Part 14-12
“All images that the Realised One mentioned are not images, and all sentient beings the Realised One mentioned are not sentient beings.”
Commentary:
Here the Buddha reminds his students one more time not to dwell on things by saying that the images and the sentient beings, which he mentioned frequently are not images and not sentient beings, but just called as such as an expedient means. Strictly speaking, if we grasp the Buddha’s words perfectly and see and hear everything in the way we were told to, we should not dwell on the words ‘All images that the Realised One mentioned are not images, and all sentient beings the Realised One mentioned are not sentient beings’ as well. This is why the Buddha said on his deathbed, “Not a word did I say.”
Student: “If sentient beings are not sentient beings, what are they?”
Master: “If sentient beings are not sentient beings, the Buddha is not the Buddha, either.”
Student: “If the Buddha is not the Buddha, who preached this Sutra?”
Master: “The Buddha tried all his life just to show him to us.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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