Part 19
“Subhuti, what do you think—if someone were to fill the universe with seven kinds of precious stone to use for giving in charity, would this person gain many blessings because of this?” “Yes, World Honoured One. This person would gain very many blessings because of this.” “Subhuti, if blessings had substance, the Realised One would not say that many blessings are gained. Because blessings are non-existent, therefore the Realised One says many blessings are gained.”
Commentary:
The key point here is what the blessings that the Buddha meant are. Blessings that sentient beings think have substance and are existent have forms and beginning and end. They are just illusions like a rabbit-horn.
However, the true blessing the Buddha meant is to realise that we are one with the true-Self, the Buddha. The true-Self has no substance and is neither existent nor non-existent, and it is formless and boundless. It means that it is perfect, limitless and eternal.
Even if someone were to fill the universe with seven kinds of precious stone to use for giving in charity, he can’t gain as much blessing as the Buddha meant if he can’t see all the precious stone he offers as the true-Self. Only when he can feel one, as the true-Self, with what he offers can he enjoy the limitless and eternal blessing that the Buddha meant. This is why the Buddha says that many blessings are gained.
Being able to see the true-Self at this moment in each word spoken by the Buddha is truly to gain blessing.
Student: “If blessings are non-existent, how can we gain them?”
Master: “They are spread before your eyes and even in your hands.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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