Part 8-3
“Subhuti, that which is called Buddha Dharma is not Buddha Dharma.”
Commentary:
‘That which is called Buddha Dharma is not Buddha Dharma’ signifies that Buddha Dharma is just a name, an imaginary label created by people and not the essence of it, because it is originally nameless, boundless and formless. It is changeless since it is formless. It has no beginning and no end because it is changeless and boundless. This is why it is referred to as eternity itself and perfection itself. There is nothing that doesn’t belong to it because it is boundless. For this reason, in Buddhism, it is said that everything is equal as the Buddha and that the Buddha is everywhere all the time.
Seen from this perspective, what is called a flower is essentially not a flower. It is a flower because we named it a flower and blooms and withers because we think it does. This is why the historical Buddha said that everything is an illusion created by our minds.
So, seeing what is changeless, nameless and boundless when we see things is seeing the Buddha. He who can see in this way can see the Buddha all the time. This is why a Bodhisattva in the Avatamsaka Sutra said, “Whenever I want to see the Buddha, I can see Him anytime. However, never does He come to me, nor do I go to Him.”
Student: “What is Buddha Dharma?”
Master: “No one can hide it.”
Student: “Why don’t you show it to me if no one can hide it?”
Master: “Showing it is rather hiding it.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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