Dr. Gregory Seton, translator of the Transcendent State of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines, commonly known as The Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines, traces the term Prajñāpāramitā to its roots, the sutra's structure to its purpose, and explains why reciting this text is itself a form of practice.
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What is the Transcendent State of Wisdom that the Prajñāpāramitā in Eight Thousand Lines talks about, and why has this text been revered for more than two millennia?
Known traditionally as the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā), this foundational Mahāyāna Buddhist sutra is among the earliest and most influential expressions of the Perfection of Wisdom teachings.
In this talk, translator Dr. Gregory Seton explores the meaning of Prajñāpāramitā—rendered here as "Transcendent State of Wisdom”—and offers an introduction to the sutra’s structure, purpose, and transformative approach to wisdom. Rather than presenting wisdom as a philosophical concept alone, he explains how the text is designed to be directly experienced.
This presentation was recorded at Sravasti Abbey during Saka Dawa 2026, before the first complete English recitation of the Transcendent State of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines. The recitation marked the consecration of the Abbey’s new Buddha Hall and was conducted in collaboration with 84000.
This newly published translation was made by Dr. Gregory Seton under the Padmakara Translation Group, directed by Pema Wangyal Rinpoche and Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche. The text was subsequently edited by John Canti and Ven. Konchog Norbu, and published by 84000 as part of its Perfection of Wisdom collection.
Dr. Gregory Seton is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Religion at Dartmouth College and a translator of the Transcendent State of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines (Toh 12).
