Part 17-8
“Subhuti, ‘all things’ are not all things; therefore, they are called ‘all things.’”
Commentary:
This scripture means that all things are not things at all in essence but just names, imaginary labels and that the Buddha used all things as expedient means for the purpose of revealing the true-Self. This is why ancient masters would say that everything is a rabbit-horn.
We should realise what the Buddha tried to show to us beyond words, through words that are imaginary labels. Ancient masters would say that words are not the true-Self but that the true-Self is not separate from words. This implies that form is Emptiness and Emptiness is form, and that illusions are enlightenment and vice versa. Form is not different and separate from Emptiness, but one.
In short, all things are one as the true-Self, but they appear to be many and different from one another because we divide it into many by words, imaginary labels and because we, being deluded by the words, see them as distinct and separate from each other.
Student: “How is it when we realise that all things are not things but just called all things?”
Master: “Who can ask whom what?”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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