Скачать или смотреть Wisdom That Protects the World — When Prajñā Becomes the Foundation of Just Rule (佛說仁王般若波羅蜜經)

About this text

The Sūtra Spoken by the Buddha on the Perfection of Wisdom for Benevolent Kings (佛說仁王般若波羅蜜經) is one of the most distinctive works in the Prajñāpāramitā tradition. Unlike texts focused primarily on individual liberation or monastic practice, this sutra addresses kings, leaders, and those responsible for society, presenting wisdom as the true foundation of peace, stability, and protection.

Here, Prajñāpāramitā is not taught as abstract philosophy alone, but as the governing principle of ethical power. The Buddha explains that nations do not rise or fall merely through force, wealth, or strategy, but through alignment — or misalignment — with wisdom, compassion, and moral clarity.

At the heart of the sutra is a striking claim:
when wisdom collapses,
disorder follows —
in the mind, in society, and in the world.

The text unfolds through a dialogue between the Buddha and King Prasenajit (波斯匿王), representing rulers who seek to govern wisely. The Buddha teaches emptiness, non-attachment, and compassion, while simultaneously affirming responsibility, justice, and the need to protect the people. Prajñā here is not withdrawal from power, but the correct way to hold it.

Throughout the sutra, wisdom is presented as a protective force. When rulers uphold Prajñāpāramitā — through ethical conduct, restraint, generosity, and reverence for the Dharma — calamities subside and harmony prevails. When wisdom is ignored, chaos manifests as conflict, corruption, natural disasters, and social breakdown.

Several core themes define this text:

• Wisdom as protection — Prajñā safeguards nations and people
• Ethical power — authority grounded in compassion and clarity
• Emptiness and responsibility — non-attachment does not negate duty
• Interdependence — social order mirrors the state of collective mind
• Dharma as foundation — true stability arises from wisdom, not force

Unlike other Prajñā sutras that dismantle concepts relentlessly, the 仁王般若經 integrates wisdom with governance. It shows that emptiness does not lead to passivity. When properly understood, it enables rulers to act decisively without cruelty, firmly without arrogance, and powerfully without fear.

The title 仁王 — “Benevolent King” — captures the sutra’s vision. A true ruler is not defined by dominance, but by wisdom that protects life, fosters harmony, and restrains suffering. In this sense, Prajñāpāramitā becomes not only a path to awakening, but a medicine for the world.

The 佛說仁王般若波羅蜜經 thus stands as a rare bridge between inner realization and outer responsibility. It teaches that when wisdom governs the heart, it can also govern society — bringing stability without oppression, order without violence, and peace rooted in understanding.

Credits

Dedication: [Dedication]

Narration, Script & Research: Created entirely through NotebookLM and supporting AI tools
Source: CBETA Taishō Canon T0245 — 佛說仁王般若波羅蜜經
Produced by: The Dharma × Tech Foundation