Part 17-2
“What is the reason? Subhuti, if bodhisattvas have an image of a self, an image of a person, an image of a being, or image of a liver of life, then they are not bodhisattvas.” “What is the reason? Subhuti, it is not because there is any dharma to realise that one should have a mind to attain unexcelled complete perfect enlightenment.”
Commentary:
Bodhisattva is a name for ones who, having attained enlightenment, are free from being deluded by images and words. This is why the Buddha said that if bodhisattvas have an image of a self, an image of a person, an image of a being, or image of a liver of life, then they are not bodhisattvas.
Although the Buddha said that we should realise the dharma and attain unexcelled complete perfect enlightenment, in reality there is no dharma to realise and no unexcelled complete perfect enlightenment to attain because everything is empty. He used such words as expedient means to lead sentient beings to the realisation that everything is empty. So, ancient masters would say that there are the true-Self to see, dharma to realise and enlightenment to attain before enlightenment, but that there are no true-Self to see, no dharma to realise and no enlightenment to attain after enlightenment since everything, including ourselves, appears to be one as emptiness.
Student: “Why do we have to attain enlightenment if there is actually no enlightenment to attain?”
Master: “Medicine is not medicine anymore when a patient is well, but it is necessary until he is cured perfectly.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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