CHAPTER II - Tactfulness
The title of this chapter in Chinese, Fang-pien -'fe (Sanskrit Upaya-kaualya), means an appropriate, expedient, or tactful method.
Translated by Bunno Kato, Yoshiro Tamura, Kojiro Miyasaka
with revisions by W.E. Soothill, Wilhelm Schiffer, Pier P. del Campana
(N.Y - 1975)
At that time the World-honored One, rising quietly and clearly from contemplation,
addressed Sâriputra: "The wisdom of buddhas is very profound
and infinite. Their wisdomschool is difficult to understand and difficult
to enter, so that the srâvakas and pratyekabuddhas cannot apprehend
it. Wherefore ? [Because] the buddhas have been in fellowship with countless
hundred thousand myriad kotis of buddhas, perfectly practicing the infinite
Law of all buddhas, boldly and zealously advancing and [making] their
fame universally known, perfecting the very profound, unprecedented Law
and preaching, as opportunity served, its meaning [so] difficult to understand.
Sariputra ! Ever since I became Buddha, with various reasonings and various
parables I have widely discoursed and taught, and by countless tactful
methods have led living beings, causing them to leave all attachments.
Wherefore ? [Because] the Tathâgata is altogether perfect in his
tactfulness and paramita of wisdom. Sâriputra ! The wisdom of the
Tathagata is broad and great, profound and far-reaching; [his minci] is
infinite; [his expositions] are unimpeded; [his] powers, [his] fearlessness,
[his] meditations, [his] emancipations, [his] contemplations have enabled
him to enter into the boundless [realms] and to accomplish all the unprecedented
Law. Sâriputra ! The Tathâgata is able to discriminate everything,
preach the laws skillfully, use gentle words, and cheer the hearts of
all. Sâriputra ! Essentially speaking, the Buddha has altogether
fulfilled the infinite, boundless, unprecedented Law. Enough, Sâriputra,
there is no need to say more. Wherefore ? [Because] the Law which the Buddha
has perfected is the chief unprecedented Law, and difficult to understand.
Only a buddha together with a buddha can fathom the Reality of All Existence,
that is to say, all existence' [has] such a form, such a nature, such
an embodiment, such a potency, such a function, such a primary cause,
such a secondary cause, such an effect, such a recompense, and such a
complete fundamental whole."