user12107: Why does the Buddha ask the same question twice, and why does Subhuti answer it two different ways? In Diamond Sutra Chapter 13

“Subhuti, what do you think? Can the Buddha be perceived by means of
  his thirty-two physical characteristics?”
“No, Most Honored One. The Buddha cannot be perceived by his
  thirty-two physical characteristics. Why? Because the Buddha teaches
  that they are not real but are merely called the thirty-two physical
  characteristics.”

but in Diamond Sutra Chapter 26

“What do you think Subhuti? Is it possible to recognize the Buddha by
  the 32 physical marks?”
Subhuti replied, “Yes, Most Honored One, the Buddha may thus be
  recognized.”

Is there a difference between the 32 physical characteristics and the the 32 physical marks?

user11241: They are two different translations of the same words.
From Chapter 13, your first quote:

「須菩提！於意云何？可以三十二相見如來不？」 “Subhuti, what do you think? Can the Buddha be perceived by means of his thirty-two physical characteristics?”

"32 physical characteristics" is "三十二相" in the Chinese above the English.
From Chapter 15:

「須菩提！於意云何？可以三十二相觀如來不？」“What do you think Subhuti? Is it possible to recognize the Buddha by the 32 physical marks?”

"32 physical marks" is "三十二相" again.
They are two different ways to translate the same term. The translator likely either didn't notice they were rendering it in two ways, or they wanted variety to help with readability.
The two segments of Chinese text are from T235.750a20 & T235.752a11 respectively in the Taishō Tripiṭaka.

12107: <p>Why does the Buddha ask the same question twice, and why does Subhuti answer it two different ways? In <a href="http://diamond-sutra.com/read-the-diamond-sutra-here/diamond-sutra-chapter-13/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Diamond Sutra Chapter 13</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>“Subhuti, what do you think? Can the Buddha be perceived by means of
  his thirty-two physical characteristics?”</p>
  
  <p>“No, Most Honored One. The Buddha cannot be perceived by his
  thirty-two physical characteristics. Why? Because the Buddha teaches
  that they are not real but are merely called the thirty-two physical
  characteristics.”</p>
</blockquote>

<p>but in <a href="http://diamond-sutra.com/read-the-diamond-sutra-here/diamond-sutra-chapter-26/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Diamond Sutra Chapter 26</a></p>

<blockquote>
  <p>“What do you think Subhuti? Is it possible to recognize the Buddha by
  the 32 physical marks?”</p>
  
  <p>Subhuti replied, “Yes, Most Honored One, the Buddha may thus be
  recognized.”</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Is there a difference between the <code>32 physical characteristics</code> and the <code>the 32 physical marks?</code></p>
 11241: <p>They are two different translations of the same words.</p>
<p>From Chapter 13, your first quote:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>「須菩提！於意云何？可以三十二相見如來不？」 “Subhuti, what do you think? Can the Buddha be perceived by means of his thirty-two physical characteristics?”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>&quot;32 physical characteristics&quot; is &quot;三十二相&quot; in the Chinese above the English.</p>
<p>From Chapter 15:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>「須菩提！於意云何？可以三十二相觀如來不？」“What do you think Subhuti? Is it possible to recognize the Buddha by the 32 physical marks?”</p>
</blockquote>
<p>&quot;32 physical marks&quot; is &quot;三十二相&quot; again.</p>
<p>They are two different ways to translate the same term. The translator likely either didn't notice they were rendering it in two ways, or they wanted variety to help with readability.</p>
<p>The two segments of Chinese text are from T235.750a20 &amp; T235.752a11 respectively in the Taishō Tripiṭaka.</p>
