Part 28-1
“Subhuti, suppose a Bodhisattva took as many jewels as would fill worlds as numerous as the sand grains in the Ganges River and gave them in charity. Now suppose someone else realised the selflessness of all things and attained tolerance; this Bodhisattva would surpass the blessings attained by the former Bodhisattva.
Commentary:
No matter how many jewels we may give in charity, they are no better than images of jewels and charity, and we are still deluded by images, illusions if we have not realised that everything is empty. In other words, no matter how many good things we may do, we are just being deluded by illusions if we can’t see things as they are, that is, if we are not aware that everything is selfless, that is, that nothing has its own unique nature.
However, once we have realised that everything is empty, or selfless, we are aware that no matter what we may do, whether a small thing, or a tremendous thing, our acts are the functions of the Buddha. This is why the Buddha said that the blessings attained by the latter Bodhisattva would surpass the blessings attained by the former.
Student: “Why is realising the selflessness of all things and attaining tolerance more valuable than giving as many jewels as would fill worlds as numerous as the sand grains in the Ganges River in charity?”
Master: “The body that creates the shadow, although it is much smaller than the shadow, is incomparably more valuable than its shadow.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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