Part 30-1
“Subhuti, if a good man or a good woman pulverised the billion-world universe into fine particles of dust, do you think there would be many of these particles of dust?” Subhuti said, “Very many, World Honoured One. Why? If these particles of dust were really existent, then the Buddha would not say they were particles of dust. Why? The fine particles of dust the Buddha has said are not fine particles of dust, but are just called fine particles of dust.”
Commentary:
All things in the realm of from, said the Buddha, are not real entities but no more than images just like rabbit horns created by our imagination. This is why it is said that the fine of particles of dust Buddha has said are not fine particles of dust, but are just called fine particles of dust.
This means that no matter how countless the world universes may be, they are not real-world universes but illusionary ones that are just called world universe.
To see and hear all things in this way is referred to as seeing and hearing things as they are, or as empty, which is to see the Buddha, or to enter the Pure land.
However, being deluded by words and forms, that is, failing to see and hear things as they are, is referred to as turning the Pure land into dirty mountains and rivers covered with soil and stone.
It follows from this that whether we will reside in the Pure land, or in the mundane world depends on how we see and hear what reaches our eyes and ears.
Student: “If fine particles of dust are not fine particles of dust, what are they?”
Master: “The Buddha’s words are not words.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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