then asked the Buddha: World Honoured One, what name should be given to this sutra and how should we receive and hold it (in mind)?”
佛告须菩提：是经名为《金刚般若波罗蜜》，以是名字，汝当奉持。
The Buddha said:This sutra should be called ‘The Diamond prajna-paramita’ under which name you should receive and hold it.
所以者何？须菩提！
佛说般若波罗蜜，则非般若波罗蜜。是名般若波罗蜜。
“Why? Because, Subhuti,
the Prajna- paramita as expounded by the Buddha, is not Prajna- paramita but is (merely) so called.
须菩提！于意云何？如来有所说法不？
“Subhuti, what do you think Does the Tathagata expound the Dharma?”
须菩提白佛言：世尊！如来无所说。
Subhuti said: “World Honoured One, the Tathagata does not expound anything.”
* * *
须菩提！于意云何？可以三十二相见如来不？
“Subhuti, what do you think? Can the Tathagata be perceived by means of His thirty-two physical characteristics ( laksanas )?”
不也，世尊！不可以三十二相得见如来。
“’No, World Honoured One. The Tathagata cannot be perceived by them.
何以故？如来说：三十二相，即是非相，是名三十二相。
“Why? Because the Tathagata says they are not real but are (merely) called the thirty-two physical characteristics.”承接之前“不可以身相得见如来”和“佛没得道，因大道不能得故”，佛陀在本章进一步讲解真正的佛是可以不被其32个特征认出来，和从来没有佛讲过任何佛法。
虽然佛经上描述了佛独有的32个外观上的特点，但我们同时亦知道，每当一种真正的东西面世时（比如说奢侈品），虚假的赝品也会随之出现，就像披着羊皮的狼一样。因此，当我们看到一个佛/菩萨如经文的描述般出现时，要额外的当心：它有可能是真正的感知，也可能是魔景的试炼！（详情可看西游记里的描述）。佛预见到这一点，因此提前提醒我们不要堕入这些虚假的想象和赝品。
最后，经过人世间上40年以上的教学，佛陀留给了我们大量的教导。虽然声音，文字和语言，都是方便的媒体来帮助我们提升自我和认识真理，但最终的道理是超越语言和非语言，和超越所有佛祖对学生所传授的知识的。因此，从绝对的角度来看，我们不能说佛陀曾给我们说过最高的佛法，因为这样说就意味着有一个能被定形的佛宣说了一些有限的知识！
真正的佛超越了所有的形相，和非形相；
真正的道超越了所有的文字，和非文字。
* * *
如法受持分第十三
尔时，须菩提白佛言：世尊！当何名此经？我等云何奉持？
佛告须菩提：是经名为《金刚般若波罗蜜》，以是名字，汝当奉持。
所以者何？须菩提！
佛说般若波罗蜜，则非般若波罗蜜。是名般若波罗蜜。
须菩提！于意云何？如来有所说法不？
须菩提白佛言：世尊！如来无所说。
* * *
须菩提！于意云何？可以三十二相见如来不？
不也，世尊！不可以三十二相得见如来。
何以故？如来说：三十二相，即是非相，是名三十二相。
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