Monday, January 23, 2006

Thirty-One

"Subhuti, if someone says that the Buddha expounds the notion of self, the notion of person, the notion of a being, or the notion of a liver of life, do you think this person understands the principles I expound?"

"World Honored One, this person does not understand the principles expounded by the Realized One. Why? The World Honored One says that a notion of self, a notion of person, a notion of a being, or a notion of a liver of life, they are called the notion of self, the notion of a person, the notion of a being, and the notion of a liver of life."

"Subhuti, those who aspire to unexcelled complete perfect enlightenment should know, see, and believe and understand all truths in this way, not conceiving of an appearance of truth. Subhuti, the Realized One says that the supposed `appearance of truth' is not characteristic of truth; this is called the characteristic of truth." [Thomas Cleary]

"Suppose, Subhuti, that someone said that the Tathagata has taught a conception of a self, an entity or a personality. Would he be right?"

Subhuti answered: "Not at all, Buddha. That which the tathagata has called `a conception of self' is no conception."

"Therefore, Subhuti," Buddha said, "one who has set out on the Bodhisattva Path should know all dharma and view them intently. Yet he should know them and view them in a way which does not give rise to a perception of any dharma. Why? The Tathagata has taught that perception of a dharma is no perception, even though it is called `perception of a dharma.'" [Joshua Pritikin]

"And how so? Subhuti, if someone should claim that the Tathagata speaks of a view of a self, or that the Tathagata speaks of a view of a being, a view of a life, or a view of a soul, Subhuti, would such a claim be true?"

Subhuti said, "No, indeed, Bhagavan. No, indeed, Sugata. Such a claim would not be true. And why not? Bhagavan, when the Tathagata speaks of a view of a self, the Tathagata speaks of it as no view. Thus is it called a `view of the self.'"

The Buddha said, "Indeed, Subhuti, so it is. Those who set forth on the bodhisattva path know, see, and believe all dharmas but know, see, and believe them without being attached to the perception of a dharma. And why not? The perception of a dharma, Subhuti, the `perception of a dharma' is said by the Tathagata to be no perception. Thus is it called the `perception of a dharma.'"[Red Pine]

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