Buddhism says that letting go of the past is your first step to happiness. How is it possible to let go of the past that the present is based on?
The only way to let go of the past is to realise that not only the past but also the present and the future are not real but illusionary. When you have realised that time is illusionary, you will have reached happiness.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
When a monk was giving a farewell speech to his master, master Daeja said, “Where are you going?” The monk said, “I am going to Gang-seo.” The master asked, “Can you take me?” The monk said, “I can’t take not only you with me but also even someone more outstanding than you.”
Student: “Why can’t the monk take his master?”
Master: “Because he doesn’t want to degrade not only himself but also his master.”
Commentary:
What can be moved and stopped is not valuable.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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
All sounds that reach your ears are those of yourself. Trying to hear yourself while avoiding them is not different from seeking the earth while avoiding all things you see and hear.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
An old woman sent her servant to deliver alms to Master Joshu and told him to request the master to read the whole Sutra. The master descended from the high seat and walked around the high seat once in a circle. Then, he said, “I have read the whole the Sutra.” When the servant told her what had happened, she said, “I wonder why he just read just half of the Sutra although I requested him to read the whole Sutra.”
Student: “What is the other half that Joshu didn’t read?”
Master: “The woman read it, but you didn’t read it.”
Commentary:
It is impossible to separate what Joshu read from what he didn’t read even with a sharp axe.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
Part 29
“Subhuti, if anyone says the Realised One comes or goes, sits or lies down, this person does not understand the principle I expound. Why? The Realised One neither comes from anywhere nor goes anywhere; that is why he is called the Realised One.”
Commentary:
The Realised One, the true-Self, as mentioned earlier, is boundless, changeless, and nameless. There is nothing that is not the true-Self, just as there is nothing that doesn’t belong to the universe. The true-Self incessantly functions but neither comes nor goes because there is no other place and nothing else but the true-Self. It neither lies down nor stands up because it is boundless and changeless. However, the true-Self is always with us no matter where we may be because there is no place and nothing that is not the true-Self. Even we ourselves are part of the true-Self as well.
Student: “How can the Realised One be with us all the time if He neither comes nor goes?”
Master: “All things, including us, are one with the Realised One.”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
A. To see your present life as it is without being deluded by images and words is no other than enlightenment. If you are to know about your afterlife, try to see your present life exactly as it is.
When you see it as it is, you can be aware of not only your afterlife but also your previous life.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
An old woman sent her servant to deliver alms to Master Joshu and told him to request the master to read the whole Sutra. The master descended from the high seat and walked around the high seat once in a circle. Then, he said, “I have read the whole the Sutra.” When the servant told her what had happened, she said, “I wonder why he just read just half of the Sutra although I requested him to read the whole Sutra.”
Student: “Why did the woman say that Joshu had read only half of the Sutra?”
Master: “She interpreted what Joshu had read for sentient beings.”
Commentary:
Praise is not different from blame.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
Part 28-2
“Why? Subhuti, it is because Bodhisattvas do not receive any blessing.” Subhuti said to the Buddha, “Why don’t Bodhisattvas receive blessings?” The Buddha said, “Subhuti, the blessing produced by Bodhisattvas is not an object of greed and attachment; therefore it is said they do not receive blessing.”
Commentary:
The true blessing discussed in Buddhism signifies enlightenment. So, the blessing produced by Bodhisattvas means unexcelled complete perfect enlightenment. Attaining enlightenment means to realise that everything is one as the true-Self, Emptiness. So, after attaining enlightenment, we become aware not only that there is nothing to receive, or to grant, but that there is no one who gives, or receives because everything is one as Emptiness. This is why ancient masters would say that even if there is enlightenment to attain before getting enlightenment, there is no enlightenment to attain after getting enlightenment.
What can be given and taken is not true blessing but just an illusion.
True blessing is that we become blessing itself. This is why the Buddha said that the blessing produced by Bodhisattvas is not an object of greed and attachment.
Student: “Why don’t Bodhisattvas receive the blessing produced by them?”
Master: “Because it is not what can be given, or received”
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
If you are God’s child, you are also God just as a man’s child is a man. Try to bless others instead of praying for blessing.
©Boo Ahm
All writing ©Boo Ahm. All images ©Simon Hathaway
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