Zen

Q. Can those who read a lot about Buddhism and enlightenment attain enlightenment earlier than those who don’t?

A. As noted earlier, attaining enlightenment means escaping from the net of words. Reading a lot is making the net denser by accumulating words. If enlightenment were possible to attain through reading a lot, scholars who study Buddhism would get enlightened earlier than monastics. Enlightenment is beyond intellectual, or academic understanding.

This is why it is said that Buddha Dharma is transmitted out of doctrinal teaching. You can attain knowledge by reading a lot but can’t attain enlightenment by reading a lot, just as you cannot buy time with money although you can buy a clock with money.

©Boo Ahm

All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway

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