The Buddha said, “Good, Subhuti! As you say, I always have the bodhisattvas in mind well, protect them well and entrust them well with the propagation of Buddhist Dharma. Listen carefully now; I will expound to you. When good men and good women have made up their minds to attain supreme enlightenment, they should live and surrender their minds thus.” “Yes indeed, World-Honoured One, we look forward to listening.’’
Commentary:
In Part 13 of this Sutra the Buddha says to Subhuti, “What do you think Subhuti, do I have a doctrine to preach?” Subhuti says to the Buddha, “You, World-Honoured One, have no doctrine.” The Buddha says, “Subhuti, what do you think? Is there any such dharma spoken by me, the Tathagata?” Subhuti says, “No, indeed, Sir. There is no such dharma spoken by the Tathagata.” This indicates that we should appreciate what is beyond the Buddha’s words to grasp the core of his teaching. This is why they say that the Buddha’s teaching is transmitted separately beyond doctrine.
In other words, we, instead of clinging to the text of this Sutra, should be able to recognise, by grasping what is beyond the words, how the Buddha has the bodhisattvas in mind well, protects them well and entrusts them well with the propagation of Buddhist Dharma.
Q: “If we should not be deluded by words, why are there so many Sutras?”
A: “All of them tell people not to be deluded by words.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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