Part 10-1
The Buddha said to Subhuti, “What do you think—did I, the Realised One gain any kind of Dharma when I, the Realised One was with the Dipankara Buddha in the past?”
“No, World Honoured One. You, the Realised One really did not gain any Dharma from the Dipankara Buddha.”
Commentary:
The purpose of the Buddha’s teaching, as mentioned previously, is to attain enlightenment, which is to realise the true-Self, Emptiness that is the essence of everything. The true-Self contains everything, including us, and there is nothing that is not the true-Self. Even the historical Buddha and the Dipankara Buddha also belong to the true-Self and are part of it. There is nothing but the true-Self. The true-Self is also referred to as Oneness because everything is one as the true-Self. This cannot be divided, or broken, nor can it be given, or taken since it is formless, boundless and changeless. The Dipankara Buddha just helped the historical Buddha to realise the true-Self in the past but didn’t and couldn’t grant anything to him. This is why Subhuti said that the Buddha really did not gain any Dharma from Dipankara Buddha.
There is a very well-known story that is popular with people. Once the Buddha lifted a flower during his Dharma talk, then, only Mahakasyapa smiled at it. At that time the Buddha said, “I have the Eye of Dharma, and now I pass it on to Mahakasyapa.” This is very likely to allure people to be confused into thinking that there was something that the Buddha gave to Mahakasyapa. The fact was not that the Buddha gave something to Mahakasyapa but that he just revealed the true-Self through his words and action for the purpose of showing it to the assembly.
Let me introduce a story that substantiates that the Buddha didn’t pass on anything to Mahakasyapa. After the Buddha’s death, Ananda once asked Mahakasyapa, “What else did you get from the Buddha except his robe and bowl?” Mahakasyapa said, “Ananda.” Ananda responded, “Yes.” Mahakasyapa said, “Break the flagpole by the door outside.” In the end, Ananda was able to attain enlightenment, or realise the true-Self through this short dialogue. This conversation shows well what the Buddha meant by the words ‘I have the Eye of Dharma, and now I pass it on to Mahakasyapa’.
We should remember that the aim of all words and acts by the Buddha is just to reveal the true-Self to sentient beings and we ought to seek to know what the Buddha took the trouble to show to us.
Student: “What is it that the Buddha wanted to show to people?”
Master: “You and I are showing it to each other.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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