Part 30-2
“World Honoured One, the billion-world universe spoken of by the Realised One is not a universe; it is just called a universe.”
“What is the reason? If the universe really existed, it would be a compound; but the Realised One says that a compound is not a compound, it is called a compound.”
“Subhuti, the compound is inexpressible, but ordinary people greedily cleave to it.”
Commentary:
In fact, although similar words were already repeated many times in the preceding parts, nearing the end of this Sutra, the Buddha said the same words again so that people might not accept his Dharma talks only literally. This part says that all words spoken by the Buddha are just illusionary and not substantive.
However, not only all words spoken by the Buddha but all words mentioned by all people around world and all things we see and hear are also just imaginary.
Sentient beings who can’t see and hear them as they are, greedily attach themselves to them and struggle to obtain, or avoid them. When they fail to achieve their goals, they feel unhappy, even angry and frustrated.
This is no other than the three poisons that are ignorance, greed and anger in Buddhism that make people unhappy: Failing to see things as they are implies ignorance, being attracted to them as a result of ignorance is greed, and the result of ignorance and greed is anger.
Student: “If the universe is not the universe, what is it?”
Master: “There is no life and death in it.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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